0% VA Disability Rating
A 0% VA disability rating pays $0 per month but is far from worthless. It establishes service connection under 38 CFR § 3.4, granting VA healthcare enrollment, the VA home loan guarantee, and a protected effective date if the condition later worsens.
0% VA disability — quick facts (2026)
- Monthly rate
- $0.00
- Annual
- $0.00
- With family
- Same rate
- TDIU eligible?
- Not yet
- COLA increase
- 2.8%
- Benefits unlocked
- 3
Veteran alone, no dependents
Tax-free under 26 U.S.C. § 104
Dependent allowances begin at 30%
Need single 60% or combined 70%+
2026 adjustment
Cumulative federal benefits
Current — 0%
$0.00
$0.00/year
10% Rating
$180.42
+$180.42/mo increase
What benefits do I get at 0% VA disability?
3 benefits available at your rating level (cumulative from 0%)
Service-Connected Status
New at 0%Official recognition of disability related to military service — required for all other VA benefits
VA Healthcare (Priority Group 5)
New at 0%Enrollment in VA healthcare system. Priority Group 5 — may require copays depending on income
VA Home Loan Eligibility
New at 0%VA-backed mortgage with no down payment, no PMI. Funding fee still applies at 0%
At 10% you unlock Monthly Compensation, VA Home Loan Funding Fee Waiver, VA Healthcare (Priority Group 3), VR&E Chapter 31, State Property Tax Benefits. That's +$180.42/mo more in compensation.
Can I qualify for TDIU at a 0% rating?
TDIU requires a single condition at 60%+ or combined 70%+ with one at 40%+.
How do combined VA disability ratings work?
The VA uses the "whole person theory" — each rating applies to the remaining healthy percentage, not the total. The result is always less than the arithmetic sum, then rounded to the nearest 10% under 38 CFR § 4.25.
“Disabilities will be evaluated on a combined rating from 0 to 100 percent, as provided in the rating schedule, by using the combined ratings table and rounding to the nearest 10 percent.”
Single condition rated at 0% (service-connected, non-compensable)
What conditions are commonly rated at 0%?
19 conditions have a 0% rating tier in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)
Acne
DC 7828Superficial acne (comedones, papules, pustules) of any extent
Acquired hemolytic anemia
DC 7723Asymptomatic
Actinomycosis
DC 6822Otherwise
Adenitis, tuberculous, active or inactive
DC 7710Rate under § 4.88c or 4.89 of this part, whichever is appropriate
Alopecia areata
DC 7831With loss of hair limited to scalp and face
Anemia, Iron Deficiency (Hypochromic-Microcytic)
DC 7700Iron deficiency anemia: Hemoglobin above 10 g/dL with mild symptoms (fatigue, pallor) controlled with oral iron supplementation; no transfusion requirement.
Aneurysm, any small artery
DC 7112Asymptomatic
Anorexia nervosa
DC 9520A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.
Aortic aneurysm: Ascending, thoracic, or abdominal
DC 7110Otherwise
Atherosclerotic renal disease (renal artery stenosis, atheroembolic renal disease, or large vessel disease, unspecified)
DC 7534Rate as renal dysfunction.
Athetosis, acquired
DC 8107Rate as chorea.
Benign neoplasms, exclusive of skin growths
DC 7344Evaluate under a diagnostic code appropriate to the predominant disability or the specific residuals after treatment.
Benign neoplasms of gynecological system. Rate chronic residuals to include scars, lymphedema, disfigurement, and/or other impairment of function under the appropriate diagnostic code(s) within the appropriate body system
DC 7628Symptoms that do not require continuous treatment
Benign neoplasms of the breast and other injuries of the breast. Rate chronic residuals according to impairment of function due to scars, lymphedema, or disfigurement (e.g., limitation of arm, shoulder, and wrist motion, or loss of grip strength, or loss of sensation, or residuals from harvesting of muscles for reconstructive purposes), and/or under diagnostic code 7626
DC 7631Symptoms that do not require continuous treatment
Benign neoplasms of the genitourinary system
DC 7529Rate as voiding dysfunction or renal dysfunction, whichever is predominant.
Bipolar disorder
DC 9327Mental condition formally diagnosed but symptoms not severe enough to interfere with occupational/social functioning or require continuous medication.
Bladder, calculus in, with symptoms interfering with function
DC 7515Rate as voiding dysfunction
Bladder, diverticulum of
DC 7545Rate as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant.
Bladder, injury of
DC 7517Rate as voiding dysfunction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 0% VA disability rating pay per month in 2026?
A 0% VA disability rating pays $0 per month. However, it establishes service connection, which qualifies you for VA healthcare, the VA home loan guarantee, and a protected effective date if your condition worsens.
Is VA disability compensation taxable?
No. VA disability compensation is fully tax-free under 26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(4). It is excluded from gross income and does not need to be reported on federal or state tax returns. Military retirement pay is separate and may be taxable.
What benefits do I get at 0%?
At 0%, you are eligible for 3 cumulative federal benefits, including Service-Connected Status, VA Healthcare (Priority Group 5), VA Home Loan Eligibility. Benefits unlock cumulatively — every benefit available at lower ratings also applies at 0%.
Can I qualify for TDIU at 0%?
TDIU requires a single condition at 60%+ or combined 70%+ with one at 40%+.
What is the difference between a 0% and a 10% VA disability rating?
A 10% rating pays $180.42/month — $180.42/month more than the 0% rate. That difference compounds to $2,165.04/year. At 10%, you also unlock Monthly Compensation, VA Home Loan Funding Fee Waiver, VA Healthcare (Priority Group 3), VR&E Chapter 31, State Property Tax Benefits.
How do combined VA disability ratings work?
The VA does not add ratings together. Instead, it applies the "whole person" theory: each successive disability is calculated against the remaining healthy percentage. For example, 50% leaves 50% whole; a second 30% rating is 30% of 50% (15%), producing a combined 65%, which rounds to 70% under 38 CFR § 4.25. This means the combined rating is always less than the arithmetic sum.
When does COLA increase VA disability rates?
VA disability rates are adjusted annually based on the Social Security Administration's Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). The 2026 rates reflect a 2.8% COLA increase, effective 2025-12-01. COLA changes are applied automatically — no action is needed.
See What You’re Missing at 10%
An increase from 0% to 10% means +$180.42/month. Our engine can analyze your conditions and find the strongest path to a higher rating.
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