Veterans with a 30% VA disability rating receive monthly, tax-free compensation, as well as additional benefits. Below, we explain what a 30% rating means, what benefits are available for veterans with a 30% rating, and the steps you can take if you disagree with your current rating.
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In this article about 30% VA disability benefits:
What is VA disability?
VA ratings determine what benefits a veteran with service-connected disabilities is eligible to receive. To receive a VA disability rating, veterans must submit an application for benefits for a condition that was caused or worsened due to their service. From there, the VA will review the application as well as any supporting evidence and will assign the appropriate rating to each disability granted.
The VA assesses this information and issues a VA rating between 0% and 100% for each condition the veteran is service-connected for. The majority of veterans receive VA disability for more than one health issue tied to their military service. When a veteran has more than one service-connected condition, the VA assigns a rating for each service-connected condition. To combine the ratings, the VA uses its own unique formula, often called “VA math.”
Your combined VA disability rating will determine the amount of money you receive each month.
What is a 30% VA rating worth?
Currently, veterans with a combined 30% VA disability rating receive a monthly tax-free payment of $1,102.04. 30% is the lowest VA disability rating where monthly payments can increase if the veteran is married or has dependents. Dependents may include a spouse or qualifying children or parents.
| Dependent status | Compensation amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran alone (no dependents) | $537.42 |
| With spouse only | $601.42 |
| With spouse + 1 parent only | $652.42 |
| With spouse + 2 parents only | $703.42 |
| Without spouse + 1 parent | $588.42 |
| Without spouse + 2 parents | $639.42 |
Additionally, $31.00 may be added for each dependent child under 18, or $102.00 for each adult child attending an eligible school program.
30% VA disability benefits
In addition to monthly monetary compensation, a 30% VA rating gives veterans access to other benefits.
These include:
- Free health care
- Prescription medications at VA copay rates
- Travel allowance for VA medical appointments
- Home loan assistance
- Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E)
- Additional compensation for dependents ie. aid and attendance for eligible spouse
- Burial and plot allowance
- Federal hiring preference with direct hire authority
How to increase a 30% VA rating
If you believe you qualify for a higher rating from the VA, it’s worth the effort to try to increase it. The difference in monthly payments and additional benefits is significant even when increasing by just 10%.
The most common ways for veterans to increase their VA disability ratings to 40% or higher are by adding additional service-connected conditions, applying for TDIU, or seeking an increased rating for a condition.
Adding additional service-connected conditions
While veterans can, and often do, include multiple conditions in an initial claim, many may not realize a secondary health problem can be tied to their military service.
Additionally, as veterans deal with service-connected conditions, other, new health issues may develop as a result. These are referred to as secondary conditions, and they are also eligible for disability compensation. Secondary conditions may include things like side effects from medication or mental health issues from dealing with physical service-connected disabilities.
To add a condition to your claim, you must submit evidence proving the condition is connected to your service or another service-connected disability.
Seeking a higher rating
First, if you disagree with your current 30% rating, you can file an appeal within one year of a decision. There are three ways to appeal a VA decision in the modernized system:
- Higher-Level Review (HLR) – When veterans do not have any additional evidence to submit but believe the VA made an error on their claim decision, they may choose to pursue an HLR.
- Supplemental Claim – If you disagree with a VA decision and want to file an appeal with new and relevant evidence, you may file a supplemental claim.
- Board Appeal – A BVA appeal allows you to request that a Veterans Law Judge review your claim. A judge who specializes in veterans law will review your case.
If you miss your window for appealing a decision, don’t worry — you haven’t lost your chance to increase your rating. Veterans also have the option to request an increased rating using form 21-526EZ, the same form used for applying for VA disability.
If you believe your disability warrants a higher rating or it has worsened since you initially filed, you may appeal for an increased rating using any of the above options.
“They made me feel like I was important and that my claim was important. With the VA process as complicated and time-consuming as it is, Woods & Woods was there for me every step of the way. I thank them very much for their hard work and compassion. I could have never done this on my own.”
D.W., Navy veteran from South Carolina
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Increasing compensation through TDIU
TDIU, which stands for total disability based on individual unemployability, is a tax-free monthly benefit that ensures veterans who can’t work can still support themselves and their families.
It’s important to keep in mind a 30% VA disability doesn’t typically qualify you for TDIU. However, if you successfully increase your rating for a condition or claim other service-connected conditions, you could become eligible. This would allow you to continue increasing your monthly compensation.
Veterans eligible for TDIU receive VA disability compensation at the 100% level, even if their condition is not rated 100% disabling.
To qualify for schedular TDIU, you must have:
- At least one service-connected disability rated at least 60% OR
- A combined rating of two or more service-connected disabilities at 70% or more, including at least one disability rated at 40% or more.
In rare instances, individuals may also be able to get extraschedular TDIU at a lower rating level.
How Woods & Woods can help
Our team of VA-accredited attorneys, legal analysts, case managers, and intake specialists help veterans nationwide get the benefits they deserve. If you’re tired of appealing one VA decision after another, call us today for a free case evaluation.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
Frequently asked questions
The most common ways for veterans to increase their VA disability ratings to 30% or higher are by adding additional service-connected conditions, applying for TDIU, or seeking an increased rating for a condition.
As of 2025, veterans with a combined 30% VA disability rating receive a monthly tax-free payment of $1,102.04. 30% is the lowest VA disability rating where monthly payments can increase if the veteran is married or has dependents.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
