70% VA Benefits and How to Increase a VA Disability Rating from 70 to 100%

The 70% disability rating is one of the most common VA ratings, often serving as a foundation for veterans who later seek increases or Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). This guide is your go-to resource for understanding the benefits available at the 70% level and how to go further, potentially increasing your 70% VA disability rating to 100%. 

How Much Does 70% VA Disability Pay?

As of 2026, a single veteran with a 70 percent disability rating receives $1,808.45 per month. Veterans with dependents, such as a spouse, children, or dependent parents, receive higher payments. 

The VA Disability Calculator can estimate your exact monthly compensation based on family size and other qualifying factors. 

CRDP Eligibility

Veterans with an 70% disability rating qualify for Concurrent Retired and Disability Pay (CRDP). VA benefits do not affect retirement pay or Social Security benefits (SSDI), meaning veterans can receive them simultaneously. 

Other Benefits for 70% Disabled Veterans 

Veterans are entitled to many other disability benefits beyond monthly compensation. VA benefits include medical care, rehabilitation, and other forms of financial assistance designed to improve quality of life and long-term stability.

VA Health Care Benefits

Veterans with a 70% rating enrolled in the VA health care system are placed in Priority Group 1, giving them the highest priority for VA health care services with no copays. Health benefits include: 

• Preventive and primary medical care 
• In-patient and outpatient treatment 
• Mental health care and counseling 
• Prescription medications and medical supplies 
• Vision and hearing aids 
• Emergency care at non-VA facilities 
• Travel reimbursement for medical appointments

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

If your service-connected disabilities affect your ability to work, VR&E provides job training, career counseling, and assistance with education or skill development. It also helps veterans transition into new careers suited to their limitations. Additionally, your state may have specific programs for assisting veterans who seek work. 

Commissary and Exchange Privileges

Veterans with a 70 percent VA rating can use military commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) facilities on base, providing access to discounted goods and services. 

Tax Relief and Discounts

Many states offer partial property tax exemptions to veterans with high disability ratings, which can help lower overall living expenses. Tax relief for vehicles and other discounts or financial assistance may also be available, depending on the state’s laws and programs for veterans. 

How to Increase VA Disability from 70% to 100%

While a 70% rating provides important financial support, moving to 100 percent can make a major difference. A veteran with a 100% rating receives $3,938.58 per month in 2026, more than double the 70% compensation. 

This jump requires proving either the worsening of an existing condition, or the presence of additional service-connected disabilities. Veterans can pursue this increase in several ways:

1. Appeal of the Existing Rating. If you believe the VA underrated your condition, you have one year from the date of your decision letter to file an appeal. Working with a VA-accredited attorney or Veterans Service Officer can help you choose the best legal path and improve your chances of success. 
2. New or Secondary Claims. If you’ve developed new disabilities related to your service, file a new claim. Secondary service connection applies if one of your existing disabilities has caused or aggravated another. Each additional service-connected condition can raise your combined rating.  
3. VA Unemployability. If your health prevents you from keeping a steady job that earns above the poverty threshold, you may qualify for TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability), which pays at the 100% rate. 

Getting from 70% to 100% with TDIU

Even if your disability rating is less than 100%, you may still be paid at the 100% level through Total Disability Individual Unemployability. This applies if your service-connected disabilities won’t allow substantial gainful employment: a job that pays at least an amount equal to the poverty level. To qualify, you should generally have either: 

1. One service-connected disability rated at least 60 percent, or
2. Two or more service-connected disabilities with a combined rating of 70 percent or more, and at least one disability rated 40 percent or higher.

Veterans rated 70% disabled usually meet these criteria, making TDIU a strong option. Evidence of a veteran’s inability to work includes medical records, vocational assessments, and employment history documenting reduced hours, job loss, or the incapacity to perform essential tasks. 

Does Your Disability Qualify for an Increased Rating?

Veterans rated at 70 percent often have severe conditions that could justify higher compensation with updated evidence or secondary claims, or that could qualify for unemployability. These include: 

• PTSD or major depressive disorder with worsening occupational and social impairment
• Back and neck conditions with nerve involvement or secondary mental health effects
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with headaches, memory problems, and anxiety
• Sleep apnea with associated cardiovascular or fatigue-related complications
• Diabetes mellitus type II with secondary neuropathy or vision issues
• Heart or lung disease with reduced capacity for physical activity

Examples of 70% Disability Combinations That Can Reach 100%

Orthopedic Conditions and Chronic Pain

A veteran with multiple orthopedic disabilities, such as degenerative disc disease (40%), bilateral knee arthritis (30% each) and chronic pain, may qualify for 100% through TDIU if mobility limitations and pain medication side effects prevent consistent work.

Diabetes with Neuropathy and Hypertension

A 70 percent rating from diabetes (40%), peripheral neuropathy (20% each leg), and hypertension (10%) can increase to 100% with additional complications such as kidney disease or diabetic retinopathy. 

TDIU is also an option if the pain, numbness, and fatigue prevent full-time employment, or if the veteran loses balance due to neuropathy and experiences blurred vision, making it impossible to perform tasks requiring mobility or good eyesight. 

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Migraines and Anxiety

TBI residuals (40%), migraines (50%), and anxiety (30%) combine to around 70%. TBI-related cognitive issues like memory loss, poor judgment, and inability to concentrate often worsen over time. When combined with headaches and anxiety, the functional impact can meet 100% criteria or support unemployability. 

Example: A veteran with TBI suffers daily migraines, short-term memory loss and irritability that cause repeated job loss. Vocational assessment confirms he cannot sustain employment, qualifying for TDIU benefits. 

Get Personalized Help with Your Case

If you are rated at 70% but your disability deserves a higher evaluation, or if you can no longer work due to your disabilities, Hill & Ponton is ready to stand with you. Our experienced VA disability attorneys can review your records and help you pursue a 100 percent rating or TDIU, with no upfront costs.

Find out more from the veterans we’ve already helped. We have a 96% success rate for the cases we take and we don’t get paid until you get paid. Contact us today to tell us about your claim and get a free evaluation.