Compensation history
VA Disability Compensation Rates by Year (2000 to 2026)
The latest table in this record, effective December 1, 2025, sets $3,938.58 a month at 100% for a veteran alone in payment year 2026. In 2000, VA paid $2,036.00, under the table effective December 1, 1999. Every year between is below, from VA's own published tables.
- 2026 at 100%
- $3,938.58
- a month, veteran alone
- 2000 at 100%
- $2,036.00
- a month, veteran alone
- Payment years
- 27
- 2000 to 2026
Rates by year
What did VA pay at 10%, 50% and 100% each year?
Monthly rates for a veteran with no dependents, from VA's own tables, beside Social Security's cost-of-living adjustment for the year. Each year links to its full table, with dependents.
| Year | Effective | Social Security COLA | 10% | 50% | 100% | Full table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.8% | $180.42 | $1,132.90 | $3,938.58 | ||
| 2025 | 2.5% | $175.51 | $1,102.04 | $3,831.30 | ||
| 2024 | 3.2% | $171.23 | $1,075.16 | $3,737.85 | ||
| 2023 | 8.7% | $165.92 | $1,041.82 | $3,621.95 | ||
| 2022 | 5.9% | $152.64 | $958.44 | $3,332.06 | ||
| 2021 | 1.3% | $144.14 | $905.04 | $3,146.42 | ||
| 2020 | 1.6% | $142.29 | $893.43 | $3,106.04 | ||
| 2019 | 2.8% | $140.05 | $879.36 | $3,057.13 | ||
| 2018 | 2.0% | $136.24 | $855.41 | $2,973.86 | ||
| 2017 | 0.3% | $133.57 | $838.64 | $2,915.55 | ||
| 2016 | 0.0% | $133.17 | $836.13 | $2,906.83 | ||
| 2015 | 1.7% | $133.17 | $836.13 | $2,906.83 | ||
| 2014 | 1.5% | $130.94 | $822.15 | $2,858.24 | ||
| 2013 | 1.7% | $129.00 | $810.00 | $2,816.00 | ||
| 2012 | 3.6% | $127.00 | $797.00 | $2,769.00 | ||
| 2011 | 0.0% | $123.00 | $770.00 | $2,673.00 | ||
| 2010 | 0.0% | $123.00 | $770.00 | $2,673.00 | ||
| 2009 | 5.8% | $123.00 | $770.00 | $2,673.00 | ||
| 2008 | 2.3% | $117.00 | $728.00 | $2,527.00 | ||
| 2007 | 3.3% | $115.00 | $712.00 | $2,471.00 | ||
| 2006 | 4.1% | $112.00 | $690.00 | $2,393.00 | ||
| 2005 | 2.7% | $108.00 | $663.00 | $2,299.00 | ||
| 2004 | 2.1% | $106.00 | $646.00 | $2,239.00 | ||
| 2003 | 1.4% | $104.00 | $633.00 | $2,193.00 | ||
| 2002 | 2.6% | $103.00 | $625.00 | $2,163.00 | ||
| 2001 | 3.5% | $101.00 | $609.00 | $2,107.00 | ||
| 2000 | 2.5% | $98.00 | $589.00 | $2,036.00 |
VA's tables for payment years 2000 to 2013 publish whole-dollar amounts. Changes in VA's rates are calculated from VA's two published tables; Social Security's COLA is a separate series.
The current table, with dependents and Special Monthly Compensation, is on VA disability compensation rates. Social Security's cost-of-living adjustment by year is on VA and Social Security COLA history.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What did a 100% VA disability rating pay in 2000?
$2,036.00 a month for a veteran alone, under VA's table effective December 1, 1999. VA's 2026 table, the latest in this record, sets the same rating at $3,938.58, effective December 1, 2025.
Which years did VA's rates not change?
2010, 2011 and 2016. VA's tables for those payment years carry the same amounts as the year before. For 2011 VA published no new table, so the table effective December 1, 2009 stayed in force.
Where do these figures come from?
Each year's figures are transcribed from VA's own published rate table for that year, linked from the year's page. VA's historical rate list starts with the table effective December 1, 1999 (payment year 2000), so earlier years are not shown here.
Sources
- 1.Current Veterans disability compensation rates | Effective December 1, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Department of Veterans Affairs; each year's page cites its own table
- 2.Social Security Administration: Cost-of-Living Adjustments (opens in a new tab)
Social Security COLA series