You obtain the official Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) denoting your 100% service-connected status by visiting or contacting your local VA Medical Center's enrollment office, as this card is issued by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), not the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) that granted your rating. Present your 100% Permanent & Total (P&T) award letter (you should have received this as VA Form 21-8764 or similar notification) to prove your eligibility under 38 CFR 3.327, which governs VA hospital and outpatient care for service-connected veterans. The VHIC will display the "Service Connected" designation, which is the functional equivalent of a "100% disabled card" and is required to access commissary, exchange, and recreational benefits per DoD and VA policy. There is no separate "card" for compensation; your VHIC and your award letter are the key documents. Your actionable next steps are: 1) Ensure you are enrolled in VA healthcare if not already (apply via VA Form 10-10EZ), 2) Locate your local VA medical facility's eligibility/enrollment office via the VA facility locator, and 3) Visit in person with a government-issued photo ID and your P&T award letter to request the updated VHIC. For state-specific benefits like license plates or property tax exemptions, you will typically need to apply separately with your state's Department of Veterans Affairs or DMV using your VA award letter.
*Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes regarding VA processes and is not intended as legal, medical, or official benefits advice.*
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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