The short answer
- VA pays by your combined rating, not by condition. A condition's rating feeds into that total.
- Examples: PTSD can be rated 0–100%, sleep apnea 0, 30, 50, or 100%, tinnitus is capped at 10%, and migraines top out at 50%.
- 2026 pay for a veteran alone ranges from $180.42 a month at 10% to $3,938.58 at 100% (rates effective December 1, 2025).
First: what each rating pays in 2026
These are VA's basic monthly rates effective December 1, 2025. Veterans rated 30% or more get more for dependents.
| Rating | Veteran alone | With spouse |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 |
PTSD, depression, and anxiety
All mental health conditions use one formula: 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, or 100%, based on how symptoms affect work and social life. If you have more than one mental health diagnosis, VA usually assigns one rating covering all of them.
- 30%: occasional drops in work efficiency, such as depressed mood, anxiety, or chronic sleep problems
- 50%: reduced reliability and productivity, such as panic attacks more than weekly or trouble keeping relationships
- 70%: problems in most areas, such as work, family, judgment, thinking, or mood
- 100%: total occupational and social impairment
A 70% PTSD rating alone pays $1,808.45 a month for a veteran alone in 2026. Read more: PTSD guide · Depression & anxiety · PTSD claims help.
Sleep apnea
Under the current criteria (Diagnostic Code 6847), sleep apnea is rated 0, 30, 50, or 100%. The 50% level applies when you need a breathing device such as a CPAP. VA proposed changing these criteria in 2022, but as of October 2026 that change isn't final. Service connection is the hard part: it usually takes in-service evidence or a strong secondary or aggravation opinion. See our sleep apnea guide.
Tinnitus and hearing loss
Tinnitus is the most common service-connected disability in VA's annual benefits reports. It's rated at 10%, the maximum, whether it's in one ear or both ($180.42 a month alone). Hearing loss is rated mechanically from audiology tests, and many veterans with real hearing loss are rated 0%. A 0% rating still matters for VA health care and future increases. See Tinnitus & hearing loss.
Back and neck
Spine conditions are rated mainly on range of motion: 10, 20, or 40% for most low-back limitations, with higher levels for ankylosis. Nerve symptoms down the legs or arms (radiculopathy) are rated separately for each limb. Sciatic nerve ratings run from 10 to 80%. These separate nerve ratings are one of the most common gaps we see. See Back & neck and Radiculopathy.
Knees
Limited bending (flexion) and limited straightening (extension) can be rated separately, and instability can be rated on top of motion. A knee replacement is rated 100% for a period after surgery, then at least 30%. When both knees are rated, the bilateral factor adds value to the combined rating. See Knee conditions and Flat feet.
Migraines
Migraines are rated 0, 10, 30, or 50% based on how often you have prostrating attacks, the kind that force you to stop and lie down. The 50% level, for very frequent, prolonged attacks causing "severe economic inadaptability," pays $1,132.90 a month alone. A headache log is the most useful evidence. See Migraines.
We'll compare your records to the rating criteria. The review is free.
Other common conditions at a glance
| Condition | Possible ratings | What drives the rating |
|---|---|---|
| Hypertension | 10, 20, 40, 60% | Blood pressure readings. Many veterans on medication are rated 10%. |
| Type 2 diabetes | 10, 20, 40, 60, 100% | Treatment and activity restrictions. Complications are rated separately. |
| GERD | Varies | Updated in 2024. Now rated mostly on documented treatment and complications. |
| Erectile dysfunction | 0% | Can qualify for SMC-K, $139.87 a month added on top. |
| Burn pit conditions | Varies by illness | Many are presumptive under the PACT Act. |
Why two veterans with the same condition get different amounts
- Severity. The rating follows your documented symptoms, not the diagnosis name.
- Other conditions. Every additional rating changes the combined total.
- Secondary conditions. Problems caused or worsened by a rated condition can add ratings. See 10 secondary conditions veterans miss.
- Dependents. At 30% and above, a spouse, children, or dependent parents increase pay.
- TDIU and SMC. These can pay at or above the 100% rate.
- Evidence quality. An exam that misses flare-ups, or a missing medical opinion, can lead to a lower rating or a denial.
Can VA lower a rating later?
Yes, in some cases. VA can schedule a future exam to see whether a condition has improved, and it must follow specific procedures before reducing a rating. Several protections apply:
- 5 years: Ratings in effect for five years or more generally require evidence of sustained improvement before a reduction.
- 20 years: A rating held at or above a level for 20 years generally can't be reduced below that level, except for fraud.
- Permanent and total: A 100% rating designated permanent and total usually isn't scheduled for routine re-exams.
- Notice: VA must generally propose a reduction and give you time to respond with evidence before it takes effect.
This matters when you're deciding whether to file for an increase. Filing reopens the condition to a new exam, so compare your symptoms to the criteria first. If you get a proposed reduction letter, respond quickly. Deadlines in those letters are short.
What to do next
- Find your diagnostic codes on your decision letter or in your VA.gov rating details.
- Compare your current symptoms to the criteria in our condition guides.
- Run your ratings through the calculator to see what an increase would change.
- Before filing for an increase, understand the risk of a new exam. Read Am I underrated?
Sources
VA: 2026 compensation rates · 38 CFR Part 4 rating schedule · 38 CFR 4.130 mental disorders · 38 CFR 4.25 combined ratings · VBA Annual Benefits Reports · VA: SMC rates
This article is general information, not legal advice. VA and SSA rules change; verify current rules with VA.gov or SSA.gov or talk to an accredited representative.