VA disability compensation calculator
Select your VA disability rating and dependent status to see your estimated monthly and annual tax-free compensation. Uses 2024 official VA rate tables (effective December 1, 2023).
Estimated Compensation
Monthly Tax-Free Payment $1,716
Annual Payment $20,592
Tax Status 100% tax-free
Rate Year 2024 (Dec 1 2023)
Multiple disabilities use the VA combined ratings formula, not simple addition. This calculator uses a single disability rating.
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How VA disability compensation is calculated
VA disability compensation is a monthly, tax-free benefit paid to veterans for service-connected disabilities — physical or mental conditions caused or worsened by military service. The amount is determined by three factors:
- Disability rating — assigned by the VA in increments of 10% (0–100%), based on the severity of each condition as documented in your C&P exam and medical records.
- Combined rating — when a veteran has multiple disabilities, the VA uses the "whole person" method rather than simple addition. The result is rounded to the nearest 10%.
- Dependent status — veterans rated 30% or higher receive additional monthly amounts for a spouse and qualifying children.
2024 base compensation rates
| Rating | Single veteran | With spouse |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $171 | $171 (no supplement) |
| 30% | $524 | $581 |
| 50% | $1,075 | $1,170 |
| 70% | $1,716 | $1,849 |
| 100% | $3,737 | $3,927 |
Combined VA ratings calculator
Use this tool to estimate a combined rating from up to five individual disabilities. The VA whole-person formula applies each rating to the remaining efficiency in sequence, largest first, then rounds to the nearest 10%.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is VA disability compensation taxable?
- No. VA disability compensation is completely exempt from federal and state income tax. You do not report it on your tax return and it does not count toward your Social Security benefits calculation or income-based program eligibility in most cases.
- How does the VA combined ratings formula work?
- The VA does not simply add disability percentages. Instead, it uses the whole-person method: starting with 100% efficiency, each disability reduces what remains. Two 50% disabilities yield a combined rating of 75% (50% of the remaining 50% = 25%, subtracted from 100%), which rounds to 80% — not 100%. This calculator uses a single rating; enter your combined rating from your VA decision letter for the most accurate estimate.
- What is TDIU and how does it affect compensation?
- Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) allows veterans who cannot maintain substantially gainful employment to receive compensation at the 100% rate even if their combined disability rating is below 100%. Eligibility generally requires a single disability rated at 60%+ or multiple disabilities totaling 70%+ with at least one at 40%. TDIU compensation equals the 100% base rate.
- When do dependent supplements apply?
- The VA adds dependent supplements for a spouse and each qualifying child only for veterans rated 30% or higher. At ratings below 30%, the compensation amount is the same regardless of dependents. The spouse supplement ranges from $57/month (30%) to $190/month (100%). Each child adds $32–$109/month depending on the rating.
- What is Aid and Attendance (A&A)?
- Aid and Attendance is a special monthly compensation for veterans who require the help of another person for daily activities — such as bathing, feeding, dressing, or adjusting prosthetic devices — or who are blind, bedridden, or in a nursing home. The supplement is added on top of the regular compensation for veterans rated 30% or higher.
- How often are VA compensation rates updated?
- Rates are adjusted each December 1st by the same Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) percentage applied to Social Security benefits. The 2024 rates (effective December 1, 2023) reflect a 3.2% COLA. This calculator uses 2024 published rates.