Each year brings new changes to the veterans benefits provided by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — including an increase in VA disability rates with the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). And while a general increase in disability compensation is expected in most years, there are always additional changes to veterans benefits and the claims process that can be complicated for veterans. Veterans may be asking — will VA disability benefits change in 2026 — and we may be able to provide some answers at VA Benefits Attorneys.

How Will VA Disability Claims and Benefits Change in 2026?

With every new year and every change in administration, there are always changes to government programs and departments, like the Department of Veterans Affairs, and we are here to help answer your questions. We hope to answer your questions about how VA disability claims, benefits, and the claims process are expected to change in the next year — from increased disability pay rates to faster claims.

Here is a look at changes to veteran disability claims, benefits, and the claims process that you may see and experience as a disabled veteran:

Increase in VA Disability Pay Rates

VA disability compensation rates are tied to the Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment and each year, veterans can expect to see a slight increase in their disability payments in the next year. The increase in disability pay rates is expected to be 2.7% in 2026 based on data from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. The official rate increase will take effect on December 1, 2025 with the increase reflected on January 1, 2026 payments.

Increase in Department of Veterans Affairs Budget

VA disability pay rates are not the only thing expected to increase in the next year. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs budget is expected to increase by an estimated 10% when compared to 2025. Key areas that are expected to receive an increase in funds include veteran medical care and services, overall veteran disability and pension compensation, and additional funds for the Toxic Exposure Fund (TEF) that is tied to the PACT Act. With this increase veterans are expected to be able to search for and find care outside of VA facilities and will see more modern technology and systems used by the department.

Faster VA Disability Claims Approval and Increased Automation

When veterans apply for disability, a common question we get at VA Benefits Attorneys is — how long does a VA disability claim take to be approved? The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has increased the pace of their claims processing, by processing more than 2.5 million claims so far in 2025. The faster claims approval is due in part to PACT Act benefits and increased automation of the claims process. The Department of Veterans Affairs is expected to increase the use of automated technology to speed up the claims process in the future.

Proposed Means-Testing for Disability Compensation

A proposed change to veterans benefits and the VA disability claims process is the addition of means-testing. This process would look at the household income of veterans as adjusted for inflation to determine if disability compensation is decreased or not. With the proposed means-testing, veterans with a household income below $135,000 would receive full benefits and veterans who are above that threshold would see a $1 decrease in compensation for every $2 over the income threshold. This is not finalized. 

Updated Sleep Apnea Disability Criteria

Another change that veterans can expect to see in the next year are changes to the sleep apnea disability claims criteria. With the current sleep apnea disability criteria, veterans can receive a disability rating that ranges from 0% to 100% based on the severity of symptoms. The proposed updates to the criteria would assess a disability rating based on how well the symptoms are controlled with treatment, like a CPAP machine.

READ MORE: VA Disability Pay Rates Chart for 2026

Are you a veteran who receives VA disability benefits? You may be asking — will VA disability benefits change in 2026? This quick overview of how VA benefits, claims, and the claims process are expected to change in the next year may provide answers to your questions. 

Contact VA Benefits Attorneys today for help with your disability claim!