30% VA Disability Rating
At the 30% rating, a veteran alone receives $552.47 per month in tax-free compensation under the official 2026 VA rates (effective December 1, 2025).
30% is the first VA disability rating where a spouse, children, or dependent parents raise your monthly payment.
What 30% VA disability pays in 2026
Rates effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA), verified against VA’s published tables on 2026-09-14.
| Household | Monthly pay |
|---|---|
| Veteran, no dependents | $552.47 |
| With spouse only | $617.47 |
| With spouse and 1 child | $666.47 |
| With 1 child only, no spouse | $596.47 |
| With spouse and 1 dependent parent | $669.47 |
| With spouse and 2 dependent parents | $721.47 |
| With 1 dependent parent only | $604.47 |
| With 2 dependent parents only | $656.47 |
| With spouse, 1 child, and 1 dependent parent | $718.47 |
| With spouse, 1 child, and 2 dependent parents | $770.47 |
| With 1 child and 1 dependent parent, no spouse | $648.47 |
| With 1 child and 2 dependent parents, no spouse | $700.47 |
- Each additional child under 18: $32.00
- Each child 18–23 in school: $105.00
- Spouse receiving Aid & Attendance: $61.00
What 30% unlocks
- Dependent compensation begins (38 U.S.C. § 1115)
- VA health care Priority Group 2
- A federal noncompetitive hiring authority for veterans rated 30% or more
- Federal 10-point hiring preference
Why 30% is the family-pay threshold
Under 38 U.S.C. § 1115, VA doesn’t add anything for a spouse, children, or dependent parents until your combined rating reaches 30%. A veteran rated 20% with a spouse and two kids is paid the exact same $356.66 as a veteran with no dependents at all — at 30%, that stops being true.
How veterans reach 30%
Generated from the calculator’s own engine — every two-rating and three-rating combination that produces 30%, not a hand-picked example.
A single condition rated 30% reaches this tier on its own.
1 two-rating combination reaches 30%: 20% + 10%.
1 three-rating combination also reaches 30%
10% + 10% + 10%
What it takes to reach 40%
What you need depends on your exact combined value before rounding, not just your rounded 30% rating:
| Your raw combined value | New rating needed |
|---|---|
| 28-34 | 10% |
| 25-27 | 20% |
Moving up to 40% is worth $243.37 more a month ($2,920.44 a year) for a veteran alone.
Common combinations that reach 30%
- 20% + 10% (the only pair reaching 30%)
- A single 30% condition, such as PTSD or migraines with frequent prostrating attacks
Full 2026 pay chart with every dependent combination →
A VA-accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) can help you appeal at no upfront cost through a VSO. Find an accredited representative.
FAQ
What does a 30% disabled veteran get?
A 30% rating pays $552.47 a month alone or $617.47 with a spouse in 2026, moves you into VA health care Priority Group 2, and qualifies you for a federal noncompetitive hiring authority for veterans rated 30% or more.
How hard is it to get 30% VA disability?
It depends entirely on the condition and evidence, not a fixed difficulty — VA rates strictly against the criteria in 38 CFR Part 4 for whatever condition you’re claiming.
What is the monthly payment for 30% VA disability?
$552.47 for a veteran alone in 2026, rising to $617.47 with a spouse and more with children or dependent parents.