VA disability compensation is adjusted annually through a cost-of-living adjustment, commonly called a COLA. This is different from active-duty basic pay raises, which are set through the annual National Defense Authorization Act, but the two are often similar in size because both are tied to economic indicators. VA COLA increases are set by federal law to match the same percentage increase applied to Social Security benefits, which is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) measured over a set period each year by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Because the increase is tied to inflation data, the percentage varies from year to year and is not a fixed amount. In some years the increase has been quite small, and in others it has been larger, depending on economic conditions. There is no guarantee of a minimum increase, and in a year with little or no measured inflation, the COLA could be very small or theoretically zero, though a zero COLA for VA compensation has been rare historically.
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 →This adjustment applies automatically to veterans already receiving disability compensation. You do not need to file any paperwork, submit a new claim, or request the increase. The new rate is applied to your existing disability rating and dependent status, and it takes effect at the start of the new calendar year, typically reflected in the payment you receive in early January. The percentage increase applies uniformly across all disability ratings, so a veteran rated at 100 percent and a veteran rated at 30 percent both see their compensation increase by the same percentage, though the dollar amount differs because the base rates differ.
It is worth noting that the COLA is separate from any changes to your disability rating itself. If your rating changes because of a new exam, an increase claim, or a reduction, that is evaluated independently under 38 CFR Part 4 and has nothing to do with the annual inflation adjustment.
As a next step, veterans currently receiving compensation do not need to take any action; you can check the VA's published compensation rate tables each December or January to see the new payment amounts once they are finalized.
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