How much does VA pay for Veterans Disability Compensation?
Unlike Social Security disability which is considered total disability, The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes partial disability up to 100%; tied to ever increasing levels of inability to maintain gainful employment.
If a claim is approved, VA will assign a disability rating from 0% to 100%. A 0% disability rating does not pay any benefit. Why then would one want such a rating? The answer is that by receiving a 0% rating, your Regional Office Veterans Service Center has recognized that the disability is service-connected. You have already overcome a large hurdle towards getting a benefit. If, in the future, the disability worsens or causes a secondary disability, then service connection is already established and you now only have to provide evidence that the condition has worsened or that it has caused a secondary condition.
We post the rates for 2020 below. You will notice that the difference between 90% and 100% is significant. This represents the loss of earnings capacity between someone who might possibly still be employed and someone who at 100% is considered unemployable.
Disability Compensation Rate Table for 2020 (In Dollars)
Disability Percent |
10% |
20% |
30% |
40% |
50% |
60% |
70% |
80% |
90% |
100% |
Veteran Alone |
142.29 |
281.27 |
435.69 |
627.61 |
893.43 |
1,131.68 |
1,426.17 |
1,657.80 |
1,862.96 |
3,106.04 |
Veteran & Spouse |
486.69 |
696.61 |
979.43 |
1,234.69 |
1,547.17 |
1,795.80 |
2,017.96 |
3,279.22 |
||
Vet – Sp – 1 Child |
|
|
525.69 |
747.61 |
1,043.43 |
1,311.68 |
1,636.17 |
1,897.80 |
2,132.96 |
3,406.04 |
Vet – 1 Child |
|
|
469.69 |
673.61 |
950.43 |
1,200.68 |
1,507.17 |
1,749.80 |
1,966.96 |
3,221.85 |
Additional Child |
|
|
25.00 |
34.00 |
43.00 |
51.00 |
60.00 |
68.00 |
77.00 |
86.05 |
Addt. Schoolchild |
|
|
83.00 |
111.00 |
138.00 |
166.00 |
194.00 |
222.00 |
250.00 |
277.96 |
A&A for Spouse |
|
|
48.00 |
63.00 |
80.00 |
96.00 |
111.00 |
127.00 |
143.00 |
158.82 |
Note: If veteran has a spouse who requires A&A, add "A&A for spouse" to the amount of dependency & rate code above. |

Veterans on Claim for Compensation |
|||
|
Total Number of Veterans on Claim |
Average Yearly Amount of Benefit |
Total Amount Paid out in Billions of Dollars |
|
|||
2010 |
3,154,727 |
$12,075 |
$38.09 |
2011 |
3,280,376 |
$13,355 |
$43.87 |
2012 |
3,536,802 |
$12,542 |
$44.36 |
2013 |
3,743,259 |
$13,131 |
$49.15 |
2014 |
3,949,066 |
$13,732 |
$54.23 |
2015 |
4,168,774 |
$14,444 |
$60.21 |
2016 |
4,356,443 |
$14,855 |
$64.71 |
2017 |
4,552,819 |
$15,373 |
$69.99 |
2018 |
4,655,629 |
$16,808 |
$78.25 |
2019 |
4,850,289 |
$17,553 |
$85.14 |
2020 |
5,039,297 |
$18,320 |
$92.32 |
Not only has and will the number of veterans receiving Compensation increase over this period of 11 years – while at the same time the population of veterans will decrease – but the average yearly amount will increase faster than the CPI. Over these 11 years, the benefit will increase by an average of 4.3% per year while the average CPI inflation rate is estimated at 2% per year.
These increases are primarily due to aging veterans on claim getting more disabled, an increase in special monthly Compensation benefits, a higher percentage of Gulf War veterans making claims as well as Vietnam veterans who are getting older and making agent orange claims and finally an increasing number of hearing loss claims.
Please refer to the table of contents in the top right column of this page for more topics on VA Disability Compensation.
Find Help in Your Area · Veterans Benefits · Resources · Contact Us

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Disability Compensation
- What is Compensation
- Eligibility for Compensation
- Entitlement for Compensation
- Income Rating Levels
- Presumptive Service-Connected
- Direct Service-Connected
- Secondary Service-Connected
- Common Compensation Claims
- Claims Taking Too Long
- Shorten Claim Decisions
- Options for Bad Decisions
- Claimant Dies before Decision
- Determining Disability Ratings
- Examples of Claims
- Aid & Attendance Allowance
- Other Benefits for Claimants
How to Apply Book

How to Apply for VA Benefits for Veterans and Their Survivors
This 2023 Edition provides detailed instructions on how to submit claims for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs new intake center and uses the successful "Fully Developed Claim Process" for faster and better decisions. View the Book...
Navigation
Resources
- About Accreditation & Fees
- Accreditation Study Materials
- CLE to Maintain VA Accreditation
- Correcting Your Military Discharge
- Find Home Care / Assisted Living
- Find Hospice Care
- Find Medical Alert
- Help finding a LTC Facility
- Help with Care Management
- Help with Elder Law
- Help with Estate Planning
- Help with Disputes / Mediation
- Help with Financial Planning
- Help with Medicaid Planning
- Help with Tax Planning
- Informal Claims / Effective Dates
- Service Connected Disabilities
- State VA Nursing Homes
- VA Aid and Attendance Benefit
- VA Burial Benefits
- VA Healthcare System
- VA Help - Surviving Spouse
- VA Home Renovation Grants
- VA Long Term Care Benefits
- VA Pays Family for Eldercare
- VA Regional Offices
VA Forms

This section provides downloadable files of the most commonly used VA Forms for senior veterans seeking benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. View the Forms...
Become a Member of the Senior Veterans Service Alliance

Become a member of the SVSA and help our organization support the needs of senior veterans who served their country in a time of need. Learn more about the benefits of membership.