2026 Pay Rates · In effect now
Free VA Disability Calculator. 2026 Rates.
The VA doesn't add your percentages. Here's what they actually owe you.
Add your service-connected disability ratings below. We'll show your combined rating, monthly compensation, and whether you may qualify for TDIU, using the 2026 rate tables. Free. No signup required.
Your disability ratingsThe VA rates each service-connected condition separately, 0–100% in 10% increments. Ratings come from C&P exams, medical records, and DBQs. 0% means the condition exists but isn't disabling enough to pay.
3 addedAdd each service-connected condition. We'll combine them using VA math.
DependentsAffects pay at 30%+ ratings
Spouse
Married to a current spouse
Children under 18
Biological, adopted, or stepchildren
1
Dependent parents
Parents whose income qualifies them as dependents
0
Your estimate
80%
unrounded 78.4%
Monthly compensationTax-free monthly payment based on your combined rating and dependents, using 2026 VA rate tables (effective Dec 1, 2025, includes 2.8% COLA).
$2,406.43
With spouse · 1 child
TDIU may applyTotal Disability based on Individual Unemployability (38 CFR § 4.16(a)). You may receive 100% pay rate if service-connected disabilities prevent substantial gainful employment. Criteria: one disability ≥ 60%, or combined ≥ 70% with one ≥ 40%.
How the math works
How VA Combined Ratings Work
The VA treats the veteran as a whole person, 100% efficient. Your first (highest) disability reduces that efficiency by its percentage. The next disability is then applied to the remaining efficiency, not the full 100%. Each successive rating eats less.
Start
100%
Whole-person efficiency
Apply 70%
30%
Remaining efficiency
Apply 30% to that
21%
Remaining after second rating
Final combined rating = 100% minus 21% = 79%, rounded to 80%.
Frequently asked
VA Disability Calculator FAQ
Quick, plain-English answers. Tap a question to expand.
How do I calculate my VA disability?
Use the calculator above. The VA does not add your percentages. It uses the combined-rating formula in 38 CFR § 4.25: each rating is applied to your remaining "whole-person efficiency," then the final figure is rounded to the nearest 10%. A bilateral factor (§ 4.26) adds 10% when paired-limb conditions are present.
Is Parkinson's a VA presumptive disability?
Yes. Parkinson's disease is a presumptive condition for veterans exposed to Agent Orange or to fine particulate matter under the PACT Act. You still need a diagnosis and qualifying service, but you do not have to prove the service connection itself.
Is arthritis a VA disability?
Yes. Degenerative and traumatic arthritis are rated under the musculoskeletal schedule. Ratings are typically 10% or 20% per major joint group, based on range-of-motion limits and X-ray findings. Arthritis is also a chronic disease eligible for presumptive service-connection if it manifests within one year of separation.
Is sinusitis a presumptive VA disability?
Yes, for Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans under the PACT Act. Chronic sinusitis is a listed presumptive condition for veterans who served in covered locations. Ratings range from 0% to 50% depending on the frequency and severity of incapacitating episodes.
How much disability will I get if I make $60,000 a year?
Your income does not affect VA disability compensation. It is not means-tested. Compensation is based solely on your combined rating and dependents. The one exception is TDIU (Individual Unemployability), which requires that your service-connected disabilities prevent substantial gainful employment (roughly the federal poverty threshold).
How hard is it to go from 80% to 100% VA disability?
Harder than it looks. Because of VA math, an 80% combined rating already represents very little remaining efficiency. You typically need to add a 50%+ rating, win a re-evaluation upward on an existing condition, or qualify for TDIU. Many veterans at 80% pursue TDIU because it pays at the 100% rate without changing the schedular rating.
What is the 5-year rule for disability?
The "5-year rule" protects stabilized ratings. If a rating has been in effect at the same level for 5 or more years, the VA cannot reduce it unless there is sustained improvement shown across multiple examinations, not just a single better-day exam. Ratings in effect for 20+ years are protected from reduction altogether (absent fraud).
Does VA pay for assisted living?
Sometimes. The VA does not directly cover most assisted-living facility costs, but Aid and Attendance benefits (a monthly add-on to a pension or compensation) can offset them. Eligibility depends on service, income, and a clinical determination of needing help with daily activities.
Will my VA disability affect my Social Security retirement benefits?
No. VA disability compensation and Social Security retirement are separate programs. Drawing one does not reduce the other, and VA compensation is not taxable. SSDI (disability) may be drawn alongside VA compensation as well, though SSDI uses its own medical standard.
Is back pain a presumptive VA disability?
Back pain itself is not a "presumptive" condition, but the underlying diagnoses (e.g., lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, intervertebral disc syndrome) are rated under the spine schedule based on range of motion and incapacitating episodes. Chronic pain alone is now compensable as a "diagnosed but unexplained" condition for Gulf War veterans.