Getting a service dog for PTSD is a treatment and quality-of-life decision, not something that changes your disability rating, TDIU, or SMC-S status. VA does not deduct or reduce benefits because you have a service dog, and applying for one will not trigger a re-examination on its own.
Historically, VA's service dog benefit under 38 CFR 17.148 only covered veterinary care and equipment for dogs trained to assist with physical impairments such as blindness, deafness, or mobility limitations. Mental health service dogs, including those for PTSD, were not covered under that regulation for many years.
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 →That changed with the PAWS Act (Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act), which directed VA to run a service dog program specifically for veterans with PTSD. Under this program, VA partners with accredited nonprofit service dog organizations (those accredited by Assistance Dogs International or the International Guide Dog Federation) to place trained service dogs with eligible veterans at no cost for the dog itself, and VA can also cover veterinary care for a mental health service dog obtained through this pathway, similar to how it already covered dogs for physical disabilities.
To start this process, a veteran generally needs a referral from a VA mental health provider who documents that a service dog is appropriate as part of the treatment plan. From there, VA works with its partner organizations to match veterans with a trained dog, though wait times and availability vary by organization and location.
Outside of VA's own program, several nonprofit organizations independently train and place service dogs with veterans for PTSD and other conditions at no cost, including groups like K9s For Warriors, Warrior Canine Connection, America's VetDogs, and Patriot PAWS. These organizations have their own eligibility criteria, waitlists, and application processes, and applying to one does not preclude applying to others or to VA's program simultaneously.
Because requirements and processing differ between VA's PAWS Act program and outside nonprofits, and because accreditation matters for VA to cover veterinary costs later, it is worth confirming with any organization whether they are ADI or IGDF accredited before starting an application.
The concrete next step is to bring this up directly with your VA mental health provider (psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist) and ask for a referral or letter of support for a PTSD service dog, since that referral is typically the entry point into VA's program and is also often required by outside nonprofit organizations.
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