Rating System

Disability Compensation is a tax free monetary benefit paid to Veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. Compensation may also be paid for post-service disabilities that are considered related or secondary to disabilities occurring in service and for disabilities presumed to be related to circumstances of military service, even though they may arise after service. Generally, the degrees of disability specified are also designed to compensate for considerable loss of working time from exacerbation or illnesses.

Eligibility Requirements

Compensation benefits require that your disability be service-connected. You must also have separated or been discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions.

Disability Compensation Your disability must be the result of an injury or disease that was incurred or aggravated while on active duty or active duty for training; or from injury, heart attack, or stroke that occurred during inactive duty training. A disability can apply to physical conditions, such as Lou Gehrig's Disease, as well as mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Application Process

The best way to apply for disability compensation is by obtaining an eBenefits account and applying online. When applying for compensation benefits, you must have access to the following information:

  • Discharge or separation papers (DD214 or equivalent)
  • Medical evidence (doctor and hospital reports)
  • Dependency records (marriage and children's birth certificates)

Alternatively, you may print and mail-in VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits or call VA at 1-800-827-1000 to have the form mailed to you.

Service members may be able to receive disability compensation benefits sooner if you apply prior to your discharge from service through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) or Quick Start pre-discharge programs.

Note: If you have a 10% to 20% disability rating, you won’t receive a higher rate even if you have a dependent spouse, child, or parent.

Disability rating Monthly payment (in U.S. $)
10% 165.92
20% 327.99

Compensation rates for Veterans with a 30% to 100% disability rating

Effective December 1, 2022

With a dependent spouse or parent, but no children

Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then look for your disability rating in the top row. Your basic monthly rate is where your dependent status and disability rating meet.

If your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, be sure to also look at the Added amounts table, and add it to your amount from the Basic monthly rates table.

Basic monthly rates for 30% to 60% disability rating
Dependent status 30% disability rating (in U.S. $) 40% disability rating (in U.S. $) 50% disability rating (in U.S. $) 60% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Veteran alone (no dependents) 508.05 731.86 1,041.82 1,319.65
With spouse (no parents or children) 568.05 811.86 1,141.82 1,440.65
With spouse and 1 parent (no children) 616.05 875.86 1,222.82 1,537.65
With spouse and 2 parents (no children) 664.05 939.86 1,303.82 1,634.65
With 1 parent (no spouse or children) 556.05 795.86 1,122.82 1,416.65
With 2 parents (no spouse or children) 604.05 859.86 1,203.82 1,513.65
Added amounts for 30% to 60% disability rating
Dependent status 30% disability rating (in U.S. $) 40% disability rating (in U.S. $) 50% disability rating (in U.S. $) 60% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance 56.00 74.00 93.00 111.00

Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then look for your disability rating in the top row. Your basic monthly rate is where your dependent status and disability rating meet.

If your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, be sure to also look at the Added amounts table, and add it to your amount from the Basic monthly rates table.

Basic monthly rates for 70% to 100% disability rating
Dependent status 70% disability rating (in U.S. $) 80% disability rating (in U.S. $) 90% disability rating (in U.S. $) 100% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Veteran alone (no dependents) 1,663.06 1,933.15 2,172.39 3,621.95
With spouse (no parents or children) 1,804.06 2,094.15 2,353.39 3,823.89
With spouse and 1 parent (no children) 1,917.06 2,223.15 2,498.39 3,985.96
With spouse and 2 parents (no children) 2,030.06 2,353.15 2,643.39 4,148.03
With 1 parent (no spouse or children) 1,776.06 2,062.15 2,317.39 3,784.02
With 2 parents (no spouse or children) 1,889.06 2,191.15 2,462.39 3,946.09
Added amounts for 70% to 100% disability rating
Dependent status 70% disability rating (in U.S. $) 80% disability rating (in U.S. $) 90% disability rating (in U.S. $) 100% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance 130.00 148.00 167.00 185.21

With dependents, including children

Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then look for your disability rating in the top row. Your basic monthly rate is where your dependent status and disability rating meet.

If you have more than one child or your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, be sure to also look at the Added amounts table, and add these to your amount from the Basic monthly rates table.

Basic monthly rates for 30% to 60% disability rating
Dependent status 30% disability rating (in U.S. $) 40% disability rating (in U.S. $) 50% disability rating (in U.S. $) 60% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Veteran with 1 child only (no spouse or parents) 548.05 785.86 1,108.82 1,400.65
With 1 child and spouse (no parents) 612.05 870.86 1,215.82 1,528.65
With 1 child, spouse, and 1 parent 660.05 934.86 1,296.82 1,625.65
With 1 child, spouse, and 2 parents 708.05 998.86 1,377.82 1,722.65
With 1 child and 1 parent (no spouse) 596.05 849.86 1,189.82 1,497.65
With 1 child and 2 parents (no spouse) 644.05 913.86 1,270.82 1,594.65
Added amounts for 30% to 60% disability rating
Dependent status 30% disability rating (in U.S. $) 40% disability rating (in U.S. $) 50% disability rating (in U.S. $) 60% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Each additional child under age 18 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00
Each additional child over age 18 in a qualifying school program 97.00 129.00 162.00 194.00
Spouse receving Aid and Attendance 56.00 74.00 93.00 111.00

Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then look for your disability rating in the top row. Your basic monthly rate is where your dependent status and disability rating meet.

If you have more than one child or your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, be sure to also look at the Added amounts table, and add these to your amount from the Basic monthly rates table.

Basic monthly rates for 70% to 100% disability rating
Dependent status 70% disability rating (in U.S. $) 80% disability rating (in U.S. $) 90% disability rating (in U.S. $) 100% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Veteran with child only (no spouse or parents) 1,757.06 2,041.15 2,293.39 3,757.00
With 1 child and spouse (no parents) 1,907.06 2,212.15 2,486.39 3,971.78
With 1 child, spouse and 1 parent 2,020.06 2,341.15 2,631.39 4,133.85
With 1 child, spouse and 2 parents 2,133.06 2,470.15 2,776.39 4,295.92
With 1 child and 1 parent 1,870.06 2,170.15 2,438.39 3,919.07
With 1 child and 2 parents (no spouse) 1,983.06 2,299.15 2,583.39 4,081.14
Added amounts for 70% to 100% disability rating
Dependent status 70% disability rating (in U.S. $) 80% disability rating (in U.S. $) 90% disability rating (in U.S. $) 100% disability rating (in U.S. $)
Each additional child under age 18 70.00 80.00 90.00 100.34
Each additional child over age 18 in a qualifying school program 226.00 259.00 291.00 324.12
Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance 130.00 148.00 167.00 185.21

Note: We’re required by law to match the percentage of cost-of-living adjustments made to Social Security benefits. These adjustments help to make sure that the purchasing power of your benefits keeps up with inflation.