Check your VA disability compensation.

Veterans are entitled to compensation for disability resulting from personal injury or disease contracted during active military service. The disability must be "service-connected" — meaning it was incurred or aggravated during service. Compensation is tax-free and paid monthly.

The monthly rate is set by Congress based on your combined disability rating (10-100% in 10% increments). Rates are adjusted annually for cost of living (COLA). The 2026 rates reflect a 2.5% COLA increase effective December 1, 2025. At 100%, a veteran alone receives $3,946.05/mo ($47,352.60/yr).

Veterans rated 30% or higher receive additional compensation for dependents — spouse, children under 18, and dependent parents. The additional amounts increase with the disability rating. At 100%, a spouse adds $187.89/mo and each child adds $100.24/mo.

If you have multiple service-connected conditions, they don't simply add up. The VA uses "VA math" — each condition is applied to the remaining non-disabled percentage. For example, a 50% and 30% rating combines to 65%, not 80%. The result is rounded to the nearest 10%.