How Much Compensation Does a Disabled Veteran Receive?

A veteran who is wholly or partly disabled by a service-connected medical condition may be entitled to monthly monetary compensation and other benefits. The amount of VA disability benefits a veteran receives will depend on factors such as:

The VA disability rating assigned
The number and type of dependents the veteran has
Whether the veteran qualifies for special monthly compensation in place of or in addition to their regular disabled veterans benefits

Here’s what you need to know about 2025 VA disability compensation rates, how they are determined, and when you may be entitled to more than the standard base amount for your disability rating.

VA Disability Benefits in 2025

The base amount of disabled veteran benefits changes from year to year, as the VA applies an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA). This increase is based on consumer price data, and is calculated by the Social Security Administration (SSA) each year.

In 2025, the base VA disability benefit amounts are:

100% VA disability rating – $3,831.30/month
90% VA disability rating – $2,297.96/month
80% VA disability rating – $2,044.89/month
70% VA disability rating – $1,759.19/month
60% VA disability rating – $1,395.93/month
50% VA disability rating – $1,102.04/month
40% VA disability rating – $774.16/month
30% VA disability rating – $537.42/month
20% VA disability rating – $346.95/month
10% VA disability rating – $175.51/month

In some circumstances, a disabled veteran may be assigned a 0% disability rating. That rating entitles the veteran to healthcare services for their service-connected condition or conditions, but does not qualify for monthly monetary benefits.

Call 1-888-373-4722 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

Additional Monetary Benefits for Veterans with Dependents

A veteran with a disability rating of less than 30% does not receive additional monetary benefits for dependents. However, at every level from 30% through 100%, there are add-on amounts available for certain dependents. These include spouses, minor children, children between the ages of 18 and 23 who are in school, and parents.

Both the amount of the increase and the standard applied to determine whether the veteran is eligible for the increase are different depending on the type of dependent. The amount of the increase also varies based on the veteran’s disability rating.

There are too many variations to lay them all out here, but here are a few common examples.

A veteran with a 50% VA disability rating receives $1,102.04/month in base benefits. If that same veteran has a dependent spouse, that monthly benefit increases to $1,208.04. With both a spouse and a minor child, the monthly benefit rises to $1,287.04. That’s a total increase of $185/month, or about 16.8%.

If that same veteran were rated 100% disabled, the base amount would be $3,831.30. With a spouse but no child, that would increase to $4,044.91/month. With a spouse and child, the monthly benefit would be $4,201.35. That’s a total increase of $370.05/month, or about 9.7%.

Special Rules for Dependent Parents

While spouses and minor children automatically count as dependents, parents are considered dependents only if certain conditions apply. The first is that the parent be an actual dependent, in the sense that the veteran is contributing directly to their support. The second is financial. A parent qualifies as a dependent only if their income and net worth fall below certain thresholds.

The cut-off to be presumed a dependent is very low. However, a parent whose resources are above that level may still be considered a dependent based on a more detailed analysis.

Exceptions to Rating-Based Disability Benefits

While VA disability benefits are typically determined by the veteran’s disability rating, there are some exceptions.

TDIU and Disability Benefits

Under certain circumstances, a veteran who is unable to work due to a service-connected condition may be designated TDIU–totally disabled due to individual unemployability. A veteran who receives this designation is eligible to receive benefits as if they had a 100% disability rating.

To receive TDIU classification, a veteran must be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to a service-connected medical condition or combination of service-connected conditions. The impact of non-service-connected medical conditions will not be considered.

In most circumstances, a minimum VA disability rating is required. The threshold is either a rating of at least 60% for a single service-connected disability or a combined rating of at least 70% with one condition rated at least 40%. However, in rare circumstances the VA may award an “extraschedular” TDIU classification even when these conditions are not met.

Special Monthly Compensation

Special monthly compensation (SMC) works in two different ways. Most types of SMC have their own higher base rate of monthly compensation, though a couple of types are add-ons to the regular rating-based monthly amount.

For a veteran alone, SMC base rates range from $4,288.45/month for a veteran who is either housebound or has a total disability rating and a separate service-connected disability rated at 60% or higher to $10,964.66/month for those whose disabilities are so severe that they require ongoing aid and attendance.

Call 1-888-373-4722 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

Get the VA Disability Benefits You Deserve

You probably know that an experienced VA disability benefits advocate can help you put together the strongest possible claim or appeal. What you may not know is that even veterans whose claims are approved don’t always get all of the benefits they’re entitled to. When you work with a knowledgeable advocate at Disabled Vets, we’ll let you know whether you may be qualified for special monthly compensation or should consider pursuing TDIU classification to increase your benefits.

We’ll also make sure you know whether you have qualifying dependents, what additional benefits you may be entitled to because of those dependents, and whether your dependents may be entitled to any direct benefits.

To learn more about how we can help ensure you get every benefit you earned through your military service, call 888-373-4722 or fill out our contact form here.

Call 1-888-373-4722 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form