VA Disability Calculator 2026 — Combined Rating & Monthly Pay Estimator
VA Disability Calculator
Enter each of your service-connected disability ratings — this calculator applies the VA's official combined-rating formula, rounds it the way the VA does, and looks up your exact 2026 monthly payment from VA.gov's published rate tables.
Your disability ratings
Add every individual rating from your VA decision letter — the VA doesn't simply add these together.
Estimate only, using official 2026 VA compensation rates (effective Dec. 1, 2025, 2.8% COLA), sourced directly from VA.gov. Does not include the bilateral factor, Special Monthly Compensation (SMC), or Individual Unemployability (TDIU) — those can increase your actual payment above this estimate. Not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Not benefits advice — confirm your exact rating and payment with the VA.
How does the VA calculate a combined disability rating?
The VA doesn't add your individual ratings together. It starts with your highest-rated disability, then applies each additional rating to whatever "non-disabled" percentage remains — a process veterans and attorneys call "VA math." The result is then rounded to the nearest 10%, with anything ending in 5 or more rounding up.
2026 VA disability pay chart — veteran alone (no dependents)
| Rating | Monthly payment |
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Source: VA.gov official compensation rates, effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA). Rates for veterans with a spouse, children, or dependent parents are higher at 30% and above — the calculator above applies those automatically based on your household selection.
Why don't my disability ratings just add up?
The VA treats each rating as a percentage of your remaining ability, not your total ability — so ratings combine multiplicatively against what's left, not by simple addition. This keeps a veteran with several disabilities from mathematically exceeding 100% too easily.
Why does my combined rating round to a multiple of 10?
After the VA math formula produces a raw combined percentage, the result is rounded to the nearest 10% — 5 and above rounds up, below 5 rounds down. So a raw 64% becomes 60%, while a raw 65% becomes 70%. This final number sets your compensation tier.
Do dependents affect my VA disability pay?
Only at a combined rating of 30% or higher. At 10% and 20%, your monthly payment is fixed regardless of a spouse, children, or dependent parents. From 30% up, adding dependents increases your monthly compensation.
What is the bilateral factor?
When a veteran has disabilities affecting both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles, VA regulations add a 10% bonus to that pair's combined value before combining it with the rest of the ratings. This calculator doesn't include the bilateral factor — if it applies to you, your actual combined rating may be slightly higher than this estimate.
What is TDIU and why isn't it included here?
Individual Unemployability (TDIU) lets some veterans who can't maintain substantial employment because of their service-connected disabilities receive compensation at the 100% rate, even with a lower combined schedular rating. TDIU depends on your work history and specific disabilities, so it requires a claim reviewed by the VA — a general calculator can't determine eligibility.
What is Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)?
SMC is additional compensation paid on top of standard disability ratings for specific circumstances — such as loss of a limb, being housebound, or needing regular aid and attendance. SMC rates don't follow the standard combined-rating table, so they aren't included in this estimate.