How the annual COLA changes your VA disability compensation
VA disability rates rise each December 1 with the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), tied to the same index as Social Security. Here's how the COLA is set, when it takes effect, and how to read the current rate tables.
Each year, VA disability compensation is adjusted for the cost of living so that inflation doesn’t erode the real value of your monthly benefit. The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) takes effect on December 1 and is reflected in the payment you receive at the start of January.
How the COLA is calculated
The VA disability COLA is tied by law to the same Social Security COLA, which is based on the change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). When Social Security announces its annual COLA in the fall, that same percentage increase applies to VA disability compensation effective the following December 1.
How to read the rate tables
Your monthly payment depends on your combined disability rating and your number of dependents. The VA publishes a rate table for each combined rating from 10% to 100%, with separate columns for a veteran alone and for veterans with a spouse, children, or dependent parents. Ratings of 30% and above include dependent add-ons; ratings of 10% and 20% are paid at a flat rate regardless of dependents.
Why your combined rating may not be what you expect
Multiple disabilities don’t simply add up. The VA combines them using its “whole person” method (38 CFR §4.25), so two 50% ratings combine to 75%, not 100%. Our free combined-rating calculator shows exactly how your ratings combine and what the current table pays for that result.
Official sources
Last reviewed June 11, 2026 by VA Disability Pro. We summarize official sources in our own words and link to them; we don’t republish source text. This is general information, not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.