VA Disability Hub
Build your combined VA rating from real conditions, see it calculated with official VA math, and estimate your 2026 monthly compensation — plus TDIU and CRSC/CRDP next steps.
2026 VA Disability Compensation & Combined Ratings
Your VA disability payment is set by your combined rating and your dependents. For 2026, a 100% rating pays $3,938.58 per month for a veteran with no dependents (a 2.8% COLA increase effective December 1, 2025). The VA does not add your ratings together — it combines them under 38 CFR § 4.25. Build your rating from real conditions with the calculator above, then use the tables and guides below to check your numbers.
2026 VA Disability Pay Chart (Monthly)
Monthly compensation by combined rating, for a veteran alone and a veteran with one spouse (no other dependents). Source: VA.gov, effective December 1, 2025.
| Combined Rating | Veteran Alone | With Spouse |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 |
Dependent spouse, child, and parent amounts apply only at 30% and above. Add children and parents in the calculator for an exact figure.
How VA Combined Ratings Work (38 CFR § 4.25)
VA math is not addition. Each disability is applied to the part of you that is still considered healthy. Start at 100% "whole." Your highest rating comes off first; the next rating is taken from what remains, and so on. The result is rounded to the nearest 10%.
Worked example: a veteran with a 50% and a 30% condition is not 80%. Take 50% of the whole person (leaving 50%), then 30% of the remaining 50% (that is 15%). Combined: 50% + 15% = 65%, which rounds to a 70% combined rating. Add a third 20% condition and you take 20% of the remaining 35% (7%) for 72%, still 70% after rounding. This is why more conditions do not always raise your rating, and why the order of operations matters.
Common VA Disability Conditions & 2026 Rating Data
The 20 most-relevant conditions from the hub's conditions database, with VA diagnostic code, body system, and the average rating the VA granted in FY2024. Ratings are assigned per the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (38 CFR Part 4) based on your specific symptoms and evidence.
| Condition | Diagnostic Code | Body System | Avg Rating (FY2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | DC 9411 | Mental Health | 70% |
| Major Depressive Disorder | DC 9434 | Mental Health | 50% |
| Obstructive Sleep Apnea | DC 6847 | Respiratory | 50% |
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder | DC 9400 | Mental Health | 30% |
| Migraine Headaches | DC 8100 | Neurological | 30% |
| Bronchial Asthma | DC 6602 | Respiratory | 30% |
| Ischemic Heart Disease | DC 7005 | Cardiovascular | 30% |
| Chronic Kidney Disease | DC 7541 | Genitourinary | 30% |
| Lumbosacral Strain (Low Back) | DC 5237 | Musculoskeletal | 20% |
| Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) | DC 5243 | Musculoskeletal | 20% |
| Radiculopathy (Sciatic Nerve) | DC 8520 | Neurological | 20% |
| Diabetes Mellitus Type II | DC 7913 | Endocrine | 20% |
| Meniscal Tear (Knee Cartilage) | DC 5258 | Musculoskeletal | 20% |
| Tinnitus | DC 6260 | Ear | 10% |
| Bilateral Hearing Loss | DC 6100 | Ear | 10% |
| Hypertension | DC 7101 | Cardiovascular | 10% |
| GERD (Acid Reflux) | DC 7346 | Digestive | 10% |
| Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Residuals | DC 8045 | Neurological | 10% |
| Plantar Fasciitis | DC 5276 | Musculoskeletal | 10% |
| Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | DC 8515 | Neurological | 10% |
TDIU — Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability
TDIU (Individual Unemployability) pays at the 100% rate — $3,938.58/month in 2026 — even when your combined rating is below 100%, if your service-connected disabilities keep you from holding substantially gainful employment. Under the schedular path in 38 CFR § 4.16(a), you generally qualify with one disability rated at least 60%, or a combined rating of 70% with at least one disability rated 40%. Earnings below the federal poverty threshold ($15,060 for 2026) count as marginal employment and do not disqualify you. Check your specific path with the TDIU section of the hub.
CRSC vs. CRDP for Military Retirees
If you retired from the military and also receive VA compensation, your retired pay is normally reduced dollar-for-dollar by your VA pay (the "VA offset"). Two programs can restore some or all of it — but you can receive only one:
| CRDP | CRSC | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Restores retired pay offset by VA comp | Tax-free pay for combat-related disability |
| Eligibility | 20+ yrs retirement & VA rating 50%+ | Retiree with a combat-related disability |
| Taxable? | Yes (taxable) | No (tax-free) |
| Applies automatically? | Yes, if eligible | No — you must apply |
The hub compares your estimated CRSC and CRDP amounts so you can see which pays more before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is 100% VA disability in 2026?
A 100% VA disability rating pays $3,938.58 per month for a veteran with no dependents in 2026, or $4,158.17 with a spouse. Rates rose 2.8% (the COLA) effective December 1, 2025.
How does the VA combine multiple disability ratings?
The VA does not add ratings together. Under 38 CFR § 4.25 each rating is applied to the remaining "whole person." For example, a 50% and a 30% rating combine to 65% (50%, then 30% of the remaining 50% = 15%), which rounds to a 70% combined rating — not 80%.
Which conditions get the highest average VA ratings?
Based on VA FY2024 data, PTSD carries the highest average rating (~70%), followed by obstructive sleep apnea and major depressive disorder (~50%). Tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are the most-claimed conditions but average about 10%.
What is TDIU (Individual Unemployability)?
TDIU pays at the 100% rate ($3,938.58/mo in 2026) even if your combined rating is below 100%, when service-connected disabilities prevent substantially gainful employment. The schedular path (38 CFR § 4.16(a)) requires one disability rated at least 60%, or a combined rating of 70% with at least one disability at 40%.
Is VA disability compensation taxable?
No. VA disability compensation is not taxed by the federal government or by any state. You do not report it as income on your tax return.
What is the difference between CRSC and CRDP?
CRDP (Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay) restores retired pay that is normally offset by VA compensation for 20-year retirees rated 50% or higher, and it is taxable. CRSC (Combat-Related Special Compensation) is a separate, tax-free payment for disabilities that are combat-related. A retiree can receive only one; the hub estimates which pays more.
Does the VA round disability ratings?
Yes. After combining, the VA rounds the final figure to the nearest 10%. A combined value of 74% rounds down to 70%; 75% rounds up to 80%.
How do dependents change VA compensation?
Additional amounts for a spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents are added only at a 30% rating or higher. For example, a 70% rating pays $1,808.45 alone and $1,961.45 with a spouse.
This guide provides estimates for education only; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines actual ratings and payments. Rates and rules: VA.gov (2026 rates, 2.8% COLA), 38 CFR §§ 4.16, 4.25, 4.26 and Part 4, and 10 U.S.C. §§ 1413a, 1414.
Data Sources & Legal Basis
Compensation rates: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA.gov, effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA) · Combined ratings formula: 38 CFR § 4.25 · Bilateral factor: 38 CFR § 4.26 · Condition data: VA rating schedule (38 CFR Part 4). This tool provides estimates only; the VA determines actual payments. Verify at VA.gov.
VA Disability Resources
Related Tools
