Skip to main content
2.8% COLA · 2026Priority Group 1TDIU Eligible

70% VA Disability Rating

A 70% VA disability rating pays $1,808.45/month ($21,701.40/year) in tax-free compensation. Here’s everything that 70% unlocks.

60% Rating

$1,435.02

per month

Current — 70%

$1,808.45

$21,701.40/year

80% Rating

$2,102.15

+$293.70/mo increase

Rates with Dependents

SituationMonthlyAnnual
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$2,321.42$27,857.04

Benefits Unlocked at 70%

20 benefits available at your rating level (cumulative from 0%)

Service-Connected Status

Since 0%

Official recognition of disability related to military service — required for all other VA benefits

VA Healthcare (Priority Group 5)

Since 0%

Enrollment in VA healthcare system. Priority Group 5 — may require copays depending on income

VA Home Loan Eligibility

Since 0%

VA-backed mortgage with no down payment, no PMI. Funding fee still applies at 0%

Monthly Compensation

Since 10%

Tax-free monthly disability compensation begins at 10%

VA Home Loan Funding Fee Waiver

Since 10%

Funding fee completely waived on VA home loans — saves $4,000-$12,000+ on a typical mortgage

VA Healthcare (Priority Group 3)

Since 10%

Upgraded to Priority Group 3 — no copays for SC conditions, reduced copays for non-SC care

VR&E Chapter 31

Since 10%

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment — job training, education, resume help. Requires employment handicap assessment

State Property Tax Benefits

Since 10%

Many states begin property tax exemptions at 10% — varies significantly by state

VR&E Serious Employment Handicap

Since 20%

At 20%+, eligible for VR&E with serious employment handicap — expanded program access and longer entitlement

Dependent Compensation

Since 30%

Additional monthly payment for spouse, children, and dependent parents. Amount increases with each rating level above 30%

VA Healthcare (Priority Group 2)

Since 30%

Upgraded to Priority Group 2 — essentially no wait for enrollment, minimal copays

VA Dental (SC Conditions)

Since 30%

Dental care for conditions directly related to service-connected disability

Auto/Adaptive Equipment Grant

Since 40%

If disability involves loss or loss of use of a limb — up to $22,541 (2026) for adaptive vehicle equipment

TDIU Pathway (Combined)

Since 40%

With a combined rating of 70%+ and at least one condition at 40%, may qualify for TDIU — paid at 100% rate

VA Healthcare (Priority Group 1)

Since 50%

Highest priority group — first access to VA healthcare, no copays, no enrollment barriers

State Benefits Expansion

Since 50%

Many states offer significant property tax reductions at 50%+. Some states provide free vehicle registration, hunting/fishing licenses

TDIU (Single Condition)

Since 60%

Individual Unemployability — if a single SC condition at 60%+ prevents substantially gainful employment, paid at 100% rate without schedular 100%

Increased Dependent Rates

Since 60%

Dependent add-on rates increase significantly at 60%

TDIU (Combined)

New at 70%

With combined 70%+ and one condition at 40%+, TDIU is available. Monthly benefit jumps to 100% rate ($3,938.58/mo in 2026)

State Full Benefits

New at 70%

Most states with tiered property tax exemptions reach full or near-full exemption at 70%+

At 80% you unlock Near-Total Compensation, Stronger TDIU Case. That's +$293.70/mo more in compensation.

TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability)

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% rate ($3,938.58/mo in 2026) even without a schedular 100% rating.

How to Reach a 70% Combined Rating

VA uses "whole person theory" — ratings combine using the remaining disability formula, not simple addition.

#1

Single condition at 70%

#2

50% + 40% = 70%

#3

60% + 30% = 72% → rounds to 70%

#4

50% + 30% + 10% = 69% → rounds to 70%

#5

40% + 30% + 20% = 66% → rounds to 70%

Conditions Commonly Rated at 70%

17 conditions have a 70% rating tier in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)

Anatomical loss of one eye: 1

DC 6063

In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)

Anemia, Iron Deficiency (Hypochromic-Microcytic)

DC 7700

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...

Chronic Adjustment Disorder

DC 9440

Chronic adjustment disorder: Deficiencies in most areas of functioning; near-continuous depression or anxiety; impaired impulse control; suicidal ideation; inability to maintain effective work relatio...

Essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis

DC 7718

Requiring continuous or intermittent myelosuppressive therapy, or chemotherapy, or interferon treatment to maintain platelet count <500 &#xD7; 10/L 9

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

DC 9400

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...

Hearing Loss

DC 6100

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...

Hip, ankylosis of

DC 5250

Intermediate

Hip Replacement (Total Hip Arthroplasty)

DC 5054

Prosthetic replacement of the head of the femur or of the acetabulum with markedly severe residual weakness, pain, or limitation of motion following implantation of prosthesis.

Humerus, other impairment of

DC 5202

Loss of head of (flail shoulder); 80

Immune thrombocytopenia

DC 7705

Requiring immunosuppressive therapy; or for a platelet count higher than 30,000 but not higher than 50,000, with history of hospitalization because of severe bleeding requiring intravenous immune glob...

Major Depressive Disorder

DC 9434

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...

Mandible, loss of, including ramus, unilaterally or bilaterally

DC 9902

Not replaceable by prosthesis

No more than light perception in one eye: 1

DC 6064

In the other eye 20/200 (6/60)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

DC 9404

OCD: Obsessional rituals and compulsions that occupy most of the day; near-continuous anxiety; inability to maintain employment or social relationships; deficiencies in most areas of functioning.

Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder

DC 9410

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 rituals...

Paralysis of

DC 8511

Complete; adduction, abduction and rotation of arm, flexion of elbow, and extension of wrist lost or severely affected; 60

Paralysis of the Median Nerve

DC 8515

Complete paralysis. Loss of all median nerve motor function: inability to flex the index and middle fingers, total loss of thumb opposition, inability to pronate the forearm fully, complete thenar atr...

See What You’re Missing at 80%

An increase from 70% to 80% means +$293.70/month. AIDEN can analyze your conditions and find the strongest path to a higher rating.

Get My Free Analysis