The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides disability compensation benefits to veterans with current disabilities that were either caused by an in-service event or injury or aggravated during active military service. When a veteran applies for and is granted VA service-connected disability benefits, the VA assigns the veteran a disability rating. The assigned rating corresponds with the VA disability rates table provided by the VA.
Veterans who receive at least a 10% disability rating from the VA are eligible for a monthly tax-free disability compensation payment. As weird as it sounds, it is possible for a veteran to receive a zero percent (noncompensable) disability rating.
The VA compensation benefits rate table sets out the amount of disability payments to be made each month. Ratings begin at zero percent and increase in ten percent increments up to 100%.
The VA disability rates are different for veterans who have children and those without kids. The charts are furthered divided by the number of dependents a veteran has such as a wife or parents.
The VA disability rates for 2019 are:
All Veterans:10% – $140.05
20% – $276.8430% – 60% Without Children
| Dependent Status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran Alone | $428.83 | $617.73 | $879.36 | $1,113.86 |
| Veteran with Spouse Only | $479.83 | $685.73 | $964.36 | $1,215.86 |
| Veteran with Spouse & One Parent | $520.83 | $739.73 | $1,032.36 | $1,297.86 |
70% – 100% Without Children
| Dependent Status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran Alone | $1,403.71 | $1,631.69 | $1,833.62 | $3,057.13 |
| Veteran with Spouse Only | $1,522.71 | $1,767.69 | $1,986.62 | $3,227.58 |
| Veteran with Spouse and One Parent | $1,617.71 | $1,876.69 | $2,109.62 | $3,364.37 |
30% – 60% With Children
| Dependent Status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran with Spouse and Child | $516.83 | $735.73 | $1,026.36 | $1,290.86 |
| Veteran with Child Only | $462.83 | $662.73 | $935.36 | $1,181.86 |
| Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child | $557.83 | $789.73 | $1,094.36 | $1,372.86 |
70% – 100% With Children
| Dependent Status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran with Spouse and Child | $1,609.71 | $1,867.69 | $2,098.62 | $3,352.41 |
| Veteran with Child Only | $1,482.71 | $1,722.69 | $1,935.62 | $3,171.12 |
| Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child | $1,704.71 | $1,976.69 | $2,221.62 | $3,489.20 |
The complete VA disability rates table can be found at https://www.benefits.va.gov/COMPENSATION/resources_comp01.asp
What can I do if I disagree with the rating that the VA assigned me?
If you receive a rating decision from the VA assigning you a rating for a service-connected disability you have one year from the date of that decision to file a Notice of Disagreement to appeal the decision. If you have a rating for a condition and the year to appeal the decision has passed you can file a claim for an increased disability rating.
Before you decide to appeal a decision or file a claim for an increased rating you should first talk to a veterans service officer or an experienced veterans law attorney. The VA claims and appeals process is often times frustrating and almost always takes a long time. With the help of an experienced advocate you can ensure that your claim is well developed and managed.
Attorney Javier Centonzio is a uniquely qualified veterans disability attorney. He is a veteran who has personally dealt with the VA claims and appeals process, a former intern at the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program and the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), a former federal judicial law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and is currently a VA Accredited Attorney who represents claimants before the VA Regional Offices, Board of Veterans Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.