The 2026 VA disability compensation rates reflect the 2.7% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) effective December 1, 2025, applied to 2025 base rates. All amounts below are effective for calendar year 2026 and are entirely exempt from federal and state income taxes under 38 U.S.C. § 5301.
| Dependent Status | Monthly Rate (2026) | Annual Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone (no dependents) | $1,361.88 | $16,342.56/yr |
| Veteran + spouse (no children) | $1,490.96 | $17,891.52/yr |
| Veteran + spouse + 1 child | $1,562.96 | $18,755.52/yr |
| Veteran + spouse + 2 children | $1,634.96 | $19,619.52/yr |
| Veteran alone + 1 child | $1,433.88 | $17,206.56/yr |
| Each additional child under 18 | +$72.00 | +$864.00/yr |
| Spouse requiring Aid & Attendance | Additional — see VA.gov | Varies |
For context, here is how the 60% rate compares to adjacent ratings in 2026. All rates are for a single veteran with no dependents:
| Rating | Monthly Rate (2026, Single) | Increase vs. Previous |
|---|---|---|
| 50% | $1,179.99 | — |
| 60% (this rating) | $1,361.88 | +$181.89/mo |
| 70% | $1,716.28 | +$354.40/mo |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | +$385.87/mo |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | +$1,836.43/mo vs. 60% |
The jump from 60% to 70% adds $354.40/month — meaningful but not dramatic. The real financial case for pushing from 60% to higher ratings comes from TDIU eligibility, state benefit thresholds, and the cumulative impact of each rating increment over years of payment.
Two federal authorities govern how your 60% rating is calculated, what it pays, and what additional compensation you may be entitled to beyond the standard monthly rate.
38 CFR § 4.27 establishes how VA combines multiple disability ratings. The formula does not add percentages arithmetically. Instead, it applies each rating to the "remaining whole person" — preventing ratings from exceeding 100% while accurately representing cumulative disability.
For a veteran currently rated 60%: if that is a single rating, the combined rating is 60%. If you have a second condition rated 30%, the formula applies: 60% + (30% × 40% remaining whole person) = 60% + 12% = 72%, which rounds to 70% under VA's rounding rules. This is why the math matters — a single 30% secondary condition at 60% produces a 70% combined rating, not 90%.
Strategic use of 38 CFR § 4.27 means understanding exactly which additional ratings — secondary conditions, bilateral factor adjustments, increased ratings — are needed to push your combined rating past the next threshold. Use our VA combined ratings calculator to model your current rating and see how close you are to 70% or higher.
38 U.S.C. § 1114 is the statutory authority for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) — additional compensation beyond the standard monthly rate for veterans with specific severe conditions. SMC is available at any rating percentage, including 60%, when the veteran has qualifying conditions such as loss of use of an extremity, blindness, or need for regular aid and attendance.
SMC is frequently overlooked by veterans and VSOs. If you have a 60% rating and qualifying additional conditions, you may be entitled to substantial SMC payments on top of your $1,361.88 base rate. A veteran with 60% combined rating and loss of use of a foot, for example, qualifies for SMC(l) — which pays significantly above the standard 60% rate. We cover SMC in detail in the Special Monthly Compensation section below.
Under 38 CFR § 4.25, combined disability ratings are rounded to the nearest 10% — ratings of 1–4% round down, 5–9% round up. This means a combined formula result of 55% rounds to 60%, and 54% rounds to 50%. When you're on the borderline between rating levels, a small additional secondary condition can be the difference between a 50% and 60% combined rating — and the TDIU eligibility that comes with it.
One of the most misunderstood aspects of a 60% VA rating is the healthcare priority group it confers. Many veterans assume lower ratings receive lower healthcare priority — but the reality is more favorable than that.
Veterans rated 50% or higher receive Priority Group 1 — the highest VA healthcare priority tier. At 60%, you receive the same healthcare priority as a 100% disabled veteran. Priority Group 1 includes:
As a Priority Group 1 veteran with 60% disability, VA healthcare covers:
For veterans with conditions related to toxic exposures (burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation), the PACT Act expanded eligibility significantly. If you're rated 60% for a PACT Act condition, you may qualify for enhanced healthcare benefits. Learn more in our guide to PACT Act VA disability claims.
This is the most strategically important fact about a 60% VA disability rating: a single service-connected disability rated at 60% or higher qualifies a veteran for TDIU under the schedular threshold of 38 CFR § 4.16(a).
Under 38 CFR § 4.16(a), a veteran qualifies for schedular TDIU if they meet either of these thresholds:
A veteran with a single 60% rating meets the first threshold without needing any additional disabilities. This means you don't need to have 70% combined or multiple conditions — your single 60% rating is enough to be evaluated for TDIU.
To actually receive TDIU, you must also demonstrate that your service-connected condition(s) prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment — defined as employment that generates income above the federal poverty threshold (approximately $15,060/year in 2026). If your 60%-rated condition prevents you from working, you should apply for TDIU regardless of whether you have additional conditions.
TDIU pays at the same rate as a 100% schedular disability rating — regardless of your actual combined rating percentage. For a veteran with a single 60% rating who is approved for TDIU, the monthly pay increases from $1,361.88 to $3,938.58 per month in 2026 — a difference of $2,576.70 per month, or $30,920.40 per year.
| Scenario | Monthly Rate (2026, Single) | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 60% rating, no TDIU | $1,361.88 | $16,342.56 |
| 60% rating with TDIU approved | $3,938.58 | $47,262.96 |
| Monthly TDIU increase | +$2,576.70 | +$30,920.40 |
Veterans who do not meet the 60% single-disability threshold or the 70% combined threshold may still qualify for TDIU under 38 CFR § 4.16(b) — extra-schedular TDIU. This requires VA's Director of Compensation to approve, and requires demonstrating that your service-connected conditions prevent substantially gainful employment even though you don't meet the schedular thresholds. Extra-schedular TDIU is harder to win but remains available for veterans with compelling evidence. Learn more in our complete TDIU guide.
If your 60% service-connected disability prevents you from holding a job that pays above poverty level, you may be entitled to TDIU — which pays at the 100% rate ($3,938.58/month). A VA-accredited attorney can evaluate your TDIU eligibility for free.
Get My Free TDIU Evaluation →A 60% rating is a strong foundation — but for many veterans, the goal is to push the combined rating to 70% or higher to unlock additional benefits, state property tax exemptions, and increased monthly compensation. The most reliable path is through secondary service connection.
Secondary service connection means a new condition is caused or aggravated by an already service-connected condition. Under 38 CFR § 3.310, if your primary service-connected condition causes or worsens another medical condition, that secondary condition can be service-connected — even if it has no direct connection to your military service.
Depending on your primary 60%-rated condition, strong secondary condition candidates include:
Secondary conditions: Sleep apnea (PTSD causes poor sleep → sleep apnea), depression/anxiety, migraines, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), erectile dysfunction, GERD. PTSD-based secondary chains are among the most powerful rating builders available.
Secondary conditions: Radiculopathy (nerve damage from spinal conditions, rated separately per extremity), hip degeneration, depression secondary to chronic pain, sleep apnea (pain prevents sleep), gait problems causing knee/ankle degeneration. Each radiculopathy extremity rated separately.
Secondary conditions: Depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, PTSD (can be directly connected), headaches/migraines, cognitive impairment, dizziness/vestibular disorders, tinnitus. TBI secondary conditions are well-established in VA case law and medical literature.
Secondary conditions: Hip degeneration (compensatory gait changes), ankle degeneration, lumbar strain (altered gait), depression secondary to chronic pain, sleep disturbance. Bilateral conditions (both knees, both shoulders) also trigger the bilateral factor under 38 CFR 4.26.
Under 38 CFR § 4.26, VA applies a "bilateral factor" when service-connected disabilities affect both arms, both legs, paired skeletal muscles, or both paired extremities. The bilateral factor adds 10% of the combined bilateral ratings before entering the main combined ratings formula under § 4.27. For a veteran with bilateral conditions (e.g., both knees service-connected), this factor can meaningfully increase the combined rating.
Using the 38 CFR § 4.27 formula: From a single 60% rating, adding a 30% secondary condition produces approximately 72% combined (rounds to 70%). Adding a 20% secondary condition produces approximately 68% (rounds to 70%). Even a 10% secondary condition pushes from 60% to 64% combined — which rounds to 60% — but adding two 10% conditions produces about 68%, rounding to 70%. The math confirms that one meaningful secondary condition (20–30%) is often sufficient to reach a 70% combined rating from a 60% base.
For a personalized analysis of which secondary conditions could push your rating to 70%, see our VA secondary conditions guide or consult a VA-accredited attorney.
REE Medical provides nexus letters from VA-experienced physicians documenting secondary conditions, severity increases, and service connections. A free consultation determines if you qualify for additional evidence support.
Check My Nexus Letter Options — Free →State benefits for veterans with 60% VA disability vary widely. Unlike federal benefits — which are uniform nationwide — state benefits are set by individual state legislatures and can change annually. Here is what 60% veterans typically find at the state level:
| Benefit Category | Typical Availability at 60% | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Property tax exemption (full) | Generally not available at 60% | Full exemptions typically require 100% P&T; partial reductions available in some states |
| Property tax reduction (partial) | Available in many states | California, New York, and others offer partial reductions for 60%+ veterans |
| Vehicle registration | Reduced fees in most states | Free registration typically requires 100% or P&T; reduced fees often start at 50%+ |
| Hunting/fishing license | Free or reduced in most states | Most states offer free licenses at 60%+ or all service-connected ratings |
| State park admission | Free or reduced in most states | Many states offer free entry for veterans with any service-connected rating |
| State college tuition waivers | Some states, varies by rating | Texas Hazelwood, Florida, Virginia: often require 100% or P&T; some programs open at 60% |
| State hiring preference | Available in all states | Most states provide hiring preference for any service-connected veteran |
The strategic implication: in many states, reaching 100% P&T unlocks dramatically more benefit value than 60% alone. The property tax exemption alone — worth $5,000–$15,000/year in high-tax states — can make the difference between 60% and 100% worth tens of thousands of dollars annually beyond the difference in monthly compensation. See our state veterans benefits guides for your specific state.
Understanding where 60% sits in the VA rating scale helps you make strategic decisions about your claim:
The jump from 50% to 60% is not just about $181.89 more per month. At 50%, TDIU eligibility requires a combined 70%+ with one disability at 40%+. At 60%, a single disability meets the TDIU threshold — no additional conditions required. This is the single most strategically significant threshold in the VA rating scale for veterans who cannot work. If your primary condition is rated at 50% and you cannot maintain employment, pushing that condition to 60% (or filing for a secondary to reach 60%+70% combined) can unlock TDIU and the 100% pay rate.
The jump from 60% to 70% adds $354.40/month in base compensation. Beyond the pay increase, 70% opens additional state benefits in many states (particularly property tax reductions and tuition benefits) and strengthens the foundation for TDIU eligibility through the combined-rating path. At 70%+40%, the combined TDIU threshold is satisfied — giving veterans more flexibility in how they qualify. For veterans not pursuing TDIU, the 70% state benefit advantages are the primary strategic reason to push from 60% to 70%.
The effective difference between 60% with TDIU and 100% schedular is $0/month in direct compensation — both pay $3,938.58/month single in 2026. The differences are legal: employment restrictions (TDIU), P&T eligibility, and certain state benefit eligibility. Veterans at 60% who cannot work should evaluate TDIU before spending significant effort pushing toward 100% schedular — the pay outcome is identical, and TDIU is often faster and easier to achieve. See our full 100% VA disability pay guide for the complete picture.
A 60% rating must be supported by medical evidence demonstrating that the veteran's symptoms correspond to the 60% rating criteria in the applicable diagnostic code under 38 CFR Part 4. Different conditions have different 60% criteria, but common elements include:
VA can propose a rating reduction if it believes your condition has improved. To protect your 60% rating — and to support an increase — maintain:
For more on C&P examinations, see our VA C&P Exam guide. For nexus letters, see our nexus letter guide.
A 60% schedular VA disability rating has no employment restrictions. You can work any job at any income level while receiving your $1,361.88/month (or higher with dependents) VA disability compensation. There is no income limit, no reporting requirement, and no risk of losing your schedular rating because of employment.
The employment restriction applies only if you apply for and receive TDIU. Under 38 CFR § 4.16, TDIU is based on inability to maintain substantially gainful employment. If you receive TDIU and then return to work earning above the federal poverty threshold (approximately $15,060/year in 2026), VA may reduce your TDIU rating. If you have TDIU and are considering returning to work, consult a VA-accredited attorney before making any employment decisions.
Under 38 CFR § 4.16(a), a veteran with TDIU can perform "marginal employment" without risking their TDIU rating. Marginal employment is defined as work that does not exceed the federal poverty threshold — approximately $15,060 annually in 2026 — and is often performed in a sheltered environment or family business. This exception allows TDIU veterans to engage in very limited work activities without jeopardizing their rating.
Veterans rated at 60% may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 and 38 CFR § 3.350 if they have qualifying conditions beyond the standard rating criteria.
SMC is frequently under-claimed because veterans don't know to request it. If you have any of the conditions listed above, ask your VSO or attorney to evaluate your SMC eligibility. The difference between a 60% rate and an SMC rate can be hundreds to thousands of dollars per month. See our complete SMC guide for details.
Free VA healthcare for all service-connected conditions. No enrollment fee. Priority scheduling for appointments.
Veterans with 30%+ service-connected disability receive 10-point preference in federal civil service hiring exams and appointments.
60% disabled veterans are exempt from the VA funding fee on home loans — saving 1.25–3.3% of the loan amount (thousands of dollars).
Prescription medications for service-connected conditions are provided at no cost through VA. Reduced copays for non-service-connected medications.
Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) is available to veterans with 20%+ service-connected disability who face employment barriers.
Veterans with service-connected disabilities may qualify for Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) or VA-funded life insurance programs at reduced rates.
For a complete list of federal veteran benefits at 60%, see our VA disability pay rates 2026 guide. For state-specific benefits, see our state benefits guides.
In 2026, a 60% VA disability rating pays $1,361.88 per month for a single veteran with no dependents. With a spouse, the rate is $1,490.96 per month. Each qualifying child under 18 adds $72 per month. All VA disability compensation is 100% tax-free at both the federal and state level under 38 U.S.C. § 5301.
Yes. Under 38 CFR § 4.16(a), a single service-connected disability rated at 60% or more satisfies the schedular threshold for TDIU. You must still demonstrate inability to maintain substantially gainful employment due to that condition. If approved, TDIU pays at the full 100% rate — $3,938.58/month single in 2026.
Veterans with a 60% (or any 50%+) VA disability rating receive Priority Group 1 — the highest VA healthcare priority. This means no copays for service-connected conditions, no enrollment fees, and priority scheduling. Priority Group 5 applies to veterans without service-connected disability who meet income thresholds — not to 60% disabled veterans.
Yes — a 60% schedular VA rating has no employment restrictions. You can earn any amount from employment without affecting your disability compensation. Only TDIU recipients face employment income limits (approximately $15,060/year in 2026 before marginal employment threshold).
The most common paths are: (1) filing secondary conditions caused by your primary 60% condition under 38 CFR § 3.310; (2) requesting a rating increase if your primary condition has worsened; (3) claiming new service-connected conditions. A 30% secondary condition from a 60% base produces approximately 72% combined (rounds to 70%). Consult a VA-accredited attorney or review our secondary conditions guide.
No. VA disability compensation is entirely tax-free at the federal and state level under 38 U.S.C. § 5301. You do not report it as income on your tax returns. It also cannot be garnished by most creditors.
State benefits vary significantly. Most states do not offer full property tax exemptions at 60% (those typically require 70–100% P&T), but most states offer partial property tax reductions, free or reduced hunting/fishing licenses, state park access, and hiring preference. Check your state's veterans affairs office for current 60% eligibility. See our state benefits guides.
Aid and Attendance is a Special Monthly Compensation add-on under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 for veterans or their spouses who require regular assistance from another person. At 60%, you may qualify for additional SMC payments if your condition or your spouse's condition meets the A&A criteria. Contact VA or a VSO to evaluate your A&A eligibility.
A free case review from a VA-accredited attorney can identify secondary conditions, TDIU eligibility, SMC, and rating errors that could significantly increase your monthly compensation. No cost, no obligation.
Get My Free Claim Review →REE Medical provides nexus letters and IMOs from VA-experienced physicians for secondary conditions, increased ratings, and TDIU claims. Free consultation to see if you qualify.
Check My Nexus Letter Options — Free →