90% VA Disability Rating
If you are a veteran with a service-related medical condition, you can apply for VA disability benefits. The VA assigns each claimant a VA disability rating, determining how much monthly compensation you’ll receive and the benefits you qualify for.
- Veterans with a 90% VA disability rating receive benefits starting at $2,297.96, and it can increase depending on the dependents they have.
- Veterans with a 90% rating are eligible for various VA benefits, including health care, vocational rehabilitation, and home loan assistance.
- Veterans can increase their rating to 100% by showing their condition has worsened, they are unable to work due to their disability, secondary conditions, and other ways.
If you have a 90 percent VA disability rating, your base monthly compensation in 2025 is $2,297.96, which the VA may increase depending on your family status. In addition, you might also be eligible for such benefits as VA health care, educational benefits, and VA home loan guarantees.
90% VA Disability Rate Compensation
How much is 90 percent VA disability compensation? Your monthly compensation depends on whether you’re single, married, or have dependents, including parents or children. Here are the rates for 2025.
| Dependent Status | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|
| Single Veteran | $2,297.96 |
| Veteran and Spouse | $2,489.63 |
| Veteran and Spouse and One Parent | $2,634.38 |
| Veteran and Spouse and Two Parents | $2,797.13 |
| Veteran and One Parent | $2,451.71 |
| Veteran and Two Parents | $2,605.46 |
| Each Additional Child Under 18 | $95.33 |
| Each Additional Child Over 18 in a Qualifying School Program | $308.53 |
| Aid and Attendance | $176.30 |
Every year, the VA revises benefit rates for the cost of living, known as a cost of living adjustment or COLA. The VA uses the same COLA rate used for Social Security benefits. That rate is published annually by the the Social Security Administration Social Security Administration.
In 2025, the COLA adjustment is 2.5 percent. COLA increased the base VA disability compensation amount for people with a VA disability rating of 90 percent from $2,241.91 to $2,297.96, or $56.05.
Going From a 90% to 100% VA Rating
Veterans with a 90 percent VA disability rating may want to seriously consider requesting an increase. A 10 percent jump in your rating—from 90 to 100 percent—can mean thousands of extra dollars in compensation each year.
The 2025 monthly compensation for a 100 percent disabled veteran is $3,831.30, which may be even higher if you’re married, have children, or support a dependent parent. At a minimum, it means an extra $1,533.34 monthly, which can make a real difference financially.
In addition to monetary compensation, veterans with a 100 percent VA disability rating receive other benefits, including the following:
- Dependents Educational Assistance: Monthly payments to support a spouse or child’s educational journey, which can cover tuition, books, examinations, certifications, and other similar costs
- Special Restorative Training: Free restorative courses for dependents with special needs or disabilities, including vocal retraining, speech therapy, Braille reading and writing, and others
- Civilian Health and Medical Program, or CHAMPVA: Access to medical care from providers outside the VA network
- VA Pension Plan: Potential to receive a VA pension if you have a net worth or income below set limits
- Space-A Flights: Fly flights on Air Mobility Command flights throughout the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, if space is available
Total Disability Individual Unemployability
Total Disability Individual Unemployability, or TDIU, allows disabled veterans to receive compensation equal to someone with a 100 percent VA disability rating, even if their actual VA disability rating is lower. To qualify for the TDIU program, you must be unable to work and meet either of the following disability rating requirements:
- Have a service-connected VA disability rated at 60 percent or more
- Have multiple service-related disabilities with a combined rating of 70 percent, with at least one disability rated at 40 percent disabling
To receive TDIU benefits, you must demonstrate your inability to work or pursue gainful employment. Evidence supporting your inability to work includes statements from physicians, frequent hospitalizations due to your medical condition, and medical tests. The VA will allow occasional odd jobs, but regular work will likely disqualify you.
If you believe you fit the criteria for TDIU, you may apply for benefits using VA Form 21-8940 and VA Form 21-4192. After completing the forms, you can submit them via the VA’s online portal, by mail, or in person at a regional VA office.
VA Appeals
Veterans who wish to appeal their VA disability rating can do so through the VA’s decision review process. The VA offers three different appeal options. There is no requirement to select a particular one. Therefore, you can choose the best fit for your situation.
Your options include the following:
- Supplemental Claim: If you have new evidence to support your original claim, you can submit it to the VA through a Supplemental Claim appeal. Examples of new evidence that may support a higher VA disability rating include medical tests, physician statements, and letters from close family or friends noting a deterioration in your condition.
- Higher-Level Reviews: Veterans who believe the original claims reviewer made a mistake in processing their application may request a Higher-Level Review. In this type of appeal, a claims examiner with greater seniority will review the application and decide whether it warrants a higher rating.
- Board Appeal: Requesting a Board Appeal gets your case in front of a Veterans Law Judge from the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. You can submit new evidence for the judge to review or request them to examine existing documents.
Secondary Rating
If you develop a secondary condition related to your primary, service-connected disability, you may be eligible for a rating increase. Secondary conditions occur when a service-connected disability causes a new condition or aggravates an existing one.
Tips for Increasing Your VA Rating Through the Appeals Process
Veterans who decide to appeal their VA disability rating may enhance their chances of success with a few tips:
- Provide the VA with documentation proving a worsening of your condition, such as medical tests or physician statements.
- Ask fellow service members to write a “buddy letter” detailing your declining health.
- Consider whether you have a secondary condition connected to your primary disability and submit evidence of the connection.
- Work with experienced attorneys familiar with the VA appeals and claims process.
Veterans Guide works with a team of seasoned lawyers and representatives who advocate for veterans interested in obtaining or increasing a VA disability rating. Our team can help you prepare or appeal your claim. To learn more, contact us today.
90% VA Rating Benefits
The benefits available to veterans with a 90 percent VA disability rating are relatively the same for individuals with a 60-80 percent VA disability rating. They include the following:
- VA Health Care Priority Group 1: Free medical care and prescriptions from providers in the VA network
- Veterans Readiness and Employment, or VR&E: Chapter 31 benefits for higher education and vocational training, including tuition, supplies, books, examinations, and certifications
- Waiver of VA Home Loan Funding Fee: No funding fee when buying a house using a VA home loan
- Commissary and Exchange Privileges: Access to commissaries and exchanges to buy low-cost groceries, necessities, electronics, and other goods
- Free Tax Preparation: Assistance with preparing and filing your annual income tax return
- Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay, or CRDP: Eligibility to receive both military retirement pay and VA disability benefits concurrently
- Burial and Plot Allowance: Up to $2,000 to pay for funeral and burial expenses
Receiving Both SSDI and VA Benefits
Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, is a program administered by the Social Security Administration. It provides monthly benefits for disabled individuals who cannot work and have paid a sufficient amount into the system with payroll deductions. In some cases, veterans can get SSDI while also receiving VA disability benefits. However, the eligibility criteria differ from those for VA disability benefits, and the application process is separate.
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