Military

10% VA Disability Rate 2026

A 10% combined rating pays $180.42 per month in 2026, or $2,165.04 per year, and the amount is the same for every veteran at this rating: single, married, or supporting children and parents. The VA pays no dependent add-ons at 10% or 20%, so there is a single flat rate instead of the dependent table that starts at 30%.

Last updated: October 2026

VA compensation calculator

Preset to this rating. At 10% and 20% the VA pays one flat rate, so the dependent fields do not change the result; try 30% or higher to see dependent add-ons apply.

Monthly compensation (2026, tax-free)
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official VA rate
Annual compensation
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Rating
10%
Rate type
2026 VA

The 2026 rate at 10%: one flat amount

Because dependent status does not enter the calculation below 30%, the entire published "table" for a 10% rating is a single line:

Dependent statusMonthlyAnnual
Any dependent status (alone, spouse, children, or parents)$180.42$2,165.04

This surprises many veterans: marriage, a new child, or a dependent parent changes nothing at 10%. Those family members start to matter the moment a combined rating reaches 30%, when the VA begins paying a higher basic rate for each dependent situation plus added amounts for additional children.

What reaching 30% would pay

The step from 10% to 30% is the largest structural jump in the lower half of the VA table, because it unlocks the entire dependent rate structure. Monthly 2026 rates at 30%, beside the flat 10% rate of $180.42:

Dependent status at 30%MonthlyGain over 10%
Veteran alone$552.47$372.05
With spouse$617.47$437.05
With 1 child only$596.47$416.05
With spouse and 1 child$666.47$486.05

For a veteran alone, that is $372.05 more per month, every month. Ratings are decided by the VA on medical evidence, not chosen, but if you believe your service-connected conditions have worsened, this gap is why many veterans ask a veterans service organization about filing for an increase.

Source and how to verify: rates on this page are the official 2026 VA disability compensation rates published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at va.gov, effective December 1, 2025 and reflecting the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment. EveryCalc republishes them for convenience; only the VA can determine your official combined rating and payment.

VA disability rates for other ratings

See the full index of 2026 VA disability rates by rating, use the VA disability calculator for a quick estimate, or read how the combined rating itself is calculated in our guide to VA disability ratings.

10% VA disability FAQs

Why are there no dependent rates at a 10% rating?

By law, the VA pays additional amounts for a spouse, children, and dependent parents only at combined ratings of 30% or higher. At 10%, the published rate is a flat $180.42 per month no matter who depends on you.

How much more is a 30% rating worth than a 10% rating?

For a veteran alone, moving from 10% to 30% raises the monthly payment from $180.42 to $552.47, an increase of $372.05 per month or $4,464.60 per year. With a spouse and one child, a 30% rating pays $666.47 per month, and dependent add-ons start applying on top of that.

Is the 10% VA disability payment taxable?

No. VA disability compensation is tax-free at the federal level, and most states do not tax it either. The $180.42 monthly figure is the amount you keep.

When do the 10% VA rates change?

VA compensation rates are adjusted every year by the same cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that applies to Social Security. The 2026 rates took effect on December 1, 2025 with a 2.8% COLA; the next adjustment takes effect on December 1, 2026.