70% VA Disability Rating

2026 monthly compensation at 70%

A 70% VA disability rating provides significant monthly compensation. All VA disability payments are tax-free at both the federal and state level.

For the complete rate tables at every rating level, see our 2026 VA disability pay rates page. To calculate your specific payment with your exact combination of dependents, use our VA disability calculator.

What benefits unlock at 70%

A 70% VA disability rating provides access to substantial benefits beyond the monthly payment:

Healthcare

• VA healthcare with priority enrollment (Group 1)
• No copays — Priority Group 1 veterans don’t pay VA outpatient, inpatient, or medication copays, including for non-service-connected care
• Mental health services including counseling and medication management

Dependent benefits

• Additional monthly compensation for spouse, children, and dependent parents (see table above)
• CHAMPVA — Healthcare coverage for your spouse and dependents not eligible for TRICARE (only if VA later rates you permanently and totally disabled — see our 100% rating guide)
• Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35) — Up to 36 months of education benefits for eligible dependents (only if VA later rates you permanently and totally disabled — see our 100% rating guide)

Employment and education

• Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31) — Career counseling, job training, resume help, and education assistance for veterans having difficulty finding or keeping employment due to service-connected disabilities
• 10-point veterans’ preference (CPS) and the 30% or more disabled veteran noncompetitive appointment authority (5 U.S.C. § 3112) in federal hiring

Other benefits

• Commissary and exchange privileges — Available at any service-connected rating (including 0%) since January 1, 2020, not only at this level
• State benefits — Some states tie property tax relief, vehicle registration waivers, park passes, or other benefits to specific rating levels, and the thresholds and rules differ from state to state. Check your state guide for details

Common condition combinations that result in 70%

A 70% combined rating can come from a single condition or multiple conditions combined using VA math. Here are realistic examples:

Example 1: Single condition

• PTSD at 70% = 70% combined

A single mental health rating can reach 70% under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (38 CFR § 4.130) when symptoms cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. Listed examples include suicidal ideation and near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately, and effectively.

Example 2: Two conditions

• Sleep apnea at 50% + Back pain at 40% = 70% combined

VA math: Start with 50%. Remaining ability = 50%. Apply 40% to remaining: 40% × 50% = 20%. Combined = 70%. Rounds to 70%.

Example 3: Multiple conditions

• PTSD at 50% + Knee condition at 20% + Tinnitus at 10% + Hearing loss at 10% = 67.6% → rounds to 70%

VA math: 50% → remaining 50%. Apply 20%: 10% added = 60%. Remaining 40%. Apply 10%: 4% added = 64%. Remaining 36%. Apply 10%: 3.6% added = 67.6% (the 38 CFR § 4.25 table shows 68). Rounds to 70%.

Important: VA math always combines to less than simple addition. Use our calculator to see exactly how your specific ratings combine.

How to get from 60% to 70%

If you’re currently at 60% and want to reach 70%, you have several options:

File for secondary conditions

Review your existing service-connected conditions and identify secondary conditions — conditions caused or aggravated by your already-rated disabilities. Common examples:

• Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD (weight gain from medications, sleep disruption)
• GERD secondary to medications or PTSD
• Migraines secondary to TBI or cervical spine conditions
• Radiculopathy secondary to back pain

Request a rating increase

If an existing condition has worsened since your last evaluation, file a claim for increase on VA Form 21-526EZ (the same form as a new claim) with medical evidence showing the increased severity. A supplemental claim is for disagreeing with a decision, not for a condition that has since gotten worse. Get a current diagnosis and detailed medical records documenting the worsening.

Claim conditions you haven’t filed for yet

Review your service treatment records for any conditions you didn’t originally claim. Many veterans don’t realize that conditions like tinnitus (10%), hearing loss, and knee conditions are all separately ratable.

Can you work at 70%?

Yes — there’s no employment restriction at 70%.

However, if your service-connected disabilities make it difficult to maintain substantially gainful employment (under 38 CFR § 4.16(a), earned income at or below the Census Bureau’s poverty threshold for one person — about $16,330 in the 2025 Census table — is generally marginal employment, not substantially gainful), you may qualify for TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability). TDIU pays at the 100% rate ($3,938.58/month) even though your schedular rating is below 100%.

To qualify for TDIU, you need either:

• One service-connected condition rated at 60% or higher, OR
• A combined rating of 70% or higher with at least one condition rated at 40%+

At 70% combined, you meet the TDIU rating threshold if at least one disability is rated 40% or more (or if disabilities that § 4.16(a) counts as one — such as those from a common cause or affecting one body system — add up to 40% or more). If your disabilities prevent you from working, this is worth exploring. See our TDIU guide for full eligibility details, employment rules, and how to apply.

Next steps

• Calculate your combined rating with our free VA disability calculator
• See all 2026 pay rates including dependent additions
• Learn how VA math works to understand why combined ratings differ from simple addition
• Browse condition guides to understand rating criteria for specific conditions
• File a claim if you have unrated conditions

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. For personalized guidance on your VA disability claim, consult a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO), attorney, or claims agent. You can find accredited representatives at VA.gov.