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VA Disability Claims
Help veterans understand filing and managing service-connected VA disability claims.
Overview
Topics Covered
Quick reference
Current Monthly Rates
2026 Monthly Compensation Rates — Single Veteran
Effective December 1, 2025Basic monthly rate for a veteran with no dependents, by combined disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Source: VA.gov — Veterans disability compensation rates — figures change annually; always confirm the current rate on VA.gov before relying on it.
2026 Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) — Added Amount Range
Effective December 1, 2025SMC is an added amount on top of a veteran's regular disability compensation, for certain severe disabilities or combinations of disabilities — it is not a standalone rating.
| SMC Level | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest (SMC-K) | $139.87 added to your basic rate |
| Highest (SMC-R.2/T, veteran alone) | $11,271.67 |
Source: VA.gov — Special monthly compensation rates — figures change annually; always confirm the current rate on VA.gov before relying on it.
Common questions
Top Questions
VA disability compensation is a benefit paid to veterans with a service-connected condition — one the VA has determined is connected to military service.
Service connection means the VA has linked a current condition to something that happened during military service, which is generally required before compensation can be paid for that condition.
A Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam is an examination the VA may schedule to gather information about a claimed condition and its severity.
Processing time varies by claim type, complexity, and evidence needed — the VA publishes current average processing times, and a claim can move faster or slower than that average.
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Educational information, not legal or medical advice. Veteran Benefits USA is an independent organization and is not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For official, current program rules, see VA.gov.
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