VA compensation rates rise.

VA disability and survivor benefits have been increased by 3.3 percent for nearly 3 million service-connected disabled veterans and their survivors in 2007.

The increase in disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation and pensions matches the cost-of-living adjustments in Social Security benefits.

As in past years, the increases, based on the Consumer Price Index, are rounded down to the next lower whole-dollar amount.

Those affected by the increase include veterans receiving compensation for disabilities sustained or made worse during their military service, as well as wartime veterans who are totally disabled from civilian-life causes and who receive a pension under an income-based program.

The increase also applies to survivors of veterans who died in service or from a service-connected condition and those who are served by an income-based program for survivors of wartime veterans.

Service-Connected Disability Basic Compensation Rates

(Effective Dec. 1, 2006)

Disability Rating     Monthly Rate

                      2006     2007

10%                   $112     $115
20                     218      225
30                     337      348
40                     485      501
50                     690      712
60                     873      901
70                   1,099    1,135
80                   1,277    1,319
90                   1,436    1,483
100                  2,393    2,471

Special Monthly
  Compensation        Monthly Rate

                      2006     2007

K                      $87      $89
L                    2,977    3,075
M                    3,284    3,392
N                    3,737    3,860
0 or P               4,176    4,313
R1                   5,968    6,164
R2                   6,845    7,070
S                    2,678    2,766

Clothing Allowance    $641     $662

Survivors DIC Rates

(Effective Dec. 1, 2006)

Veteran's Pay Grade    Monthly Rate

                        2006   2007 *

E-1-E-6               $1,033   $1,067
E-7                    1,069    1,104
E-8                    1,128    1,165
E-9                    1,177    1,215
W-1                    1,092    1,128
W-2                    1,135    1,172
W-3                    1,169    1,207
W-4                    1,236    1,276
0-1                    1,092    1,128
0-2                    1,128    1,165
0-3                    1,207    1,246
0-4                    1,277    1,319
0-5                    1,406    1,452
0-6                    1,585    1,637
0-7                    1,712    1,768
0-8                    1,879    1,941
0-9                    2,010    2,076
0-10                   2,204    2,276

* Surviving spouses of veterans who died on
or after Jan. 1, 1993, receive $1.067 a month.
For a spouse entitled to DIC based on the veterans
death prior to Jan. 1, 1993. the amount paid is
based on the veteran's military pay grade. Add $228
a month to the basic rate if the deceased veteran
had been entitled to receive 100% service-connected
compensation for at least eight years immediately
preceding death and the surviving spouse was married
to the veteran for those same eight years. Additionally,
the monthly allowance rate for each dependent child
under age 18 is $265.