How to Calculate VA Disability Income

By Matt Knouff

The U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs pays disability compensation to individuals with a service-related disability that were discharged under anything other than dishonorable conditions. VA disability compensation ranges from $123 to over $3,100 per month, depending on the severity of the disability, marital status, the number of dependents and length of service.

Contact the VA Benefits hotline at 1-800-827-1000 to obtain your disability rating if you do not have this number. Your disability rating will be a positive percentage value between 0 and 100, with 0 meaning "no disability" and 100 meaning "severely disabled." Remember this value, since it will be needed for future steps.

Note whether you are married, have children or dependent parents. Spouses, children and dependent parents significantly affect the amount of your VA disability payment.

Use the Comparison Rate Table available on the US Department of Veteran's Affairs website to locate the amount of your monthly payment. For example, if you were determined to be 30 percent disabled, are married and have a child, your monthly benefit amount would have been $453 in 2009.

You can apply for VA benefits online at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp or in person at a regional VA office.

Your monthly VA disability payment may not be exactly the same as is listed on the table. If your monthly payment differs from the amount on the table, you may contact the VA Benefits hotline to discover reasons why the amount received varies from the amount on the table.

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