VA Disability Ratings
If you’ve served in the U.S. military and left with a health condition related to your service, you may be entitled to VA disability compensation. But the system that determines how much you receive — the VA disability rating — is one of the most misunderstood processes in the entire veterans benefits system.
This guide breaks down exactly how VA disability ratings work, how they’re calculated, what they mean for your monthly compensation, and what you can do if you disagree with your rating.
What Is a VA Disability Rating?
A VA disability rating is a percentage — from 0% to 100% — that the Department of Veterans Affairs assigns to a service-connected condition. This percentage represents how severely that condition affects your ability to function in daily life and work.
The rating directly determines how much monthly tax-free compensation you receive. The higher your rating, the higher your monthly payment.
Ratings are assigned in increments of 10: 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%.
A 0% rating means the VA acknowledges your condition is service-connected, but considers it not severe enough to warrant compensation. You still receive other benefits at 0%, including access to VA healthcare.
How Are VA Disability Ratings Determined?
The VA uses a document called the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) — a detailed rating schedule that assigns percentage values to hundreds of conditions based on their severity and symptoms.
For each condition, the VASRD defines what symptoms justify each rating level. For example, a knee condition might be rated at 10% for limited flexion, 20% for more severe limitation, or 30% if it causes instability. The VA rater looks at your medical evidence and assigns the rating that best matches your documented symptoms.
Key factors the VA considers:
- Medical records showing diagnosis and current severity
- Nexus — proof that the condition is connected to your military service
- Buddy statements from fellow service members or family
- Results of a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam
- Private medical opinions
2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates
VA disability compensation is tax-free and adjusted annually for cost of living. Here are the 2026 monthly rates for veterans without dependents:
- 10%: $175.51/month
- 20%: $346.95/month
- 30%: $537.42/month
- 40%: $774.16/month
- 50%: $1,102.04/month
- 60%: $1,395.93/month
- 70%: $1,759.19/month
- 80%: $2,044.89/month
- 90%: $2,297.96/month
- 100%: $3,831.30/month
Veterans with dependents (spouse, children, dependent parents) receive higher rates. A veteran rated at 100% with a spouse and two children receives significantly more than the base rate above.
Note: Always verify current rates at va.gov as these are adjusted annually.
How Combined Ratings Work — The “VA Math” Explained
If you have multiple service-connected conditions, the VA doesn’t simply add the percentages together. Instead, they use a calculation method that many veterans find confusing — sometimes called “VA math” or the “whole person” method.
Here’s how it works:
Example: You have a 50% rating and a 30% rating.
- Start with your highest rating: 50%. This means you are 50% disabled, leaving 50% of you “whole.”
- Apply the second rating (30%) to the remaining 50%: 30% of 50 = 15%.
- Add: 50% + 15% = 65%.
- The VA rounds to the nearest 10%, so 65% rounds to 70%.
This is why two conditions rated at 50% each don’t equal 100% combined — they equal 75% (rounded to 80%). Understanding this helps you set realistic expectations when filing for multiple conditions.
What Is a 100% VA Rating?
A 100% rating — also called a Total Rating — means the VA considers you totally disabled as a result of your service-connected conditions. This is the highest rating and provides the maximum compensation plus access to additional benefits.
There are two ways to reach 100%:
- Schedular 100%: Your combined ratings reach 100% under the standard calculation
- Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU): Your service-connected conditions prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, even if your combined rating is below 100%. TDIU pays at the 100% rate.
What Is a Permanent and Total (P&T) Rating?
A Permanent and Total (P&T) rating means the VA has determined your disabilities are both total (100%) and permanent — meaning they are not expected to improve. P&T status provides significant additional benefits:
- Protection from future rating reductions
- Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)
- Commissary and exchange privileges (in some cases)
- CHAMPVA healthcare for dependents
- Property tax exemptions in many states
- Free admission to national parks
Service Connection — The Key to Getting a Rating
Before the VA assigns any rating, they must determine that your condition is service-connected — meaning it was caused by, aggravated by, or occurred during your military service.
There are several types of service connection:
- Direct service connection: The condition started during service (e.g., a knee injury from training)
- Aggravation: A pre-existing condition was made worse by service
- Presumptive service connection: Certain conditions are presumed to be service-connected based on where or when you served (e.g., Agent Orange exposure, Gulf War illness, burn pit exposure under the PACT Act)
- Secondary service connection: A new condition caused by an already service-connected condition
The PACT Act — Expanded Presumptive Conditions (2022)
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 significantly expanded VA benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. If you served in Southwest Asia after August 2, 1990, or in Vietnam, Thailand, or other locations with herbicide exposure, you may now qualify for presumptive service connection for dozens of additional conditions including many cancers.
If you haven’t filed a claim under the PACT Act — check your eligibility at va.gov/pact.
How to Increase Your VA Rating
If your condition has worsened since your original rating, or if you believe the VA rated you too low, you have options:
- Supplemental Claim: Submit new and relevant evidence the VA didn’t previously consider
- Higher-Level Review: Request a senior claims adjudicator review your file for errors
- Board of Veterans Appeals: Appeal directly to the BVA for a formal hearing
- File for secondary conditions: If your service-connected condition has caused additional problems, file those as secondary claims
- Request a re-evaluation: If your condition has worsened, submit updated medical evidence
Additional Benefits at Key Rating Thresholds
Certain rating levels unlock additional benefits beyond monthly compensation:
- 10%+: VA healthcare enrollment, vocational rehabilitation consideration
- 30%+: Dependent compensation (additional pay for spouse, children)
- 50%+: Free VA dental care, commissary access consideration
- 70%+: Eligibility for TDIU if unemployable
- 100% (or P&T): Full benefits including CHAMPVA for dependents, DEA, property tax exemptions
Get Help With Your Claim — For Free
You never have to navigate the VA claims process alone — and you should never pay someone to file a basic VA claim for you. Free help is available through:
- Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs): DAV, VFW, American Legion, AMVETS — all offer free claims assistance
- State Veterans Affairs offices: Every state has a Department of Veterans Affairs with free claims support
- VA-accredited claims agents and attorneys: For complex cases — they can only charge fees after a successful appeal
- VA.gov: File online directly at va.gov/disability
The Bottom Line
VA disability ratings are the foundation of most veterans benefits. Understanding how they’re calculated, what thresholds unlock additional benefits, and how to appeal gives you the best chance of receiving the compensation you’ve earned through your service.
If you haven’t filed a claim — or if you filed years ago and your conditions have changed — now is the time to revisit. The PACT Act alone has opened the door to compensation for hundreds of thousands of veterans who were previously denied.
You served. You earned these benefits. Don’t leave them on the table.