The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides disability compensation to veterans who have experienced injuries or illnesses related to their military service. The amount of compensation a veteran receives is based on their combined disability rating, which is determined through a VA claims process. This calculator is designed to give you an ESTIMATE of how your monthly compensation might change if your disability rating is increased, and to help you understand the factors influencing these payments.
How VA Disability Compensation Works
VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment. The amount is determined by:
Your Combined Disability Rating: This is a percentage from 0% to 100%, representing the severity of your service-connected conditions. The VA uses a specific rating schedule to assign percentages.
Number of Dependents: Additional compensation is provided for veterans who have a spouse, dependent children, or dependent parents.
Marital Status: Whether you are married impacts the dependent benefits.
The Math Behind the Estimate
The VA uses a detailed schedule of ratings and compensation rates, which are updated annually. This calculator uses the most recent publicly available compensation rates to provide an estimate.
Key Factors in the Calculation:
Base Rate: Veterans with no dependents receive a base monthly payment for each disability rating percentage.
Dependent Allowance: For each dependent (spouse, child, or parent), a fixed amount is added to the veteran's monthly payment. This allowance typically increases if the veteran has a 30% or higher disability rating.
Spousal Allowance: An additional amount is added if the veteran is married.
Simplified Calculation Logic:
The calculator first determines the estimated monthly compensation for the current disability rating based on the standard VA rates for veterans with the specified number of dependents and marital status.
It then calculates the estimated monthly compensation for the proposed disability rating using the same dependent and marital status information.
The difference between the proposed compensation and the current compensation provides the Estimated Monthly Increase.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an *estimate* only. Actual VA compensation amounts can vary based on individual circumstances, specific VA policies, and any special monthly compensation entitlements. For an official determination, always consult directly with the Department of Veterans Affairs or an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO).
// VA Compensation Rates (as of early 2024, subject to annual changes)
// These are simplified for illustrative purposes and may not capture all nuances of VA rate tables.
var baseRates = {
"0": 0, "10": 152.64, "20": 301.42, "30": 447.81, "40": 612.02,
"50": 738.77, "60": 878.91, "70": 1034.75, "80": 1187.78,
"90": 1355.20, "100": 3737.85
};
var dependentRates = {
"child": 76.45,
"parent": 76.45,
"spouse": 140.57
};
// Adjustments for 30% or higher ratings
var additionalDependentAllowance30Percent = 80.00; // Approximate additional for each dependent at 30%+
function getMonthlyCompensation(rating, dependents, isMarried) {
var baseRate = 0;
var ratingNum = parseFloat(rating);
// Find the closest base rate or use 100% if >= 100
if (ratingNum >= 100) {
baseRate = baseRates["100"];
} else {
// Find the highest rating percentage less than or equal to the input rating
var applicableRating = 0;
for (var r in baseRates) {
var currentRating = parseFloat(r);
if (currentRating 0) {
var allowances = 0;
// Count children first (up to 2 for basic allowance, more might be considered but this simplifies)
var childrenCount = numDependents; // Assume all are children for simplicity in this basic model
var parentCount = 0; // Assuming no parents in this basic model
if (isVeteranMarried === "yes") {
allowances += dependentRates["spouse"];
childrenCount -= 1; // If married, one of the dependents is usually the spouse, so reduce count for child/parent allowance calculation
}
// Add allowance for children
if (childrenCount > 0) {
allowances += childrenCount * dependentRates["child"];
}
// Add allowance for parents (if any, not explicitly handled in input but conceptually)
if (parentCount > 0) {
allowances += parentCount * dependentRates["parent"];
}
// Add additional allowance if rating is 30% or higher
if (ratingNum >= 30) {
// This part is tricky as VA rules are complex. This is a simplified approximation.
// It's generally an increase per *additional* dependent, not total dependents.
// For simplicity, let's add a flat amount for the first child/parent if married veteran and rating >= 30%
if (isVeteranMarried === "yes" && childrenCount >= 0) { // If married, the spouse is covered, add for other dependents
allowances += additionalDependentAllowance30Percent * Math.max(0, numDependents – 1); // Add for each *additional* dependent beyond spouse
} else if (isVeteranMarried !== "yes" && numDependents > 0) { // If not married, add for all dependents
allowances += additionalDependentAllowance30Percent * numDependents;
}
}
totalCompensation += allowances;
}
return totalCompensation;
}
function calculateClaimIncrease() {
var currentRating = document.getElementById("currentDisabilityRating").value;
var proposedRating = document.getElementById("proposedDisabilityRating").value;
var dependents = document.getElementById("additionalDependentCount").value;
var isMarried = document.getElementById("isVeteranMarried").value;
// Validate inputs
if (!currentRating || !proposedRating || !dependents || !isMarried) {
document.getElementById("result-value").innerText = "Please fill all fields.";
return;
}
var currentRatingNum = parseFloat(currentRating);
var proposedRatingNum = parseFloat(proposedRating);
var dependentsNum = parseInt(dependents);
if (isNaN(currentRatingNum) || isNaN(proposedRatingNum) || isNaN(dependentsNum) ||
currentRatingNum < 0 || proposedRatingNum < 0 || dependentsNum 100 || proposedRatingNum > 100) {
document.getElementById("result-value").innerText = "Invalid input values. Ratings must be 0-100, dependents must be non-negative.";
return;
}
if (proposedRatingNum <= currentRatingNum) {
document.getElementById("result-value").innerText = "Proposed rating must be higher than current rating for an increase.";
return;
}
if (isMarried.toLowerCase() !== "yes" && isMarried.toLowerCase() !== "no") {
document.getElementById("result-value").innerText = "Please enter 'Yes' or 'No' for marital status.";
return;
}
var currentCompensation = getMonthlyCompensation(currentRatingNum, dependentsNum, isMarried);
var proposedCompensation = getMonthlyCompensation(proposedRatingNum, dependentsNum, isMarried);
var increase = proposedCompensation – currentCompensation;
document.getElementById("result-value").innerText = "$" + increase.toFixed(2);
}