VA Disability Compensation Calculator (2024)
Use this calculator to estimate your monthly VA disability compensation based on your disability rating and dependents. Please note that these are 2024 rates and are subject to change by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This calculator provides an estimate and should not be considered a guarantee of benefits.
Understanding Your VA Disability Compensation
VA disability compensation is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to Veterans with disabilities that are a result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. The amount of compensation you receive depends on several factors, primarily your combined disability rating and the number of dependents you have.
How Disability Ratings Are Determined
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assigns a disability rating, expressed as a percentage, based on the severity of your service-connected conditions. This rating ranges from 0% to 100% in 10% increments. If you have multiple service-connected disabilities, the VA uses a "combined rating" system, which is not a simple addition of percentages but a more complex calculation designed to reflect the overall impact on your earning capacity.
Factors Affecting Your Compensation
Your monthly compensation rate is primarily determined by:
- Combined Disability Rating: This is the most significant factor. Generally, a higher rating means higher compensation.
- Number of Dependents: If your disability rating is 30% or higher, you may receive additional compensation for eligible dependents, including a spouse, children (under 18, or 18-23 and in school), and dependent parents.
- Aid and Attendance (A&A): If you or your spouse require the aid and attendance of another person for daily living activities, you may be eligible for additional compensation. For veterans, this typically applies to those with a 100% disability rating.
- Housebound Status: If you are substantially confined to your home or immediate premises due to your service-connected disability, you may be eligible for additional compensation. This also typically applies to veterans with a 100% disability rating.
Important Notes:
- The rates used in this calculator are based on the 2024 VA disability compensation tables. These rates are updated annually, usually effective December 1st of the prior year.
- This calculator provides an estimate. Your actual compensation may vary based on specific circumstances, including Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) for severe disabilities, which is not fully accounted for in this basic calculator.
- Always refer to the official VA website (VA.gov) or contact a VA representative for the most accurate and personalized information regarding your benefits.
Example Scenarios:
Let's look at a few examples using the 2024 rates:
- Example 1: A single veteran with a 50% disability rating would receive approximately $1,075.16 per month.
- Example 2: A veteran with a 70% disability rating, married with two children under 18, would receive approximately $1,716.28 (base) + $150.00 (spouse) + (2 * $77.00) (children) = $2,020.28 per month.
- Example 3: A veteran with a 100% disability rating, single, and requiring Aid & Attendance, would receive approximately $3,737.85 (base) + $440.60 (vet A&A) = $4,178.45 per month.
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function calculateVAPaycheck() {
var disabilityRating = parseInt(document.getElementById("disabilityRating").value);
var maritalStatus = document.querySelector('input[name="maritalStatus"]:checked').value;
var childrenUnder18 = parseInt(document.getElementById("childrenUnder18").value);
var children18_23 = parseInt(document.getElementById("children18_23").value);
var dependentParents = parseInt(document.getElementById("dependentParents").value);
var aidAndAttendanceSpouse = document.getElementById("aidAndAttendanceSpouse").checked;
var aidAndAttendanceVet = document.getElementById("aidAndAttendanceVet").checked;
var houseboundVet = document.getElementById("houseboundVet").checked;
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(disabilityRating) || disabilityRating 100) {
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Please select a valid disability rating.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(childrenUnder18) || childrenUnder18 < 0) {
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Please enter a valid number for children under 18.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(children18_23) || children18_23 < 0) {
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "Please enter a valid number for children 18-23 in school.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(dependentParents) || dependentParents = 30) {
var currentAdditions = dependentAdditions[disabilityRating.toString()];
if (maritalStatus === "married") {
totalCompensation += currentAdditions.spouse;
if (aidAndAttendanceSpouse) {
totalCompensation += currentAdditions.spouseAandA;
}
}
totalCompensation += (childrenUnder18 * currentAdditions.childUnder18);
totalCompensation += (children18_23 * currentAdditions.child18_23);
totalCompensation += (dependentParents * currentAdditions.parent);
// Specific additions for 100% rating
if (disabilityRating === 100) {
if (aidAndAttendanceVet) {
totalCompensation += currentAdditions.vetAandA;
}
if (houseboundVet) {
totalCompensation += currentAdditions.vetHousebound;
}
}
} else {
// If rating is less than 30%, no dependent compensation is added.
// Also, A&A/Housebound for veteran only applies at 100%.
if (aidAndAttendanceVet || houseboundVet || aidAndAttendanceSpouse) {
// If these are checked but rating is < 100% (or < 30% for spouse A&A),
// we should inform the user or just ignore. For now, ignore as per VA rules.
}
}
document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "$" + totalCompensation.toFixed(2);
}