VA Disability Calculator
Calculate your combined VA disability rating using official VA math and see your 2026 monthly compensation rate.
VA disability compensation doesn't add multiple ratings together. A 70% and a 50% rating combine to 90%, not 120%, using the VA's "whole person" math. Monthly pay for 2026 ranges from $180.42 at 10% to $3,938.58 at 100% for a veteran with no dependents.
If you have more than one service-connected condition, your combined disability rating isn't simple addition. Enter your individual ratings below to see your correct combined rating and your estimated 2026 monthly compensation.
Calculate Your Combined VA Rating
Your Combined Rating, Step by Step
The VA doesn't add ratings together — here's why the math works the way it does.
Combined Rating
Monthly Rate (Veteran Alone)
VA disability compensation is separate from VA Pension, and the two can't be combined — you'd only receive whichever pays more. See this site's VA Pension Calculator to compare.
The VA's combined ratings formula surprises a lot of veterans. Instead of adding percentages, the VA starts at 100% (full capacity) and applies each rating, highest first, to whatever capacity remains after the previous ratings. A 70% rating leaves 30% remaining capacity. Applying a 50% rating to that 30% removes another 15 percentage points, leaving 15% remaining, for a combined rating of 85%, which then rounds to the nearest 10%, landing at 90%. This is why two disabilities rarely combine to a number that feels intuitive. Once you know your combined rating, monthly pay follows a published table, ranging from $180.42 at 10% up to $3,938.58 at 100% for a veteran with no dependents. One rule worth knowing: additional pay for a dependent spouse, child, or parent only kicks in once your combined rating reaches 30%. Below that threshold, your payment is the same flat rate whether or not you have dependents. Disability compensation is completely separate from VA Pension, and the two can't be combined, only the higher amount is paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the VA combine multiple disability ratings?
Not by simple addition. The VA uses a "whole person" method, applying each additional rating to your remaining, undisabled capacity, then rounds the result to the nearest 10%. For example, 70% combined with 50% equals 90%, not 120%.
How much is VA disability compensation per month in 2026?
It depends on your combined rating, from $180.42/month at 10% up to $3,938.58/month at 100% for a veteran with no dependents. Rates are higher with dependents at combined ratings of 30% or above.
Do I get extra pay for a dependent spouse or children?
Only if your combined disability rating is 30% or higher. Below that, the rate is flat regardless of dependents.
Can I receive both VA disability compensation and VA Pension?
No. You can only receive whichever pays more, not both at the same time.
Is VA disability compensation taxable?
No. It's completely tax-free at both the federal and state level.
Does VA disability compensation increase with COLA?
Yes. It adjusts annually with the same cost-of-living adjustment percentage used for Social Security benefits.
This calculator provides a general estimate based on official 2026 VA combined ratings math and compensation rates for a veteran with no dependents. Exact dependent add-on amounts vary and should be confirmed at VA.gov. This does not constitute a determination of your actual disability rating or benefit amount, which is decided by the VA through its own claims process.