VA Disability

What is VA Disability Compensation?

VA Disability Compensation is a tax-free monthly monetary benefit paid to veterans who have service-connected disabilities (injuries or illnesses that occurred or worsened during active military service). The amount of compensation is based on the veteran's combined disability rating, which ranges from 10% to 100%, and their dependency status.

The benefit rates are adjusted annually using the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) index. For 2026, the rates reflect a 2.8% COLA increase, which went into effect on December 1, 2025.

Understanding "VA Math"

Veterans with multiple service-connected disabilities often find that their final combined rating is not simply the sum of their individual ratings. Instead, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs uses a specialized system commonly referred to as "VA Math."

VA Math is based on the concept of **remaining efficiency** (or whole person efficiency). It assumes that a healthy, non-disabled person starts with a 100% efficient body. Each disability rating is applied to the *remaining* efficiency rather than the whole body:

1. Individual ratings are sorted from highest to lowest.
2. The highest rating is applied first to the 100% efficient body. For example, a 50% rating leaves the body 50% efficient (and 50% disabled).
3. The next highest rating is applied to the remaining efficiency. If the next rating is 30%, it is calculated as 30% of the remaining 50% efficiency, which equals 15%. This brings the total disability to 50% + 15% = 65% (leaving 35% remaining efficiency).
4. This process is repeated for all individual ratings.
5. The final combined rating is rounded to the nearest 10% increment (e.g., 65% rounds up to 70%, while 64% rounds down to 60%).

Mathematical Formula for Combined Rating

If a veteran has $n$ individual disability ratings, $R_1, R_2, \dots, R_n$ (expressed as decimals), the remaining efficiency is:

$$\text{Remaining Efficiency} = 100 \times \prod_{i=1}^{n} (1 - R_i)$$

And the final raw combined disability rating is:

$$\text{Combined Rating} = 100 - \text{Remaining Efficiency}$$

Additional Pay for Dependents

Veterans who receive a combined rating of 30% or higher are eligible for additional monthly compensation for their dependents, which includes spouses, children (under 18, or 18-23 in school), and dependent parents. Veterans with a 10% or 20% rating receive a flat monthly rate regardless of their dependency status.