VA Disability Calculator

Updated May 28, 2026 By Jehan Wadia

Disability	How to Enter It
Vision Loss	Select "Other", choose your percentage
Cerebral Palsy	Select "Other", choose your percentage
Left Shoulder Injury	Select "Left Arm", choose your percentage
PTSD	Select "Mental Condition", choose your percentage
Right Knee Injury	Select "Right Leg", choose your percentage
Sleep Apnea	Select "Respiratory", choose your percentage
Tinnitus	Select "Other", choose your percentage
Eczema	Select "Skin Condition", choose your percentage

Introduction

This VA Disability Calculator helps you estimate your monthly and yearly compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA uses a special math formula to combine your disability ratings. It does not simply add them together. This tool does that math for you. Just pick your disabilities, enter your rating for each one, and add any dependents you have. The calculator will show your combined rating, your estimated pay, and a full breakdown of how the VA math works. It also checks if you may qualify for TDIU, which pays you at the 100% rate if you cannot work due to your service-connected conditions. All rates shown are based on the 2024 VA compensation schedule. If you are also exploring home financing options available to veterans, our VA Loan Calculator can help you estimate mortgage payments using your VA loan benefit.

How to Use Our VA Disability Calculator

Enter your service-connected disabilities and dependent information below. The calculator will show your combined VA disability rating and estimated monthly and annual compensation.

Select a Condition Category: Pick the body part or condition type that matches your disability. Choose from options like Left Arm, Right Leg, Mental Condition, Skin, Respiratory, Cancer, or Other.

Select Your Disability Rating: After picking a category, choose the rating percentage the VA assigned to that condition. Ratings range from 10% to 100%. You can add as many disabilities as you have. If you need help understanding how percentages combine differently than simple addition, our Percentage Calculator can help illustrate basic percentage math.

Spouse: Use the plus and minus buttons to enter 1 if you have a spouse or leave it at 0 if you do not.

Children Under 18: Enter the number of dependent children you have who are under 18 years old.

Children 18–23 in School: Enter the number of your children between 18 and 23 who attend school full time.

Dependent Parents: Enter the number of dependent parents you support. You can enter 0, 1, or 2.

Individual Unemployability (TDIU): Select "Yes" if you cannot work because of your service-connected disabilities. This may raise your pay to the 100% rate even if your combined rating is lower.

Calculate: Click the Calculate button to see your combined VA disability rating, estimated monthly payment, estimated annual payment, and a full breakdown of how VA math works.

What Is VA Disability Compensation?

VA disability compensation is a monthly tax-free payment from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It goes to veterans who got sick or injured while serving in the military. The amount you get depends on how severe your disabilities are. The VA gives each disability a rating from 0% to 100% in steps of 10. A higher rating means more money each month. Since this income is tax-free, it can play a big role in your overall financial picture. You can use our Net Worth Calculator to see how your total finances look, or our Take Home Pay Calculator to understand your after-tax earnings from any additional employment.

How Does VA Math Work?

The VA does not simply add your disability ratings together. Instead, they use a special formula called "VA math" or the combined ratings formula. It works like this: your highest-rated disability is applied first to your whole body (100%). Then each remaining disability is applied only to the healthy part of your body that is left. This means two 50% ratings do not equal 100%. They actually combine to about 75%. The final number is then rounded to the nearest 10%. If you want to explore how rounding works in other contexts, our Rounding Calculator can help clarify that concept.

How Do Dependents Affect Your Pay?

If your combined rating is 30% or higher, you can get extra money for dependents. This includes a spouse, children under 18, children aged 18 to 23 who are in school, and dependent parents. The more dependents you have and the higher your rating, the more extra pay you receive. Veterans rated below 30% do not get dependent add-ons. Planning for a family's financial future is important, and tools like our Savings Calculator or Emergency Fund Calculator can help you set goals based on your household income including VA compensation.

What Is TDIU?

TDIU stands for Total Disability Individual Unemployability. If your service-connected disabilities stop you from holding a steady job, the VA may pay you at the 100% rate even if your combined rating is lower than 100%. To qualify, you usually need at least one disability rated at 60% or more, or a combined rating of 70% or more with at least one disability rated at 40% or more. Veterans receiving TDIU benefits may also want to explore other financial planning tools such as our Retirement Calculator to plan for long-term financial security.

Important Things to Know

VA compensation rates change each year. The rates shown here are based on the 2024 VA pay schedule. Your actual payment may differ based on your specific situation. This calculator gives you an estimate, not a guarantee. For exact amounts and to file a claim, visit the official VA.gov website or speak with a VA representative. Veterans looking into homeownership should also consider our VA Loan Calculator for estimating mortgage payments, our Home Affordability Calculator to determine what you can afford, or our Property Tax Calculator to estimate ongoing costs. If you are comparing insurance options to protect your family, our Life Insurance Calculator and Homeowners Insurance Calculator can also be helpful planning tools.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my combined rating not equal the sum of my individual ratings?

The VA does not add ratings together. It uses a formula called VA math. Each disability is applied to the healthy part of your body that remains. For example, a 50% and a 30% do not make 80%. The 50% is applied first, leaving 50% healthy. Then 30% of that 50% is taken, which is 15%. So the combined total is 65%, which rounds to 70%. This calculator does all that math for you.

What does the rounded rating mean?

After the VA combines all your disability ratings using VA math, the result is usually a number with decimals. The VA rounds that number to the nearest multiple of 10. For example, 65.3% rounds to 70%, and 54.9% rounds to 50%. Your monthly pay is based on the rounded rating, not the exact number.

Does it matter what order I enter my disabilities?

No. The calculator automatically sorts your ratings from highest to lowest before doing the math. This is the same way the VA calculates it. You can enter your disabilities in any order and get the same result.

Why do I not get extra pay for dependents at 10% or 20%?

The VA only adds dependent pay when your combined rating is 30% or higher. If your rounded rating is 10% or 20%, you get the base rate only. No extra money is added for a spouse, children, or parents at those levels.

Can I add more than one disability under the same category?

Yes. You can add multiple disabilities under the same category. For example, if you have two separate left arm injuries with different ratings, you can select Left Arm twice and choose a different rating each time. The calculator will include both in the combined rating.

Which category should I pick for my condition?

Pick the category that best matches the body part or type of condition. Use Left Arm or Right Arm for shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand issues on that side. Use Left Leg or Right Leg for hip, knee, ankle, or foot problems. Use Mental for PTSD, anxiety, or depression. Use Respiratory for asthma or sleep apnea. Use Other for things like tinnitus, hearing loss, vision loss, or anything that does not fit the other categories. The category you pick does not change the math. It just helps you keep track of your entries.

Are these compensation amounts exact?

These are estimates based on the 2024 VA compensation rate tables. Your actual payment may be slightly different depending on your exact situation. For official amounts, check with the VA directly at VA.gov.

Is VA disability compensation taxed?

No. VA disability compensation is tax-free. You do not pay federal or state income tax on it. You also do not need to report it as income on your tax return.

What happens if my combined rating lands exactly between two multiples of 10?

If your exact combined rating ends in 5 or higher, it rounds up. If it ends in 4 or lower, it rounds down. For example, 55% rounds to 60%, and 74% rounds to 70%. The number 75% rounds up to 80%.

Can I remove a disability after I add it?

Yes. Each disability you add shows up as a tag with an × button next to it. Click the × to remove that one disability. You can also click the Clear All button to remove all of them at once and start over.

How do I know if I qualify for TDIU?

The standard TDIU rules require at least one disability rated at 60% or higher, or a combined rating of 70% or higher with at least one disability rated at 40% or higher. You must also be unable to hold a steady job because of your service-connected conditions. This calculator checks those thresholds for you when you select Yes for TDIU.

What if I select TDIU but do not meet the eligibility requirements?

The calculator will show a warning that you may not meet the standard TDIU thresholds. However, you can still apply for TDIU on an extraschedular basis through the VA. Talk to a VA representative about your options.

How many disabilities can I enter into the calculator?

There is no limit. You can add as many service-connected disabilities as you have. The calculator will combine all of them using the VA math formula.

What is the maximum monthly payment I can get?

The maximum base rate for a veteran alone at 100% is $3,737.85 per month in 2024. If you have dependents, the amount goes higher. The exact total depends on how many dependents you have and what type they are.

Do the 2024 rates change during the year?

No. VA compensation rates are set once per year, usually with a cost-of-living adjustment that takes effect on December 1. The rates stay the same for the full year until the next adjustment.

Can a dependent parent be my spouse's parent?

No. Dependent parents must be your own parents, not your spouse's parents. They must also depend on you for financial support to qualify as dependents for VA compensation purposes.