disability compensation

VA Disability Compensation: 2026 Rates, Eligibility, and How to Apply

VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment to veterans with service-connected conditions—illnesses or injuries caused or worsened by active military service. Your payment amount depends on your disability rating (0–100%) and dependent status, with 2026 rates ranging from $180.42 (10%) to $3,938.58 (100%) for a single veteran with no dependents .

Quick Facts

What Is VA Disability Compensation?

VA disability compensation is a monthly, tax-free benefit paid to veterans with disabilities that are connected to their military service . It is not based on financial need—income and net worth do not affect eligibility.

Who qualifies: You must have a current diagnosed condition, a documented in-service event or injury, and a medical nexus linking the two. Your discharge must be under other than dishonorable conditions .

Why it matters: For many veterans, this benefit provides essential income to offset lost earning capacity due to service-related injuries or illnesses. Nearly 6 million veterans receive VA disability compensation .

What to do next: File VA Form 21-526EZ online at VA.gov. Submit an Intent to File first to preserve your effective date.

Eligibility Requirements

Basic Requirements

Both of these must be true :

• You have a current illness or injury that affects your mind or body

• You served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training

And at least one of these must be true :

• You got sick or injured while serving—and can link the condition to service (in-service disability claim)

• You had an illness before service—and service made it worse (pre-service disability claim)

• Your disability didn’t appear until after you left service (post-service disability claim)

Discharge Status

You must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. If you received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge, you may still qualify by applying for a discharge upgrade or requesting a VA Character of Discharge review .

Presumptive Conditions

For certain conditions, the VA automatically presumes the condition is service-connected. You do not need to prove a direct link—only that you meet the service requirements .

Examples of presumptive conditions:

• Burn pit and toxic exposure conditions (added by the PACT Act): Brain cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, kidney cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, pancreatic cancer, respiratory cancers, asthma, COPD, chronic sinusitis, and more 

• Agent Orange conditions for Vietnam-era veterans: High blood pressure (hypertension) and MGUS are new additions under the PACT Act 

• Conditions appearing within 1 year of discharge: High blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, peptic ulcers, and other chronic conditions listed in 38 CFR 3.309(a) 

2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates

Rates increased by 2.8% effective December 1, 2025, matching the Social Security COLA .

Single Veteran (No Dependents)

Ratings 10–20%: Dependents do not increase your payment. The rate is fixed based on the rating alone .

Ratings 30–100%: Additional amounts apply for dependents.

Rates for Veterans with Dependents (30–100% Rating)

Added amounts:

• Each additional child under 18: $76.00 (for 70% rating) 

• Each child over 18 in school: $246.00 (for 70% rating) 

• Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance: $141.00 (for 70% rating) 

How to Apply for VA Disability Compensation

Step 1: File an Intent to File

If filing on paper, submit an Intent to File form first. This preserves your effective date, giving you up to one year to gather evidence while securing retroactive pay. If you file online, your effective date is set automatically when you start the application .

Step 2: Gather Supporting Evidence

You can submit these documents to support your claim :

• DD Form 214 or separation documents

• Service treatment records (STRs)

• Private medical records and hospital reports

• Supporting statements (buddy statements from fellow service members, family, friends)

• Dependency records (marriage certificates, children’s birth certificates)

You do not have to submit evidence to file a claim, but submitting it with your application speeds up processing. You have up to one year from the date VA receives your claim to submit evidence .

Step 3: Complete VA Form 21-526EZ

You can file in one of five ways :

Step 4: Attend C&P Exam if Scheduled

A Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam is a medical evaluation conducted by a VA-contracted clinician to assess the severity of your condition. Do not miss this exam—failure to attend typically results in claim denial.

Step 5: Wait for Decision

VA processes claims in the order received. Average processing time is 100–180 days, though complex claims take longer. You can track your claim status on VA.gov.

PACT Act: Expanded Eligibility for Toxic Exposure

The PACT Act (Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act) is the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history .

What it does:

• Adds 20+ presumptive conditions for burn pit and other toxic exposure

• Expands VA health care eligibility to millions of veterans

• Adds new presumptive locations for Agent Orange and radiation exposure

• Requires toxic exposure screening for every enrolled veteran

Who is affected:

• Gulf War era and post-9/11 veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other specified locations

• Vietnam-era veterans with new presumptive conditions (high blood pressure and MGUS)

• Veterans who participated in specified radiation cleanup efforts 

What to do: If your condition was previously denied but is now presumptive under the PACT Act, file a Supplemental Claim. The VA will review your case again .

Common Questions

1. What is the difference between VA disability compensation and VA pension?

VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly benefit for veterans with service-connected disabilities, regardless of income. VA pension is a needs-based benefit for low-income wartime veterans who are permanently disabled or age 65 or older .

2. Can I work while receiving VA disability compensation?

Yes. VA disability compensation is not means-tested. It does not limit your ability to work, except for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU). If you are TDIU and earn above the federal poverty threshold, you may lose eligibility.

3. What is a C&P exam and do I have to go?

A Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam is a medical evaluation scheduled by VA to assess the severity of your claimed condition. You must attend if scheduled—failure to attend typically results in claim denial.

4. How does the PACT Act affect my existing claim?

If your condition is now presumptive under the PACT Act, you can file a Supplemental Claim. VA will review your case again. If you already have a pending claim, VA will automatically consider the condition presumptive .

5. What conditions are covered by VA disability?

Common conditions include chronic back pain, breathing problems, hearing loss, PTSD, anxiety, depression, TBI, cancers caused by toxic exposure, and conditions related to military sexual trauma (MST) .

6. Can I get VA disability for conditions that appear after discharge?

Yes. If a chronic condition listed in 38 CFR 3.309(a) appears within one year of discharge, VA presumes it is service-connected. Conditions like ALS can appear any time after discharge and are also presumptive .

7. What if I was denied before—can I reapply?

Yes. You can file a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence, request a Higher-Level Review, or appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals .

8. Are VA disability benefits taxable?

No. VA disability compensation is tax-free .

9. Can I receive both VA disability and Social Security disability?

Yes. VA disability compensation and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are separate programs. Receiving one does not disqualify you from the other.

10. How do I check my claim status?

You can check your claim status online at VA.gov or call 1-800-827-1000.

Key Takeaways

• VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly benefit for service-connected conditions.

• Eligibility requires a current disability, a documented in-service event, and a medical nexus.

• 2026 rates range from $180.42 (10%) to $3,938.58 (100%) for a single veteran .

• Rates increase for dependents at ratings of 30% or higher.

• The PACT Act expanded presumptive conditions for toxic exposure, including 20+ burn pit conditions .

• File online at VA.gov for fastest processing; use an Intent to File to preserve back pay.

• Free claim assistance is available from accredited Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs).

• You have appeal options if denied: Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, or Board appeal.

• Disabilities that appear within one year of discharge may be presumed service-connected .

• VA disability compensation is not based on income and is not taxable.

Official Resources

• VA.gov Disability — www.va.gov/disability

• How to File a Claim — www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim

• 2026 Compensation Rates — www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates

• PACT Act Information — www.va.gov/PACT

• Find a VSO — www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative

• Check Claim Status — www.va.gov/claim-status

• USA.gov Veterans Portal — www.usa.gov/veterans