Estimate your monthly tax-free disability benefit based on your combined service-connected ratings and dependency status.
1. Service-Connected Disability Ratings (%)
Enter each individual rating (e.g., 50, 30, 10). VA math uses a specific calculation method.
2. Dependency Status
Single / Veteran Alone
Married
None
1 Parent
2 Parents
No
Yes
Estimated Monthly Benefit
Combined Disability Rating: 0%
Monthly Compensation: $0.00
*Based on 2024 VA Compensation rates. Final determination is made by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Understanding VA Disability Compensation
VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment to Veterans who got sick or injured while serving in the military and to Veterans whose service made an existing condition worse. The amount you receive is based on your combined disability rating and the number of dependents you have.
How "VA Math" Works
The VA doesn't simply add disability ratings together. Instead, they use a "Combined Rating Table." If you have a 50% rating and a 30% rating, the VA starts with your 100% efficiency. The 50% rating reduces you to 50% efficiency. Then, the 30% rating is taken from that remaining 50% (30% of 50 is 15%). This results in a 65% total disability, which is then rounded to the nearest 10%, giving you a 70% combined rating.
2024 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
As of December 1, 2023, VA disability rates increased by 3.2% for the year 2024. This adjustment ensures that the purchasing power of your benefits keeps pace with inflation. For a Veteran rated at 100% with no dependents, the monthly payment is approximately $3,737.85.
Dependency Adjustments
If your combined rating is 30% or higher, you are eligible to receive additional compensation for qualifying dependents, including:
A spouse
Children under age 18
Children between ages 18 and 24 who are in school
Dependent parents
Example Calculation
Consider a Veteran with a 70% combined rating who is married with two children under 18. Under 2024 rates, the base 70% pay for a single veteran is $1,716.28. With a spouse and two children, the payment increases significantly to account for the added responsibility of supporting a family.
function calculateVACompensation() {
var r1 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('r1').value) || 0;
var r2 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('r2').value) || 0;
var r3 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('r3').value) || 0;
var r4 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('r4').value) || 0;
var r5 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('r5').value) || 0;
var r6 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('r6').value) || 0;
var ratings = [r1, r2, r3, r4, r5, r6].filter(function(x) { return x > 0; });
ratings.sort(function(a, b) { return b – a; });
var currentEfficiency = 100;
var totalDisability = 0;
for (var i = 0; i 100) combinedRating = 100;
var maritalStatus = document.getElementById('maritalStatus').value;
var childUnder18 = parseInt(document.getElementById('childrenUnder18').value) || 0;
var childSchool = parseInt(document.getElementById('childrenSchool').value) || 0;
var parentsCount = parseInt(document.getElementById('parents').value) || 0;
var spouseAA = document.getElementById('spouseAA').value === 'yes';
var pay = 0;
// 2024 Basic Monthly Rates (Veteran Alone)
var baseRates = {
10: 171.23,
20: 338.49,
30: 524.31,
40: 755.28,
50: 1075.14,
60: 1361.88,
70: 1716.28,
80: 1995.01,
90: 2241.91,
100: 3737.85
};
if (combinedRating < 10) {
pay = 0;
} else if (combinedRating < 30) {
pay = baseRates[combinedRating];
} else {
// Dependency math for 30%-100%
// Using approximate increments based on 2024 table logic
var spouseInc = [0,0,0,52,70,87,105,122,140,158,208.40]; // index 3 = 30%, etc
var childInc = [0,0,0,31,41,51,62,72,82,92,103.55];
var schoolInc = [0,0,0,100,133,167,200,234,267,301,334.49];
var parentInc = [0,0,0,41,55,69,83,97,110,124,168.04];
var aaInc = [0,0,0,57,76,95,114,133,152,171,191.14];
var idx = combinedRating / 10;
pay = baseRates[combinedRating];
if (maritalStatus === 'married') {
pay += spouseInc[idx];
if (spouseAA) pay += aaInc[idx];
}
pay += (childUnder18 * childInc[idx]);
pay += (childSchool * schoolInc[idx]);
pay += (parentsCount * parentInc[idx]);
}
document.getElementById('combinedRatingDisplay').innerText = combinedRating + '%';
document.getElementById('monthlyPayDisplay').innerText = '$' + pay.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('vaResult').style.display = 'block';
}