Enter dates & rating
Pay starts the 1st of the month after your effective date.
The date VA assigned for the rating (not the decision letter date).
Include pay through this month (usually the rating decision month).
Optional: rating change mid-period increase / decrease date
Leave blank if rating stayed the same. New rating applies from the 1st of the month after this date.
Estimated back pay total
Estimate · 38 CFR 3.31$0.00
Enter dates to see your estimate
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Month-by-month breakdown
| Month | Rate yr | Rating | Amount |
|---|
Short answer: Under 38 CFR 3.31, VA disability pay usually starts on the first day of the month after your effective date. This tool multiplies each month by the rate table then in force (2025 / 2026 / 2027 with the 3.6% COLA from Dec 1, 2026) and sums them. Planning aid only — not affiliated with VA.
How VA disability back pay is estimated
- Start month: first day of the month after the effective date (38 CFR 3.31).
- End month: the month of your decision / end date (included).
- Rate year: each December 1 the COLA table changes — months use 2025, 2026, or 2027 rates accordingly.
- Optional change: a mid-period rating change applies from the 1st of the month after the change date.
Frequently asked questions
When does VA back pay start?
Under 38 CFR 3.31, compensation generally begins on the first day of the month after the effective date — not on the effective date itself.
Does back pay use different yearly rates?
Yes. Tables change each December 1. This calculator applies 2025, 2026, and 2027 (3.6% COLA) month by month. Months before Dec 1, 2024 use the 2025 table as a planning stand-in — verify older years on va.gov.
Are dependent add-ons included?
For ratings 30% and above, yes (spouse / child combinations matching our VA COLA calculator). 10% and 20% are veteran-alone only. Extra kids / SMC are not modeled here.
Is this an official VA calculator?
No. Planning aid only. Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Not legal advice.
Sources
- 38 CFR 3.31 (commencement of payments).
- VA, Current Veterans disability compensation rates (2026 table).
- 2027 amounts: 2026 table × official 3.6% COLA (same as our VA COLA page).