10% VA disability pay rate (2026)

Source: VA.gov compensation rates, effective 2025-12-01, retrieved 2026-06-11.

A 10% rating pays $180.42 per month in 2026. Ratings of 10% and 20% pay a flat amount: dependents do not change the figure. Dependent additions begin at 30%.

Why 10% is the most common VA rating

10% is the most frequently assigned VA disability rating, largely because tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is rated at exactly 10% under diagnostic code 6260 with no higher tier. It is also the entry point for conditions assigned the minimum compensable rating. Because 10% pays a flat $180.42 regardless of dependents, the pay does not change whether you have a spouse, children, or parents. Dependent additions begin at the 30% level.

Two 10% ratings do not simply add to 20%. Under 38 CFR §4.25, the combined value is 10 + (10 × 90 / 100) = 10 + 9 = 19, which rounds to 20%. If both conditions are in both arms or both legs, the bilateral factor under §4.26 applies first. Two 10% bilateral ratings combine to 19, and 10% of 19 = 1.9 is added, giving 20.9, which rounds to 21 and then converts to 20% final. The bilateral factor matters more when the combined value crosses a rounding threshold. Read how the bilateral factor works to see when the extra step changes your rating band.

Check the math behind your rating

Your combined rating is calculated under 38 CFR §4.25 and §4.26, and the final number is rounded to the nearest 10. Whether you sit at 10% or one band higher can come down to a few points. Run your conditions through the calculator to see your combined value before rounding, and read how the bilateral factor works if you have conditions in both arms or both legs.

If VA owes you money back to an earlier effective date, estimate your back pay or read how back pay is calculated. If your decision letter's rating is lower than the math supports, see what to do after a VA decision you disagree with.