Service connection established, VA healthcare enrollment (priority group depends on whether the 0% rating is compensable and on income), commissary/exchange access
Monthly tax-free payment, VA home loan funding fee exemption
Additional compensation for dependents (spouse, children, dependent parents) begins
CRDP eligibility (retirees), Priority Group 1 healthcare (no copays)
TDIU (Individual Unemployability) schedular threshold — combined 70% with one disability at 40%+, or a single disability at 60%+, when unable to hold substantially gainful employment (38 CFR § 4.16(a))
Maximum schedular comp ($3,938.58/mo veteran alone; more with dependents), Class IV VA dental care (38 CFR § 17.161(h)), many state property tax exemptions
All above + permanent status, no future re-examinations, CHAMPVA for dependents (38 U.S.C. § 1781(a)(1)), Chapter 35 DEA for dependents (38 U.S.C. § 3501(a)(1)(A)(ii)), additional state-specific benefits
CHAMPVA and Chapter 35 DEA require the VA to rate the veteran permanently and totally disabled (P&T) — reachable through a permanent 100% schedular rating or through TDIU that the VA has found permanent. The rating percentage alone does not establish eligibility. Class IV VA dental care, by contrast, keys on a 100% schedular rating or TDIU with no permanence requirement.
Ready to file?
File your claim online at VA.gov. Start with an Intent to File to preserve your effective date.
File a claim at VA.govGeneral information about VA disability compensation. Not legal advice. Every claim is unique — consult with a VA-accredited representative (VSO, attorney, or claims agent) for your specific situation.
About this entitlement
What you need to know — straight from the regulation
What VA disability compensation is
VA disability compensation is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to veterans with service-connected disabilities. It is authorized under Chapter 11 of Title 38 of the United States Code (38 U.S.C. Ch. 11) and administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Disability ratings are assigned in 10-percent increments from 0% to 100% based on the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) in 38 CFR Part 4.
Compensation rates are set by statute and adjusted annually by the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), effective December 1 each year.
38 U.S.C. Chapter 11 · 38 CFR Part 4 (VASRD)
How multiple ratings combine
When a veteran has more than one service-connected condition, the combined rating is computed using the formula in 38 CFR § 4.25, not by simple addition. Each successive rating reduces the remaining "efficiency," and the final combined value is rounded to the nearest 10%.
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 provides higher compensation for specific severe disabilities (such as loss of a limb or need for aid and attendance) and is not computed from the combined rating.
38 CFR § 4.25 (combined ratings) · 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (SMC)
PACT Act presumptive conditions
The Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-168) expanded the list of conditions presumed to be service-connected for veterans exposed to toxic substances during service. Presumptive service connection under the PACT Act means the VA presumes the connection for eligible veterans without requiring them to prove it, which significantly streamlines the claims process.
Public Law 117-168 · 38 U.S.C. §§ 1116, 1117, 1120 (presumptives)
Source & references
- Primary source
- VA.gov · 38 U.S.C. Chapter 11 · 38 CFR Part 4 · Public Law 117-168 (PACT Act) — view official publication
- Regulatory reference
- 38 U.S.C. Ch. 11 · 38 CFR Part 4, § 4.25 · 38 U.S.C. § 1114 · Public Law 117-168
- Effective date
- December 1, 2025 (CY2026 rates)
- VA.gov — 2026 disability compensation rates
- https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/
Military Toolkit is not affiliated with the Department of Defense, DFAS, DTMO, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any government agency. Rates and rules on this page are pulled directly from the publications cited above. Always verify with your finance office, TMO, or the official rate page before making financial or planning decisions.