VA Disability Percentages for Conditions: Complete 2026 Rating Guide
VA assigns disability ratings from 0% to 100% in 10% increments, based on how severely a service-connected condition impairs your ability to function. Common ratings include 10% for tinnitus, 10–100% for PTSD, 10–40% for back conditions, and 10–30% for knee conditions. Monthly payments in 2026 range from $180.42 (10%) to $3,938.58 (100%).
Quick Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Benefit | VA disability compensation (tax-free monthly payments) |
| Eligibility | Veterans with service-connected conditions and a non-dishonorable discharge |
| Application | VA Form 21-526EZ (online at VA.gov, by mail, fax, or in person) |
| Processing Time | Average 76 days for disability claims (September 2026) |
| Official Agency | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) |
| Required Forms | VA Form 21-526EZ; DBQs as applicable |
| Updated For | October 2026 |
What Are VA Disability Percentages?
VA disability percentages are ratings that represent how much a service-connected condition reduces your overall health and ability to function. VA rates each condition separately, then combines ratings using a specific formula called the “whole person theory.” Your combined rating determines your monthly compensation amount, which ranges from $180.42 at 10% to $3,938.58 at 100% in 2026.
The rating system is defined in 38 CFR Part 4, commonly called the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities or “Book C.” This schedule lists diagnostic codes for every ratable condition and establishes the criteria VA uses to assign each percentage.
How Ratings Are Expressed
0% (noncompensable): You have a diagnosis, but it doesn’t impair your functioning enough to warrant compensation. You still receive priority health care eligibility.
10% to 100%:Â Rated in 10% increments. Each level represents increasing severity of functional impairment.
100%:Â Total occupational and social impairment. Reserved for the most severe cases.
What Determines Your Percentage
VA bases your rating on:
Medical evidence you submit (doctor’s reports, test results)
Your Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam results
The rating criteria for your specific diagnostic code in 38 CFR Part 4
Lay evidence, including buddy statements and personal statements
VA Disability Compensation Rates 2026
VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment. The 2026 rates took effect December 1, 2025, after a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) tied to Social Security increases.
2026 Basic Monthly Rates (Veteran Alone, No Dependents)
| Disability Rating | Monthly Payment |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Veterans with a 30% rating or higher receive additional compensation for dependents (spouse, children, and dependent parents). Veterans rated 10% or 20% do not receive dependent pay.
How Dependent Pay Works
For a Veteran with a 30% rating and a dependent spouse (no children), the monthly rate increases from $552.47 to $617.47. Each additional dependent child adds to the total.
VA Disability Percentages by Body System
Veterans May Qualify for Extra Benefits
Check available financial assistance, healthcare programs and other opportunities that may apply to you.
Check EligibilityVA organizes rating criteria by body system in 38 CFR Part 4. Each system has its own diagnostic codes and rating formula. Below are the most common categories and typical ratings.
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Musculoskeletal conditions are the most commonly rated disabilities, representing the largest share of all VA disability claims. VA rates these conditions using two primary methods: the General Rating Formula for the Spine (diagnostic codes 5235–5243) and joint-specific range-of-motion tables.
Back and Spine Conditions
| Condition Severity | Rating |
|---|---|
| Forward flexion greater than 60° but not greater than 85° | 10% |
| Forward flexion greater than 30° but not greater than 60° | 20% |
| Forward flexion 30° or less | 40% |
| Unfavorable ankylosis of entire thoracolumbar spine | 50% |
| Unfavorable ankylosis of entire spine | 100% |
VA also considers flare-ups under the DeLuca v. Brown standard, which requires VA to evaluate functional loss during painful flare-ups, not just during a single exam.
Knee Conditions
| Condition | Rating |
|---|---|
| Flexion limited to 60° | 0% |
| Flexion limited to 30° | 10% |
| Flexion limited to 20° | 20% |
| Flexion limited to 10° | 30% |
| Ankylosis in flexion at 20°–45° | 50% |
| Ankylosis in flexion at 45° or more | 60% |
A single knee can rate at 30% or higher when limitation of motion, instability, and arthritis are all properly claimed and documented.
Mental Health Conditions
VA rates mental health conditions under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (38 CFR § 4.130). Ratings for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions range from 0% to 100%.
| Rating | Criteria Summary |
|---|---|
| 0% | Diagnosis present, but symptoms don’t interfere with work or social functioning |
| 10% | Mild symptoms controlled by medication; occasional decrease in work efficiency |
| 30% | Occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent inability to perform occupational tasks |
| 50% | Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity |
| 70% | Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas (work, school, family, judgment, thinking, mood) |
| 100% | Total occupational and social impairment |
PTSD is rated under Diagnostic Code 9411. A 70% PTSD rating pays $1,808.45 per month in 2026; a 100% rating pays $3,938.58.
Hearing and Tinnitus
| Condition | Maximum Rating |
|---|---|
| Tinnitus (recurrent) | 10% |
| Hearing loss (bilateral) | 0–100% |
Tinnitus receives a single 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 6260 — there is no higher schedular rating available for tinnitus alone. Hearing loss is rated using a mechanical formula that combines puretone thresholds and speech discrimination scores from audiometric testing. A Veteran can receive separate ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss.
Respiratory Conditions (PACT Act Presumptive)
The PACT Act expanded presumptive service connection for over 20 respiratory and cancer conditions. VA rates these conditions using the same schedule as non-presumptive conditions, but the Veteran doesn’t need to prove a nexus between service and the condition.
| Condition | Typical Rating Range |
|---|---|
| Asthma | 10–100% (based on medication use and FEV-1) |
| COPD | 10–100% |
| Chronic bronchitis | 10–100% |
| Sleep apnea | 0–50% |
| Sinusitis/Rhinitis | 0–50% |
Cardiovascular Conditions
| Condition | Rating Criteria |
|---|---|
| Hypertension | 10% (if controlled with medication) or 20–60% based on diastolic pressure |
| Heart conditions (DC 7000–7018) | 10–100% based on METs and symptoms |
Neurological Conditions
| Condition | Typical Rating |
|---|---|
| Migraines | 0%, 10%, 30%, or 50% based on frequency and severity |
| Peripheral neuropathy | 10–40% per extremity |
| Traumatic brain injury (TBI) | 0–100% based on residuals |
How VA Combines Multiple Ratings
VA does not add disability ratings together. Instead, VA uses a “whole person theory” that treats the Veteran as starting at 100% able-bodied and assigns each disability as a percentage of the remaining functional capacity.
The Combined Ratings Formula
VA combines ratings in order of severity, from highest to lowest. The process works like this:
Start with the highest rating as a percentage of the whole person.
Subtract that percentage from 100% to find remaining able-bodied capacity.
Apply the next rating to the remaining capacity.
Repeat for each additional rating.
Round the final result to the nearest 10%.
Example: 50% + 30% + 10%
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Start | 100% – 50% | 50% remaining |
| Apply 30% | 30% Ă— 50% = 15% | 50% + 15% = 65% combined |
| Apply 10% | 10% Ă— 35% = 3.5% | 65% + 3.5% = 68.5% |
| Round | 68.5% rounds to | 70% |
The Veteran’s combined rating is 70%, even though the individual ratings (50 + 30 + 10) add up to 90%.
The Bilateral Factor
VA adds a 10% bilateral factor when you have a service-connected disability in both arms or both legs. This additional percentage is applied to the combined value of the bilateral disabilities before combining with other ratings.
Using VA’s Combined Ratings Table
VA publishes a Combined Ratings Table (Table I in 38 CFR § 4.25) that provides pre-calculated combined values. The table works by finding the intersection of two ratings. For example, 10 combined with 10 is 19 — not 20 — under VA math.
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Percentages
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is additional monthly compensation for Veterans with severe disabilities. SMC is paid on top of your regular disability compensation.
2026 SMC Rates
| SMC Level | Monthly Rate |
|---|---|
| SMC-K (loss of use of a body part or creative organ) | $139.87 |
| SMC-L (requires aid and attendance) | $4,900.83 |
| SMC-L ½ | $5,154.18 |
| SMC-M | $5,408.55 |
| SMC-S (housebound) | $4,408.53 |
Veterans rated 100% plus SMC-S (housebound) receive additional compensation when they’re substantially confined to their home due to their service-connected disabilities.
TDIU: 100% Pay Without a 100% Rating
Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) allows VA to pay a Veteran at the 100% rate even if their combined schedular rating is below 100%. TDIU is awarded when service-connected disabilities prevent the Veteran from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.
TDIU Eligibility Requirements
Schedular TDIU:
One disability rated at 60% or higher, OR
A combined rating of 70% with at least one disability rated 40% or higher
Extraschedular TDIU:
VA may award TDIU on an extraschedular basis when the Veteran’s unemployability is caused by a service-connected condition that doesn’t meet the schedular thresholds.
Income limits:Â For 2026, the poverty threshold for TDIU purposes is $16,330. Veterans earning below this amount may still qualify for TDIU. Veterans receiving TDIU can continue to receive it indefinitely, even after reaching retirement age.
In 2026, TDIU compensation is $3,938.58 per month for a single veteran, plus dependent additions.
Latest Rule Changes Affecting Ratings
VA Medication Rating Rule (February 2026)
In February 2026, VA published an interim final rule titled “Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication” that changes how examiners evaluate disabilities treated with medication. The rule directs that veterans be compensated for their actual level of functional impairment, and prohibits examiners from estimating what a condition would be like without medication.
The rule faced significant congressional pushback. Ranking Member Takano and Senator Blumenthal led efforts to rescind the regulation, arguing that it would lower disability ratings for veterans who take medications to manage their symptoms. As of October 2026, the regulation remains under review.
PACT Act Presumptive Expansions
VA continues to add presumptive conditions under the PACT Act. The law added 20+ conditions, including brain cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, kidney cancer, asthma, COPD, and chronic bronchitis. Veterans with these conditions who meet service requirements can receive service connection without proving a nexus.
Proposed PTSD Rating Changes
VA has proposed changes to the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders that could eliminate the 0% rating and set a minimum 10% for any service-connected mental health condition. The new criteria would shift from symptom-based language to a functional impairment framework with ratings based on severity in specific life domains. Status as of March 2026: under review.
Common Mistakes in Rating-Related Claims
Mistake 1: Not Claiming All Secondary Conditions
Many Veterans claim only their primary condition. Secondary conditions—conditions caused or worsened by a service-connected disability—are separately ratable and can significantly increase your combined rating. For example, a back condition causing radiculopathy in the legs, or knee pain causing an altered gait that leads to hip problems.
Mistake 2: Submitting Incomplete Evidence
A current diagnosis without evidence connecting the condition to service (a nexus) can result in denial. Submit service treatment records, private medical records, and lay statements.
Mistake 3: Skipping the C&P Exam
Missing your C&P exam almost guarantees a denial or low rating. The C&P exam is where VA’s medical examiner evaluates the severity of your condition.
Mistake 4: Not Appealing Low Ratings
You have one year from your decision letter to appeal. Many ratings that are initially assigned at 10% or 20% are increased on appeal when additional evidence is presented.
Mistake 5: Ignoring the Combined Ratings Table
Many Veterans add their individual ratings and expect to receive that total. VA math works differently. A 50% and 40% rating equals 70%, not 90%.
Common Questions
1. Can two 50% ratings equal 100%?
No. Using VA’s combined rating formula, 50% + 50% equals 75%, which rounds to 80%. You would need additional ratings to reach 100%.
2. What is the maximum rating for tinnitus?
Tinnitus is rated at a maximum of 10% under Diagnostic Code 6260. You can receive separate ratings for hearing loss if audiometric testing supports it.
3. How do I get a higher rating for my back?
VA rates backs based on range of motion. A forward flexion of 30° or less warrants a 40% rating. Documenting functional loss during flare-ups under DeLuca v. Brown can also increase your rating.
4. What is the 100% VA rating amount in 2026?
A 100% VA disability rating pays $3,938.58 per month for a single veteran without dependents, effective December 1, 2025.
5. Can I work with a 100% VA rating?
Yes. Unlike TDIU, a schedular 100% rating does not restrict employment. Veterans with a 100% permanent and total (P&T) rating may qualify for additional benefits like Chapter 35 dependent education assistance.
6. What is the 55-year-old rule for VA ratings?
VA generally does not schedule reexaminations for veterans over age 55, and ratings that have been in effect for 20 years or more are protected from reduction.
7. How does VA rate multiple conditions?
VA uses the combined ratings formula: start with the highest rating, subtract from 100%, apply the next rating to the remaining percentage, and continue. Round the final result to the nearest 10%.
8. What is a 0% VA rating?
A 0% rating means you have a service-connected condition, but it doesn’t currently impair your functioning enough to warrant compensation. You still qualify for VA health care and may be eligible for other benefits.
9. Can VA reduce my rating?
Yes, if your condition improves. VA may schedule a reexamination. However, ratings in effect for 20+ years are protected. The February 2026 medication rule could lead to more frequent rating reductions for veterans taking medication.
10. What is the difference between schedular and extraschedular ratings?
A schedular rating follows the criteria in 38 CFR Part 4. An extraschedular rating (under 38 CFR § 3.321(b)(1)) is assigned when the schedular criteria don’t adequately reflect the severity of the disability.
Key Takeaways
VA disability ratings range from 0% to 100% in 10% increments, based on the severity of each service-connected condition.
The 2026 monthly payment for a 10% rating is $180.42; for 100%, it’s $3,938.58.
VA uses the “whole person theory” to combine ratings—50% + 50% equals 80%, not 100%.
Tinnitus maxes out at 10%; PTSD can rate 0–100%; back conditions typically rate 10–40%.
The PACT Act added 20+ presumptive conditions for toxic-exposed veterans.
TDIU pays at the 100% rate for veterans who can’t work due to service-connected disabilities.
SMC adds compensation for severe disabilities like loss of limb use or housebound status.
The February 2026 VA medication rule could lower ratings for veterans taking symptom-managing drugs.
Filing secondary condition claims can significantly increase your combined rating.
You have one year from a decision letter to appeal.
Official Resources
VA Disability Compensation:Â https://www.va.gov/disability/
About Disability Ratings:Â https://www.va.gov/disability/about-disability-ratings/
2026 Compensation Rates:Â https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/
SMC Rates:Â https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/special-monthly-compensation-rates/
38 CFR Part 4 (Rating Schedule):Â https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/part-4
PACT Act Information:Â https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/
TDIU Information:Â https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/special-claims/unemployability/
Find an Accredited Representative:Â https://www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/
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