VA Disability Calculator

Straightforward claims typically take 107-125 days (roughly 4 months). Claims with multiple conditions, appeals, or complex C&P exams often stretch to 5-6 months or longer.

Filing an Intent to File (ITF) locks in your effective date while you gather evidence—this protects your back pay if your claim takes time. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate your potential monthly payment.

If approved with a 10% or higher combined rating, your first payment typically arrives within 15 days of your decision letter. This payment often includes back pay from your effective date—usually the date VA received your Intent to File or claim.

Check the VA pay schedule to see exactly when deposits hit each month.

VA disability rates adjust annually based on the Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). New rates take effect December 1st and appear in your January deposit.

Our disability calculator updates with each COLA announcement so you can see your projected monthly payment.

VA deposits hit on the first business day of each month. If the 1st falls on a weekend or federal holiday, your payment arrives the next business day.

The VA pay schedule shows every adjusted date for the full year so you can plan ahead.

VA math doesn't work like regular math. Instead of adding percentages, the VA uses the "whole person" theory—each rating applies to what's left of your "able body." So 50% + 50% doesn't equal 100%; it equals 75% (50% of the remaining 50% = 25%, plus the original 50%).

Confusing? Use our VA disability calculator to see exactly how your ratings combine and what your final combined rating would be.

The bilateral factor is a 10% bonus the VA applies when you have disabilities affecting both sides of your body—like conditions in both knees, both arms, or paired muscle groups. Both conditions must be rated above 0%.

The VA combines your bilateral conditions first, then adds 10% of that combined value before factoring it into your overall rating. Our calculator automatically applies the bilateral factor when you enter matching conditions.

For 2026 (effective December 1, 2025), monthly VA disability rates range from $180.42 at 10% to $3,938.58 at 100% for a single veteran with no dependents. Veterans rated 30% or higher receive additional amounts for spouses, children, and dependent parents.

Use our disability calculator to see exactly what your rating pays with your specific dependent situation.

VA math combines ratings using the "whole person" theory: (1) Order your ratings from highest to lowest. (2) Apply each rating to the remaining percentage of your "whole body." (3) Round the final result to the nearest 10%. (4) Add the bilateral factor if applicable.

Example: 70% + 50% = 70 + (50% of remaining 30) = 70 + 15 = 85%, which rounds to 90%. The calculator does this math instantly.

The maximum schedular rating is 100%. However, veterans with severe conditions—like loss of limb, blindness, or need for regular aid and attendance—may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC), which provides additional monthly payments above the 100% rate.

SMC has multiple levels (S, K, L through R) based on the severity and combination of disabilities. Our Field Manuals cover SMC eligibility in detail.

Yes. Multiple conditions combine using VA math to reach 100%. For example, 70% + 60% = 88% combined, which rounds to 90%. To round up to 100%, you need a combined value of 94.5% or higher before rounding.

You can also reach 100% through TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability) if your conditions prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment—even with lower combined ratings. The calculator shows exactly what combinations work.

Yes, but only if your combined rating is 30% or higher. At 30%+, you receive additional monthly compensation for your spouse, children under 18, children in school ages 18-23, and dependent parents. The amount increases with your rating percentage.

Our disability calculator lets you add dependents to see your exact monthly payment. Make sure VA has your current dependent information on file.

Dependent payments are added to your base veteran-alone rate. Start with the rate for your combined percentage, then add the amounts for spouse, each child under 18, each school-age child (18-23), and any dependent parents. If your spouse needs Aid & Attendance, there's an additional amount for that too.

The calculator breaks down each component so you can see exactly where your payment comes from.

VA math uses the "whole person" theory instead of simple addition. Each rating applies to the remaining "healthy" percentage of your body. Example: 50% + 30% doesn't equal 80%—it equals 65% (50% + 30% of remaining 50% = 50% + 15% = 65%).

The VA combines ratings from highest to lowest, then rounds to the nearest 10%. This prevents combined ratings from exceeding 100%. Use our VA disability calculator to see exactly how your ratings combine.