Temporary 100% ratings following a myocardial infarction are usually assigned under 38 CFR 4.104, Diagnostic Code 7006, which allows a mandatory 100% evaluation for a set period (often one, three, or six months) after the event, based on the presumption that the heart needs time to stabilize. Even though a rating decision says "100% for 3 months," the actual amount paid can differ from what a veteran expects for a few common reasons.
First, VA compensation is paid based on effective dates, not simply a count of calendar months. Under 38 CFR 3.31, payments generally begin the first day of the month following entitlement, and if a rating changes partway through a month, that month is often paid at the new, lower rate rather than the higher one, effectively shortening the period paid at 100% compared to what a veteran counted informally.
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 →Second, temporary ratings under this diagnostic code often require a follow-up examination before the end of the stated period. If that exam is scheduled early, or if medical evidence in the file suggests improvement sooner, VA may reduce the rating before the full three months elapse, even if the original decision letter listed three months as the maximum allowed period rather than a guaranteed one. Some decision letters do state the rating is subject to reevaluation results, which can be easy to miss when reading quickly.
Third, clerical or system errors in processing the rating decision and generating payments do happen, and these are usually correctable once identified. A veteran who believes they were shorted a full month of 100% compensation despite the decision letter clearly awarding it without conditions should request a copy of the complete rating decision and the corresponding award/payment history from their VA regional office or through eBenefits/VA.gov, and compare the exact effective and end dates listed against what was paid.
If a review of these documents shows the payment does not match the effective dates in the rating decision, filing a Higher-Level Review or Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0996) citing the discrepancy, or contacting the regional office directly to request a payment audit, is the appropriate next step, since this is treated as a payment/effective-date error rather than a new disability claim.
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