Find out how much your VA disability benefits will be in 2025. Combine your service-connected ratings using official VA math, round to your combined rating, and look up your monthly (tax-free) compensation — with pay tables for single veterans, veterans with a spouse, and veterans with dependent children.
Enter the rating for each service-connected condition you have (10% to 100% in 10% increments). The calculator combines them largest-first using VA math — not simple addition.
Count dependent children under age 18. Children 18-23 attending school may also qualify for an additional allowance — see the pay tables below.
Ratings: 50% + 30% + 20%. Combined largest-first: 50 + 30×50/100 = 65, then 65 + 20×35/100 = 72 → rounded to 70%.
Dependents: None (single veteran).
Rating: 70% (e.g., 50% + 30% + 20% combined). Dependents: Spouse + 2 children under 18.
Calculation: $1,710.10 (70% base) + $141 (spouse) + $108 × 2 (children) = $2,067.10.
Ratings: 60% + 40%. Combined: 60 + 40×40/100 = 76 → rounded to 80%. Dependents: Married with 2 children.
Calculation: $1,987.76 (80% base) + $152 (spouse) + $108 × 2 (children) = $2,355.76.
Rating: 100% (or TDIU paid at the 100% rate). Dependents: None.
Note: These examples use the official 2025 VA disability pay tables (2.5% COLA effective December 1, 2024). Your actual payment depends on your approved rating decision, dependency status, and any SMC eligibility.
a = higher rating, b = lower rating. Combine ratings largest-first, repeating the formula for each additional condition, then round the final result to the nearest 10%.
Example — 50% + 30% + 20%: 50 + 30×50/100 = 65, then 65 + 20×35/100 = 72 → rounded to 70%.
Base rate — single veteran rate for the combined rating, e.g. 70% = $1,710.10, 100% = $3,831.62.
Spouse addition — $67 at 10-20%, rising to $97-$197 at higher rating tiers (e.g. $141 at 70%).
Child addition — $32-$108 per child under 18 depending on rating (e.g. $108 per child at 70%).
Add one row per service-connected condition and select the disability rating the VA assigned to each (10% to 100% in 10% increments). If your award letter lists a combined rating already, you can enter a single row with that rating — or use multiple rows to see how VA math produced it.
Choose whether you are single, married, or have dependent children under 18. The VA adds a monthly allowance for a spouse and for each qualifying child, with the exact amounts depending on your combined rating tier.
Click calculate and the tool applies VA math (largest-first combination, rounded to the nearest 10%), looks up your 2025 base rate, adds dependency allowances, and shows a full step-by-step breakdown. Multiply by 12 for your annual tax-free income.
Remember: VA disability compensation is not taxable income — it does not count toward federal or state income tax. A 70% rating with a spouse and two children ($2,067.10/month) is worth $24,805.20 per year in entirely tax-free income.
VA disability compensation is a monthly, tax-free payment made to veterans whose disabilities were caused or worsened by their military service. Ratings are assigned from 0% to 100% in 10% increments, based on how severely each condition affects your ability to work and function. Payments are made every month for life, and the amount is set by law with an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). For 2025, rates rose by 2.5% — the adjustment took effect December 1, 2024, and first appeared in January 2025 payments. A 100% rating for a single veteran is worth $3,831.62/month ($45,979.44/year), entirely free of federal and state income tax.
The single most misunderstood part of VA disability is how multiple ratings combine. The VA does not add ratings: 50% + 30% + 20% is not 100%. Instead, the VA combines them largest-first using the formula Combined% = a + b(100-a)/100. In that example: 50 + 30×50/100 = 65, then 65 + 20×35/100 = 72, rounded to a 70% combined rating. The result is that multiple moderate conditions usually combine to far less than their simple sum — which is why it pays to understand VA math before you appeal a rating decision. Claiming secondary conditions (conditions caused by your primary service-connected condition) is one of the most common ways veterans raise their combined rating.
Your combined rating determines your base monthly pay from the table below, and your dependents add on top of that base. Ratings at 60% and above also open the door to additional programs like TDIU and SMC, discussed further down this page.
The table below shows the official 2025 monthly compensation (2.5% COLA) for each combined rating. The "With Spouse" column adds the spouse allowance for your rating tier, and the "With Spouse + 1 Child" column adds both the spouse allowance and the allowance for one child under 18. Every additional child under 18 after the first adds another per-child allowance — see the second table.
| Combined Rating | Single Veteran | With Spouse | With Spouse + 1 Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $171.23 | $238.23 | $270.23 |
| 20% | $338.09 | $405.09 | $437.09 |
| 30% | $523.69 | $620.69 | $658.69 |
| 40% | $753.08 | $861.08 | $909.08 |
| 50% | $1,071.21 | $1,190.21 | $1,252.21 |
| 60% | $1,356.77 | $1,486.77 | $1,570.77 |
| 70% | $1,710.10 | $1,851.10 | $1,959.10 |
| 80% | $1,987.76 | $2,139.76 | $2,247.76 |
| 90% | $2,233.87 | $2,396.87 | $2,504.87 |
| 100% | $3,831.62 | $4,028.62 | $4,136.62 |
Worked example: a veteran with a 70% rating, married with 2 children under 18, receives $1,710.10 (base) + $141 (spouse) + $216 (2 children × $108) = $2,067.10/month — $24,805.20 per year in tax-free income.
| Combined Rating | Spouse Allowance | Each Child Under 18 |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $67 | $32 |
| 20% | $67 | $32 |
| 30% | $97 | $38 |
| 40% | $108 | $48 |
| 50% | $119 | $62 |
| 60% | $130 | $84 |
| 70% | $141 | $108 |
| 80% | $152 | $108 |
| 90% | $163 | $108 |
| 100% | $197 | $108 |
Children between 18 and 23 who attend school, and certain dependent parents, may also qualify for additional monthly allowances — these are awarded by the VA when you report the dependency, so always notify the VA of changes in marital status or dependents to keep your payments accurate.
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). Veterans with severe disabilities — such as loss of use of a hand or foot, blindness in one or both eyes, loss of testicles, being housebound, or needing aid and attendance — may qualify for SMC paid on top of the standard rate. The most common awards are SMC-K (about $135/month in 2025) for loss of use of a creative organ or reproductive function, SMC-S (about $416/month) for veterans who are housebound, and SMC-L and higher (about $460+/month) for aid-and-attendance needs. SMC amounts are approximate and depend on your exact situation; the VA determines eligibility during the claims process.
Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU). If your service-connected conditions prevent you from keeping a substantially gainful job, you may be paid at the 100% rate even though your combined rating is below 100%. The usual schedular requirements are a single condition rated at 60%+, or a combined rating of 70%+ with at least one condition at 40%+. TDIU is not automatic — you must apply and provide evidence that your service-connected disabilities (not other factors) keep you out of work.
Protected ratings. Once a rating has been in effect for 20 years, it cannot be reduced unless the original decision was based on fraud. After 5 years, a rating can only be reduced if the condition has shown sustained, material improvement. A rating held for 10 years protects survivors' education benefits in the event of your death, and a 100% rating or TDIU that has continued for 20 years is likewise protected. Ratings for conditions that are "static" (unlikely to improve) are generally not scheduled for re-examination at all. The PACT Act of 2022 also presumptively connects dozens of conditions — including many cancers and respiratory illnesses — to toxic exposures in the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Vietnam eras, making thousands of veterans newly eligible.
Rates are adjusted annually by COLA, so the 2025 numbers on this page will be replaced by slightly higher 2026 figures (the next adjustment is based on third-quarter inflation data and takes effect each December 1). Revisit this calculator each January to see your updated monthly rate.
⚠️ Estimate Only: This VA disability calculator provides estimates based on the official 2025 VA compensation rates and standard dependency allowances. The exact amount you receive is determined by the VA based on your approved rating decision, effective date, dependency determinations, and any SMC eligibility. Pay rates change annually with COLA. The information on this page is for educational purposes and is not legal or financial advice — consult the VA (va.gov) or a Veterans Service Officer for your specific situation.
When reviewing your VA benefits, look beyond the monthly rate. Check your award letter for the effective date (which drives back pay), verify that every service-connected condition is listed, confirm your dependency status is up to date, and consider whether secondary conditions, TDIU, or SMC could raise your total compensation. Filing an intent to file today preserves your effective date even if you are not ready to submit your full claim yet — there is no downside and it can mean thousands of dollars in retroactive pay.