In-depth guide · VA
VA disability rates 2026 and VA math, step by step
50%, 30%, 20% → 65 → 72 → 70%
Why 50% + 30% + 20% is a 70% VA rating, how Table I and rounding work, and what the December 1, 2025 rates pay with a spouse or children.
VA disabilitycalculator
VA back pay estimator
When VA grants a rating with an earlier effective date, the months in between are paid at the rate in force in each month. Enter the date and see every month, the December 1 step and the total.
Your result
Estimated back pay
Example$36,890.02 for 18 months
April 2025 to September 2026 · 70% with a spouse and 1 child under 18
VA rates as of · verified · Change log · Report an error
Independent estimate · not an official statement · general information, not legal or benefits advice
The dashed line is December 1: from December 2025 each month pays $56.26 more.
Month by month
Payments start April 1, 2025 — the first day of the month after the month your award became effective (38 CFR 3.31).
| Months | Subtotal |
|---|---|
| Apr–Nov 20258 × $2,018.19 · rates from December 1, 2024 | $16,145.52 |
| Dec 2025 – Sep 202610 × $2,074.45 · rates from December 1, 2025 | $20,744.50 |
| 18 months | $36,890.02 |
Show all 18 months
- Apr 2025 $2,018.19
- May 2025 $2,018.19
- Jun 2025 $2,018.19
- Jul 2025 $2,018.19
- Aug 2025 $2,018.19
- Sep 2025 $2,018.19
- Oct 2025 $2,018.19
- Nov 2025 $2,018.19
- Dec 2025 $2,074.45
- Jan 2026 $2,074.45
- Feb 2026 $2,074.45
- Mar 2026 $2,074.45
- Apr 2026 $2,074.45
- May 2026 $2,074.45
- Jun 2026 $2,074.45
- Jul 2026 $2,074.45
- Aug 2026 $2,074.45
- Sep 2026 $2,074.45
Check the official source: 38 CFR 3.31, when payments start (eCFR)
Estimate by Rank and Pay · VA rates as of December 1, 2025 · not an official statement · rankandpay.com
Not included in this estimate
- Staged ratings within the period aren’t modeled (one rating per estimate — run it once per stage and add).
- Dependents added during the period aren’t modeled.
- VA may withhold or offset part of back pay (for example retired pay, separation pay or debts) — not modeled.
- VA’s actual payment dates aren’t modeled; no interest is paid on back pay.
How the math works
Back pay is arithmetic on dates and VA’s published rates; nothing here predicts a decision.
- The first payment monthPayments start on the first day of the month after the month the award became effective. An award effective March 14, 2025 is paid from April 1, 2025.38 CFR 3.31, Commencement of the period of payment (page dated )
- Each month at its own rateVA’s rates change each December 1. Every month is paid at the rate year in force on its first day, so a period that crosses December 1 has two amounts.Current Veterans disability compensation rates (page dated ) · Past VA disability compensation rates (effective December 1, 2024) · Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Service-Connected Benefits (91 FR 7386) (page dated )
- The monthly amountThe amount for the rating and the dependents you enter, from VA’s table — the same amount the VA disability pay calculator shows for that rate year.Current Veterans disability compensation rates (page dated ) · 38 U.S.C. 1115, Additional compensation for dependents
- The totalThe sum of the months, minus anything you enter as already received. VA pays no interest on back pay.38 CFR 3.31, Commencement of the period of payment (page dated )
- Months we can computeOur rate tables cover December 2024 to November 2026. Months before or after are shown as “Not modeled” and left out of the total, never guessed.VA hasn’t published the December 1, 2026 rates yet (checked October 16, 2026).Past VA disability compensation rates (effective December 1, 2024) · Current Veterans disability compensation rates (page dated )
How we check the numbers
- From the agency’s own tables. Pay from DFAS, housing from DoD’s BAH file, VA rates from VA, fitness scores from each service’s current scoring tables — looked up the way the tables read, never interpolated.
- Two dates on every answer. The date a rate took effect and the date it was last checked against the agency’s page. A rule that can’t be confirmed says “Not modeled” and why, instead of a guess.
- Tested, then logged. The arithmetic runs on one engine with automated tests built from the agencies’ own worked examples; every rate or rule change goes into the public change log with its source.