40% VA disability pay in 2026
A 40% rating pays $795.84 per month to a veteran with no dependents, which is $9,550.08 per year, tax free. The amount rises with each dependent the VA has on file: $882.84 with a spouse, $853.84 with one child and no spouse, and $947.84 with a spouse and one child. The rates below took effect 2025-12-01 after a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment and stay in force until the next COLA on December 1.
40% pay chart by dependents
Each row is the VA's published amount for that household. A spouse and the first child are built into the base row; parents, additional children, and Aid and Attendance are added on top.
| Household | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $795.84 | $9,550.08 |
| With spouse | $882.84 | $10,594.08 |
| With spouse and one child | $947.84 | $11,374.08 |
| With one child, no spouse | $853.84 | $10,246.08 |
| With one parent | $865.84 | $10,390.08 |
| With two parents | $935.84 | $11,230.08 |
| With spouse and one parent | $952.84 | $11,434.08 |
| With spouse and two parents | $1,022.84 | $12,274.08 |
| With spouse, one child, and one parent | $1,017.84 | $12,214.08 |
| With spouse, two children under 18 | $990.84 | $11,890.08 |
| With spouse and one child in school (18 to 23) | $947.84 | $11,374.08 |
| With spouse receiving Aid and Attendance | $963.84 | $11,566.08 |
Added amounts at 40%
| Addition | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Each additional child under 18 (after the first) | $43.00 |
| Each additional child aged 18 to 23 in school | $140.00 |
| Each dependent parent | $70.00 |
| Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance | $81.00 |
For example, a 40% veteran with a spouse, two children under 18, and one dependent parent starts from the "with spouse and one child" row ($947.84), adds one more child ($43.00) and one parent ($70.00), for $1,060.84 a month. Enter your own household in the calculator above to see the lines.
Which ratings combine to 40%
The VA combines ratings rather than adding them (combined = a + b x (100 - a) / 100, then rounded to the nearest 10). A combined value from 35 to 44 is paid at 40%. Two-rating combinations that land there include 20 + 20 (36), 30 + 10 (37), 30 + 20 (44).
Three-rating examples: 20 + 10 + 10 = 35, 20 + 20 + 10 = 42, 30 + 10 + 10 = 43. Ratings for both arms, both legs, or paired muscles get a 10% bilateral factor first, which can lift a combined value of 34 or 33 into the 40% band.
What the next step is worth
Moving from 40% to 50% raises the base amount from $795.84 to $1,132.90, a difference of $337.06 a month or $4,044.72 a year. A combined value of 45 rounds up, so a new secondary condition rated 10% or 20% is sometimes enough, while 30% pays $552.47.
Back pay at 40%
If your claim was granted at 40% with an effective date months before the decision, the VA owes the monthly rate for each month in between. Twelve months at the veteran-alone rate is $9,550.08, and $10,594.08 with a spouse. Enter the effective and decision dates in the calculator to see the estimate; the VA pays from the first of the following month and uses each year's rate for the months it covers.
Other ratings
10% VA disability pay, 20% VA disability pay, 30% VA disability pay, 50% VA disability pay, 60% VA disability pay, 70% VA disability pay, 80% VA disability pay, 90% VA disability pay, 100% VA disability pay. To combine several ratings and add the bilateral factor, use the VA disability calculator.
Estimate built from the 2026 rate tables (verified against va.gov on 2026-09-14) and 38 CFR 4.25 and 4.26. Special Monthly Compensation, TDIU, and offsets are not included. Your VA decision letter controls.