Compensation · 2026
70% VA Disability Rating
A 70% VA disability rating pays $1,808.45/month ($21,701.40/year) in 2026, tax-free, to a veteran without dependents. The rate is set by 38 CFR § 3.4 and adjusted annually for COLA. At 70%, veterans unlock 20 federal benefits, including Service-Connected Status, VA Healthcare (Priority Group 5), VA Home Loan Eligibility.
Rates effective (opens in a new tab)2.8% COLAPriority Group 1TDIU eligible
- 70% rating, monthly
- $1,808.45
- $21,701.40 a year, veteran alone
- 60%
- $1,435.02
- a month
- 80%
- $2,102.15
- +$293.70 a month
With dependents
How much does a 70% rating pay with dependents?
| Situation | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $1,808.45 | $21,701.40 |
| With spouse | $1,961.45 | $23,537.40 |
| Spouse + 1 child | $2,074.45 | $24,893.40 |
| Spouse + 2 children | $2,150.45 | $25,805.40 |
First child: +$102.00/mo (no spouse) or +$113.00/mo (with spouse) · Each additional child under 18: +$76.00/moSpouse + 2 children assumes both children are under 18. A child age 18 to 23 in a qualifying school program adds more.
Benefits
What benefits do I get at 70% VA disability?
20 benefits available at your rating level (cumulative from 0%)
STATUSSince 0%
Service-Connected Status
Official recognition of disability related to military service — required for all other VA benefits
HEALTHCARESince 0%
VA Healthcare (Priority Group 5)
Enrollment in VA healthcare system. Priority Group 5 — may require copays depending on income
HOUSINGSince 0%
VA Home Loan Eligibility
VA-backed mortgage with no down payment, no PMI. Funding fee still applies at 0%
COMPENSATIONSince 10%
Monthly Compensation
Tax-free monthly disability compensation begins at 10%
HOUSINGSince 10%
VA Home Loan Funding Fee Waiver
Funding fee completely waived on VA home loans — saves $4,000-$12,000+ on a typical mortgage
HEALTHCARESince 10%
VA Healthcare (Priority Group 3)
Upgraded to Priority Group 3 — no copays for SC conditions, reduced copays for non-SC care
EMPLOYMENTSince 10%
VR&E Chapter 31
Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment — job training, education, resume help. Requires employment handicap assessment
TAXSince 10%
State Property Tax Benefits
Many states begin property tax exemptions at 10% — varies significantly by state
EMPLOYMENTSince 20%
VR&E Serious Employment Handicap
At 20%+, eligible for VR&E with serious employment handicap — expanded program access and longer entitlement
COMPENSATIONSince 30%
Dependent Compensation
Additional monthly payment for spouse, children, and dependent parents. Amount increases with each rating level above 30%
HEALTHCARESince 30%
VA Healthcare (Priority Group 2)
Upgraded to Priority Group 2 — essentially no wait for enrollment, minimal copays
HEALTHCARESince 30%
VA Dental (SC Conditions)
Dental care for conditions directly related to service-connected disability
FINANCIALSince 40%
Auto/Adaptive Equipment Grant
If disability involves loss or loss of use of a limb — up to $22,541 (2026) for adaptive vehicle equipment
COMPENSATIONSince 40%
TDIU Pathway (Combined)
With a combined rating of 70%+ and at least one condition at 40%, may qualify for TDIU — paid at 100% rate
HEALTHCARESince 50%
VA Healthcare (Priority Group 1)
Highest priority group — first access to VA healthcare, no copays, no enrollment barriers
TAXSince 50%
State Benefits Expansion
Many states offer significant property tax reductions at 50%+. Some states provide free vehicle registration, hunting/fishing licenses
COMPENSATIONSince 60%
TDIU (Single Condition)
Individual Unemployability — if a single SC condition at 60%+ prevents substantially gainful employment, paid at 100% rate without schedular 100%
COMPENSATIONSince 60%
Increased Dependent Rates
Dependent add-on rates increase significantly at 60%
COMPENSATIONNew at 70%
TDIU (Combined)
With combined 70%+ and one condition at 40%+, TDIU is available. Monthly benefit jumps to 100% rate ($3,938.58/mo in 2026)
TAXNew at 70%
State Full Benefits
Most states with tiered property tax exemptions reach full or near-full exemption at 70%+
Next at 80%
At 80% you unlock Near-Total Compensation, Stronger TDIU Case. That's +$293.70/mo more in compensation.
Unemployability
Can I qualify for TDIU at a 70% rating?
Eligible for TDIU
Eligible for TDIU with combined 70%+ and at least one condition rated 40%+. If unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, compensated at the 100% rate.
TDIU pays at the 100% compensation rate (see the 100% page for the current 2026 amount) even without a schedular 100% rating.
Combined ratings
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.”
- 1Single condition at 70%
- 250% + 40% = 70%
- 360% + 30% = 72% → rounds to 70%
- 450% + 30% + 10% = 69% → rounds to 70%
- 540% + 30% + 20% = 66% → rounds to 70%
Conditions
What conditions are commonly rated at 70%?
17 conditions have a 70% rating tier in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)
DC 6063
Anatomical loss of one eye: 1
In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)
DC 7700
Anemia, Iron Deficiency (Hypochromic-Microcytic)
Iron deficiency anemia: Hemoglobin 5–6.9 g/dL; severe symptoms (severe fatigue, dyspnea at rest, tachycardia); requiring frequent transfusions (every 1–3 months); significant limitation of all activit...
DC 9520
Anorexia nervosa
Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional ritual...
DC 9327
Bipolar disorder
Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas (work, school, family, judgment, thinking, mood) due to suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic, impaired impul...
DC 9521
Bulimia nervosa
Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional ritual...
DC 9440
Chronic adjustment disorder
Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional ritual...
DC 9424
Conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder)
Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional ritual...
DC 9431
Cyclothymic disorder
Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional ritual...
DC 9300
Delirium
Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional ritual...
DC 9208
Delusional disorder
Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional ritual...
DC 9417
Depersonalization/Derealization disorder
Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional ritual...
DC 9416
Dissociative amnesia; dissociative identity disorder
Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional ritual...
DC 7718
Essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis
Requiring continuous or intermittent myelosuppressive therapy, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment to maintain platelet count <500 × 10/L 9
DC 9400
Generalized anxiety disorder
Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional ritual...
DC 6100
Hearing Loss
Hearing impairment producing a combined Roman Numeral result that yields a 70% rating per Table VII. Corresponds to profound bilateral hearing loss approaching deafness, with near-zero speech discrimi...
DC 5250
Hip, ankylosis of
Intermediate
DC 5054
Hip, resurfacing or replacement (prosthesis)
Markedly severe residual weakness, pain or limitation of motion following implantation of prosthesis
Quick facts
- Monthly rate
- $1,808.45
- Annual
- $21,701.40
- With family
- $2,150.45
- TDIU eligible?
- Yes
- COLA increase
- 2.8%
- Benefits unlocked
- 20
Veteran alone, no dependents
Tax-free under 26 U.S.C. § 104
Spouse + 2 children under 18, monthly
38 CFR § 4.16, pays at the 100% rate
2026 adjustment
Cumulative federal benefits
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 70% VA disability rating pay per month in 2026?
A 70% VA disability rating pays $1,808.45/month ($21,701.40/year) for a veteran without dependents in 2026. This amount is tax-free under 26 U.S.C. § 104.
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 70%?
At 70%, you are eligible for 20 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 70%.
How much does VA disability pay with a spouse and children at 70%?
At 70%, a veteran with a spouse receives $1,961.45/month. Adding one child raises the rate to $2,074.45/month. Dependent allowances begin at 30% under 38 CFR § 3.4.
Can I qualify for TDIU at 70%?
Eligible for TDIU with combined 70%+ and at least one condition rated 40%+. If unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, compensated at the 100% rate.
What is the difference between a 70% and a 80% VA disability rating?
A 80% rating pays $2,102.15/month — $293.70/month more than the 70% rate. That difference compounds to $3,524.40/year. At 80%, you also unlock Near-Total Compensation, Stronger TDIU Case.
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.
Sources & Authorities
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VeteranHQ
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