VA Benefits (Veterans)
Last updated August 2026
VA disability compensation is monthly, tax-free money for conditions connected to your service. Rates for a veteran alone currently run from $180.42 a month at a 10 percent rating to $3,938.58 at 100 percent. File online at va.gov, by mail on Form 21-526EZ, or with free help: the benefits line is 800-827-1000, and MyVA411 at 800-698-2411 answers day and night.
Do one thing today even if you are not ready: submit an intent to file. It locks in your date, and you get a full year to build the actual claim. When the claim is approved, back pay reaches to that locked date. Claims are also moving faster than their reputation: VA's published average is about 69 days.
Never pay anyone to file an initial claim. Accredited Veterans Service Organization reps do the whole thing free, and by law, attorneys and claims agents can only charge after VA decides an initial claim. Anyone demanding money up front to file is breaking the rules.
The PACT Act changed the game for toxic exposure: burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation. Presumptive conditions need no proof of connection to service. If you were told no years ago for one of these, that answer may be outdated.
Expect a C&P exam, bring your DD214 and medical evidence, and know that ratings combine by VA math, not addition. If the decision goes against you, you have three review paths, generally within one year of the decision letter: a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, a Higher-Level Review, or a Board Appeal. VA health care is a separate, worthwhile application: Form 10-10EZ or 877-222-8387.
Phone 1-800-827-1000
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Veterans, service members, and some spouses/dependents — eligibility varies by benefit
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Submit an intent to file first, at va.gov or 800-827-1000. It locks your back-pay date and gives you a year to finish.
- 2
Get free help from an accredited VSO rep. They build and file claims at no charge.
- 3
Gather your DD214, service treatment records, and medical evidence for each condition.
- 4
File the claim online at va.gov, by mail on Form 21-526EZ, or through your rep.
- 5
Attend the C&P exam VA schedules. Your rating rests partly on it, so describe your worst days honestly.
- 6
Watch for the decision, about 69 days on average right now. Check status at va.gov.
- 7
Disagree? Pick a review path within one year: Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, or Board Appeal.
- 8
Apply for VA health care separately with Form 10-10EZ, online or at 877-222-8387.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much does VA disability pay?
$180.42 a month at 10 percent up to $3,938.58 at 100 percent for a veteran alone, tax-free, at current rates. Dependents can raise it. Rates get a cost-of-living bump each December.
How long does a VA claim take?
VA's published average is about 69 days for disability claims right now. An intent to file protects your back pay while you gather evidence.
Does filing a VA claim cost anything?
No. Filing is free, and accredited VSO reps help free. Attorneys may only charge after an initial decision, with a signed fee agreement. Upfront-fee demands are a red flag.
What is the PACT Act?
A law that expanded benefits for toxic-exposed veterans. Presumptive conditions, like many burn pit and Agent Orange illnesses, no longer require proof of service connection. Old denials may be worth refiling.
Can I work while getting VA disability?
Yes. VA disability compensation has no work restriction at any rating. Only the special unemployability benefit involves work limits.
What if my claim is denied?
You generally have one year from the decision letter to choose a review: Supplemental Claim with new evidence, Higher-Level Review, or Board Appeal. A VSO can help you pick the right lane free.
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