Estimate your potential monthly VA disability compensation.
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Monthly Compensation: $0.00
Understanding VA Disability Compensation
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides disability compensation to veterans who have illnesses or injuries that were incurred or aggravated during active military service. The amount of compensation is determined by a veteran's combined disability rating (on a scale of 0% to 100%) and the number of dependents they have.
How Compensation is Calculated
The VA uses a standardized schedule (Schedule for Rating Disabilities) to assign disability ratings. These ratings are then combined using a specific formula that accounts for the principle that you don't add percentages together linearly. For example, a 50% disability and a 30% disability do not equal 80%; the combined rating is calculated to be 65%.
Once a combined disability rating is determined, the monthly compensation rate is looked up in a VA compensation rate table. This table also accounts for additional amounts for dependents, which include:
A spouse
Dependent children (under 18, or still in school between 18-23)
Dependent parents
Additional compensation is also provided if a veteran is rated at 30% or higher and has a spouse who is 65 years of age or older, or if the veteran has other dependents (parents, children) who are 65 years of age or older.
The Calculator's Logic
This calculator simplifies the process by using a pre-defined set of compensation rates based on the latest available VA compensation rate schedules. It takes your input for:
Combined Disability Rating (%): Your overall VA disability rating.
Number of Dependents: The total count of your eligible dependents (spouse, children, parents).
Spouse 65 or Older: Indicates if an additional amount for an older spouse applies.
Additional Dependents 65 or Older: Accounts for other dependents (parents, children) who are 65 or older.
The calculator then applies the relevant compensation rate based on your rating and adds the appropriate amounts for dependents, including any increments for those aged 65 or older.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides an *estimate* only. Actual VA compensation amounts may vary based on individual circumstances, the specific effective dates of ratings, and official VA policies. Always refer to an official VA decision letter for precise benefit amounts.
function calculateVACompensation() {
var rating = parseFloat(document.getElementById("disabilityRating").value);
var dependentsCount = parseInt(document.getElementById("dependents").value);
var isSpouseOlder65 = document.getElementById("isSpouseOlder65").value === "yes";
var additionalDependentsOlder65 = parseInt(document.getElementById("additionalDependentsOlder65").value);
var baseCompensation = 0;
var dependentAllowance = 0;
var additionalAllowance65 = 0;
var resultElement = document.getElementById("result");
// Basic VA Compensation Rates (as of recent data, subject to change)
// These rates are simplified and rounded for demonstration.
// A real-world calculator would use more granular, up-to-date tables.
var rates = {
0: 0, 10: 170.14, 20: 336.44, 30: 521.07, 40: 724.04, 50: 947.09,
60: 1190.49, 70: 1453.33, 80: 1735.75, 90: 2038.54, 100: 3600.00
};
// Map input rating to the closest available rating in our table, or calculate
// For simplicity here, we'll find the closest lower or equal rating for the base
var applicableRating = 0;
var sortedRatings = Object.keys(rates).map(Number).sort((a, b) => a – b);
for (var i = 0; i = sortedRatings[i]) {
applicableRating = sortedRatings[i];
} else {
break;
}
}
baseCompensation = rates[applicableRating] || 0;
// Dependent Allowances (Approximate values, these change annually)
// These are example values and need to be mapped correctly to VA tables.
// This simplified model assumes a flat rate per dependent type.
var allowancePerSpouse = 146.74;
var allowancePerChild = 84.55;
var allowancePerParent = 146.74;
var allowancePerSpouse65 = 235.97; // Additional for spouse 65+
var allowancePerOther65 = 102.36; // Additional for other dependent 65+
var spouseCount = 0;
var childCount = 0;
var parentCount = 0;
// Basic dependent counting – assumes all dependents are spouse/child unless specified
// A real system would require more specific input about dependent types.
if (dependentsCount > 0) {
spouseCount = 1; // Assume one spouse if dependents exist
if (dependentsCount > 1) {
childCount = dependentsCount – 1; // Remaining are children
}
}
// Calculate allowances
if (spouseCount > 0) {
dependentAllowance += allowancePerSpouse;
if (isSpouseOlder65) {
additionalAllowance65 += allowancePerSpouse65;
}
}
dependentAllowance += childCount * allowancePerChild;
// For simplicity, we'll assume any additional dependents are parents if not spouse/child
// A real calculator needs explicit input for parents.
parentCount = Math.max(0, dependentsCount – spouseCount – childCount);
dependentAllowance += parentCount * allowancePerParent;
additionalAllowance65 += additionalDependentsOlder65 * allowancePerOther65;
// Total compensation
var totalCompensation = baseCompensation + dependentAllowance + additionalAllowance65;
// Validate inputs before displaying
if (isNaN(rating) || rating 100 || isNaN(dependentsCount) || dependentsCount < 0 || isNaN(additionalDependentsOlder65) || additionalDependentsOlder65 = 100) {
totalCompensation = rates[100] + dependentAllowance + additionalAllowance65; // Apply dependent rates to the 100% rate
}
resultElement.innerText = "Monthly Compensation: $" + totalCompensation.toFixed(2);
resultElement.style.backgroundColor = "var(–success-green)"; // Reset to green on success
}