The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) directly deposits VA disability payments to qualifying Veterans on the first of every month. When the first of the month falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the VA makes the deposit on the last business day of the previous month.
The VA makes each payment for the previous month. So, the VA will deposit your August 2023 payment on Friday, September 1, 2023. But since October 1, 2023, falls on a Sunday, the VA will deposit the September 2023 payment on Friday, September 29, 2023.
Below is the expected 2023 VA disability payment schedule:
| MONTH | DATE |
| January | Wednesday, Feb. 1 |
| February | Wednesday, March 1 |
| March | Friday, March 31 |
| April | Monday, May 1 |
| May | Thursday, June 1 |
| June | Friday, June 30 |
| July | Tuesday, Aug. 1 |
| August | Friday, Sept. 1 |
| September | Friday, Sept. 29 |
| October | Wednesday, Nov. 1 |
| November | Friday, Dec. 1 |
| December | Friday, Dec. 29 |
VA disability compensation is a monthly tax-free payment to Veterans who became sick or were injured while serving in the military or whose service worsened an existing condition. Veterans may qualify for VA disability benefits for physical or mental health conditions linked to their military service.
The VA assigns a disability rating based on the severity of the Veteran’s condition. The ratings range from zero percent to 100 percent in increments of 10, and determine the amount of monthly compensation a Veteran receives.
For example, a disability with a zero percent rating provides no compensation, while a 100 percent rating provides full compensation.
If a Veteran has multiple service-related disabilities, the VA combines their disability ratings, and the combined rate determines their monthly compensation rate.
Here’s the VA’s 2023 disability compensation rates for Veterans with no dependents based on their disability rating:
| COMBINED VA RATING | 2023 MONTHLY VA COMPENSATION |
| 10% | $165.92 |
| 20% | $327.99 |
| 30% | $508.05 |
| 40% | $731.86 |
| 50% | $1,041.82 |
| 60% | $1,319.65 |
| 70% | $1,663.06 |
| 80% | $1,933.15 |
| 90% | $2,172.39 |
| 100% | $3,621.95 |
Veterans with a combined disability rating of 30 percent or more and qualifying dependents—such as spouses, parents, minor children, or older children still in school—may qualify for additional compensation.
Each year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) sets a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which the VA uses to adjust its disability compensation payments. The increases go into effect on December 1 of the previous year (or on the last business day of the previous month if the first of the month falls on a weekend). For example, the 2023 VA disability compensation rate went into effect on December 1, 2022.
In October 2022, the SSA announced an 8.7 percent increase—the most significant hike since 1981. Previous increases were far more modest—never more than 2.8 percent in a single year. But in the past two years, COLA increases have increased to keep in step with the rising cost of food, rent, and other daily expenses that came in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent inflation spike.
For example, the COLA for 2020 and 2021 increased by 1.6 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively. In 2022, it was 5.9 percent.
Here’s how COLA has affected monthly VA disability compensation in 2023 compared to 2021.
| COMBINED VA RATING | 2023 MONTHLY VA COMPENSATION | 2021 MONTHLY VA COMPENSATION |
| 10% | $165.92 | $144.14 |
| 20% | $327.99 | $284.93 |
| 30% | $508.05 | $441.35 |
| 40% | $731.86 | $635.77 |
| 50% | $1,041.82 | $905.04 |
| 60% | $1,319.65 | $1,146.39 |
| 70% | $1,663.06 | $1,444.71 |
| 80% | $1,933.15 | $1,679.35 |
| 90% | $2,172.39 | $1,887.18 |
| 100% | $3,621.95 | $3,146.42 |
If a Veteran receives a zero percent rating, they may still qualify for other benefits, such as VA health care. An experienced Veterans lawyer can help you access VA benefits or increase your VA disability rating.
A disabled Veteran can either seek an initial or non-initial disability rating increase.
If less than a year has elapsed since the VA granted a service connection for disability benefits, and the Veteran believes that the rating is too low, a Veteran can appeal the decision through one of several appeals options, such as:
The Veteran will have to present evidence to show the severity of their disability from the time the VA granted their service connection to present. If the VA grants an increase, the VA should backdate it to the original effective date the VA granted the original service connection.
If the VA granted the original service connection more than a year ago, the Veteran may file a non-initial increased rating through:
As with Initial Rating Increases, Veterans should also submit evidence showing that their disability has worsened since the VA granted their service connection.
Evidence the Veteran may provide to show that their disability has gotten worse over time may include:
The VA may require Veterans seeking either initial or non-initial claims for increased disability ratings to undergo a medical exam at a VA facility or another medical center. The Veteran must make the appointment and undergo the exam or the VA will likely deny their claim.
The VA disability lawyers at Berry Law helped tens of thousands of Veterans and military families nationwide increase their disability rating and recover millions in back pay and disability benefits. Our practice focuses on helping Veterans and their families treated unfairly by the VA disability compensation system. Our PTSD VA Disability Lawyers can help you, too. Contact us today at (888) 883-2483 or online to request an appointment.
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