The VA's Beneficiary Travel program, governed by 38 CFR Part 70 and 38 U.S.C. Chapter 1, reimburses eligible veterans for mileage and other travel costs to and from VA-approved medical appointments. Eligibility is not based solely on hitting a specific disability percentage, but a combined rating of 30% or more is one of several ways to qualify.
Under 38 CFR 70.4, you may be eligible for beneficiary travel pay if any of the following apply: you have a service-connected disability rated at 30% or higher (for any VA-authorized care, not just treatment of the service-connected condition); you are traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition, regardless of your overall rating; you are a former POW; you receive a VA pension; your income falls below the maximum annual VA pension rate; you are traveling for a compensation and pension examination; or you meet certain other special eligibility categories, such as being a Medal of Honor recipient or needing travel for a service-connected condition claim exam. So a veteran rated below 30% can still qualify for travel pay in several common situations, especially exams related to a claim or treatment tied directly to a service-connected condition.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →If you qualify, you generally file a claim using VA Form 10-3542, Veteran/Beneficiary Claim for Reimbursement of Travel Expenses, and there is typically a filing deadline (commonly within 30 days of the appointment, though local VA facility staff can confirm current deadlines and any updated procedures). Reimbursement rates and any mileage deductible amounts can change, so check with your local VA medical center's beneficiary travel office for current figures rather than relying on older information.
Because eligibility depends on the reason for travel and your specific rating, it's worth confirming your situation directly with the VA travel office rather than assuming a 30% threshold is the only path to reimbursement. If you have recently received a rating increase or decrease, ask that office how the change affects your ongoing eligibility for beneficiary travel benefits going forward.
The concrete next step is to contact the beneficiary travel coordinator at your VA medical center to confirm your current eligibility category and to get the correct form and deadline for submitting a mileage reimbursement claim.
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