The 2026 VA disability pay rates took effect December 1, 2025, with a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Your monthly compensation is set by your rounded combined rating (and, at 30%+, your dependents). Two things trip people up: 10% and 20% are flat regardless of dependents, and pay only changes at each 10% step. Rates change every year — always confirm the live table at VA.gov.
Straight talk first
The pay chart is where the rating stops being a number and starts being a check. But two realities catch veterans off guard. First, the dollar amounts change every December with the COLA, so any chart you find online is only good for its year — don't trust a stale screenshot. Second, because VA rounds and pays in 10% steps, a "higher rating" only means more money if it bumps you to the next bracket. Know what your target bracket is actually worth before you fight for it.
This is the dollars-and-cents companion to how VA combined ratings work.
2026 monthly rates — veteran with no dependents
Effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA), for a veteran alone:
| Rating | Monthly (no dependents) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 100% | $3,938.57 |
The 40%–90% levels (and all the dependent variations) fall between these anchors — for the complete table, see VA's official current rates (linked in Sources). The amounts here are anchor figures, not the full chart.
Why 10% and 20% are flat
At 10% and 20%, VA pays a flat rate — a dependent spouse, child, or parent doesn't change it. Additional compensation for dependents begins at 30% and above, where your rate varies by your family situation (spouse, children, dependent parents, and aid-and-attendance for a spouse).
Pay changes only at 10% steps
Your combined rating is rounded to the nearest 10%, and compensation is set per bracket. So:
- 44% → 46% rounds 40% up to 50% — a real raise.
- 50% → 54% rounds to 50% either way — no change in pay.
That's why the bilateral factor or one more secondary can matter enormously on a borderline case and not at all in the middle of a bracket. Model it with the VA Combined Rating Calculator.
The rates change every year
VA applies a COLA effective December 1 each year, matching the Social Security adjustment, so the dollar figures move annually. This page is stamped for the 2026 rates (eff. Dec 1, 2025). When in doubt, pull the current official table from VA.gov rather than any third-party chart.
What this means strategically
If you're climbing, target the bracket, not just "a higher number." And if you're stuck below 100% on paper but can't work, the TDIU path pays at the 100% rate — see getting to 100%. Back pay is computed across these same rate tables over time — see VA back pay.
Pointman is education-only and not VA-accredited; we help you understand what the numbers mean for your check.
Key takeaways
- 2026 rates took effect Dec 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA); e.g., 100% alone = $3,938.57/mo.
- 10% and 20% are flat — dependents add money only at 30%+.
- Pay changes only at each 10% step (your rating is rounded).
- Rates change every December — confirm the current table at VA.gov.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the 2026 VA disability pay rates?
- The 2026 rates took effect December 1, 2025, with a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment. For a veteran with no dependents, 10% is $180.42/month, 20% is $356.66, 30% is $552.47, and 100% is $3,938.57. Always confirm the current full table at VA.gov, since rates change yearly.
- Why are the 10% and 20% rates the same regardless of dependents?
- At the 10% and 20% levels, VA pays a flat rate — having a dependent spouse, child, or parent doesn't increase it. Additional compensation for dependents kicks in only at 30% and above.
- When does my rating actually change my pay?
- Pay changes only at each 10% step. Because VA rounds your combined rating to the nearest 10%, an increase only raises your check if it moves your rounded rating to the next level — going from 44% to 46% (which rounds 40% to 50%) matters; 50% to 54% doesn't.
- How often do the rates change?
- Every year. VA applies a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) effective December 1, matching the Social Security COLA, so the dollar amounts shift annually. Any pay chart is only accurate for its year.
Sources
- VA — Current Veterans disability compensation rates (full official table): https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/
- VA — Disability ratings: https://www.va.gov/disability/about-disability-ratings/
- 38 CFR 4.25 — combined ratings table: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/4.25
