80% VA Disability Rating
Military veterans with a service-connected disability may apply for VA disability benefits. The VA will provide a VA disability rating that determines how much compensation you’ll receive and the benefits available to you. Veterans with an 80 percent VA disability rating can receive $2,044.89 or more in VA disability compensation in 2025.
- Veterans with an 80% VA disability rating will receive a base rate of $2,044.89, which can increase depending on the number of dependents a veteran has.
- An 80% rating indicates significant impairment, and veterans can still pursue a 100% rating through Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
- Conditions that result in an 80% disability rating often involve multiple severe impairments or a combination of physical and mental health issues.
The VA may increase your disability compensation if you’re married or support dependent children or parents. In addition, you might also be eligible for such benefits as VA health care, educational benefits, and VA home loan guarantees.
How Much Is 80% VA Disability Compensation?
The 2025 VA disability compensation rate for a veteran with an 80 percent VA disability rating depends on your family status.
| Dependent Status | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|
| Single Veteran | $2,044.89 |
| Veteran and Spouse | $2,125.04 |
| Veteran and Spouse and One Parent | $2,351.36 |
| Veteran and Spouse and Two Parents | $2,487.69 |
| Veteran and One Parent | $2,181.21 |
| Veteran and Two Parents | $2,317.54 |
| Veteran and One Child | $2,158.66 |
| Veteran and Spouse and One Child | $2,340.09 |
| Veteran and One Child and One Parent | $2,294.99 |
| Veteran with One Child and Two Parents | $2,431.31 |
| Veteran and Spouse and One Parent and One Child | $2,476.41 |
| Veteran and Spouse and Two Parents and One Child | $2,612.74 |
| Each Additional Child Under 18 | $84.05 |
| Each Additional Child Over 18 in a Qualifying School Program | $273.68 |
| Aid and Attendance | $156.83 |
The VA regularly adjusts benefit amounts to account for changes in the cost of living, known as a cost of living adjustment, or COLA. It uses the same COLA percentage as Social Security benefits. In 2025, the COLA is 2.5 percent. Veterans with an 80 percent VA disability rating saw their monthly compensation rise from $1,995.01 to $2,044.89—a $49.88 increase.
VA Benefits Included With an 80% Rating
Veterans with an 80 percent VA disability rating can also access the following benefits:
VA Health Care Priority Group 1
Priority Group 1 VA health care allows veterans to receive free preventative care, treatment, and prescriptions when they visit medical providers in the VA network. Veterans who require long-term care, including nursing home services, assisted living, or home health services, get free care if they use a VA provider.
Veterans Readiness and Employment
The Veterans Readiness and Employment, or VR&E, program provides education and job training benefits to disabled vets. The program includes support for higher education tuition, on-the-job training, career counseling, and other services. You may combine VR&E benefits with the GI Bill.
VA Home Loan Funding Fee Waiver
Veterans with an 80 percent VA disability rating may qualify for a VA home loan, allowing them to purchase a house with no down payment or private mortgage insurance. VA home loans usually carry lower interest rates than traditional mortgages. You may also waive the VA home loan funding fee, which ranges from 1.4 to 3.6 percent of the loan’s amount.
Commissary and Exchange Privileges
As a veteran with a VA disability rating of 80 percent, you may shop at all commissaries and exchanges. Commissaries and exchanges provide groceries, clothing, jewelry, electronics, and other items at a lower cost than retail stores.
Free Tax Preparation
Veterans may receive free assistance in preparing and filing annual income tax returns. Help is available through certain in-person and online tax providers.
Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay, or CRDP
Generally, retired and disabled vets can receive VA disability benefits or retired pay, but not both. However, veterans with an 80 percent VA disability rating may receive retired pay and VA disability benefits concurrently, provided they meet eligibility requirements.
Burial and Plot Allowance
Disabled veterans may receive a burial and funeral allowance of up to $2,000 for their burial expenses. Survivors must apply for the benefit following the veteran’s death.
I Have an 80% Rating, But I Can't Work
Many veterans receive disability ratings below 100 percent, but their condition prevents them from holding regular employment. If you have an 80 percent disability rating but can’t hold a job because of your condition, you may apply for Total Disability Individual Unemployability benefits, or TDIU.
Those who qualify for TDIU receive the same monthly VA disability compensation and benefits as veterans with a 100 percent VA disability rating. To qualify for TDIU, you must be unable to work and meet either of the following criteria:
- You have a service-connected disability with at least a 60 percent rating.
- You have multiple service-connected disabilities rated at least 70 percent combined, with one rated 40 percent or higher.
In addition to meeting the rating requirements, you must prove your inability to work. Supporting evidence may include notes from a physician, evidence of frequent hospitalizations, and your work history.
To apply for TDIU, you’ll submit VA Form 21-8940 and VA Form 21-4192 with your supporting evidence. You can apply via the VA’s online portal, by mail, or at a nearby VA regional office.
Other Ways of Increasing Your VA Rating
An 80 percent VA disability rating provides needed monthly compensation, but increasing your rating to 90 or even 100 percent can enhance your benefits package. For instance, a veteran with a 90 percent VA disability rating has a base monthly compensation rate of $2,297.96, while 100 percent disabled veterans receive $3,831.30.
If you believe your service-related disability deserves a higher rating, you can appeal the VA’s decision through the VA decision review process. There are three decision reviews available:
- Supplemental Claim: If you have new evidence to support your original claim, such as diagnostic tests, medical records, or statements from family, friends, or other service members, you can file a supplemental claim.
- Higher-Level Review: If you believe the initial claims reviewer made an error, you can request another reviewer with higher seniority to examine your claim.
- Board Appeals: A Veterans Law Judge from the Board of Veterans’ Appeals will review your case and any new documentation you provide to determine your VA disability rating.
Veterans who successfully increase their rating to 100 percent may qualify for extra benefits, including:
- Dependents’ Educational Assistance
- Special restorative training
- Civilian Health and Medical Program, or CHAMPVA
- VA Pension Plan
Tips for Increasing Your VA Rating
Providing the VA with evidence that your condition has worsened can boost your chances of successfully obtaining a higher VA rating. Some evidence that may help include medical tests or records showing a decline in function or ability or increased doctor visits or hospitalizations due to your condition. You may also submit buddy statements from fellow service members, close friends, or family members emphasizing your deterioration.
Some veterans develop a secondary condition related to their primary disabling condition. If you can prove a direct connection between the secondary condition and your original service-connected disability, the VA may increase your overall VA disability rating.
Veterans’ benefits claims and appeals can be quite complex. A simple mistake can set your application back for weeks or months, putting benefits on the back burner when you most need them. Veterans Guide has seasoned attorneys and staff who understand the intricacies of the VA disability system, and we can assist you.
To get started, fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you immediately to discuss your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are a Few Conditions Commonly Rated at 80%?
Several disabilities may receive an automatic 80 percent disability rating, including the following:
- Amputation of a non-dominant arm
- The most severe form of sciatica with complete paralysis of the foot
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, with severe symptoms resulting in aspiration or substantial weight loss
Many times, veterans combine multiple disabilities to reach an 80 percent VA disability rating.
Can I Also Receive SSDI?
Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, is a separate government program that provides benefits to those who can’t work because of a disabling condition. It’s possible to receive both SSDI and VA disability benefits. However, they are separate programs with different qualifying criteria. To qualify for SSDI, you must have a condition that meets the Social Security Administration’s criteria and have earned sufficient work credits through paying Social Security payroll taxes.
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