Veteran Compensation & Disability in Texas

Table of Content:

2026 VA Disability Rates in Texas
Texas VA Disability Benefits
Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption in Texas
Texas VA Disability Back Pay & VA Disability Calculator for Texas
How To File Claims Through the Texas Veterans Commission

Each year, the Department of Veterans Affairs updates its disability compensation schedule to reflect cost-of-living adjustments and set clear payment dates. In 2026, Texas Veterans can expect modest increases in their monthly benefits, with some payment dates occurring earlier due to federal holidays or weekends.

This guide provides essential information about updated disability benefits, including revised payment rates and local support programs for additional assistance.

2026 VA Disability Rates in Texas

VA disability rates are consistent across the nation. Starting December 1, 2024, these monthly payments increased by 2.5% due to a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). For a single Veteran with no dependents, the basic VA disability rates for Texas in 2025 are as follows:

10% – $175.51
20% – $346.95
30% – $537.42
40% – $774.16
50% – $1,102.04
60% – $1,395.93
70% – $1,759.19
80% – $2,044.89
90% – $2,297.96
100% – $3,831.30

This Texas VA pay chart is meant to serve as a guide. Although the monthly compensation you receive is federal, Texas does offer unique state benefits that other states may not. The most notable one is regarding property tax exemptions for disabled Veterans. Veterans with a 100% disability rating are completely exempt from property taxes on their primary home.

Veterans who have a disability rating between 10% and 99% receive a partial exemption rating. This ranges from $5,000 to $12,000 off their property’s assessed value, depending on their rating percentage.

Rates With Dependents

Veterans with a disability rating of 30% or higher are eligible for additional compensation for their dependents, which can include a spouse, children or dependent parents. For instance, a Veteran with a 30% disability rating who has a spouse and a child would receive a monthly payment of $648.42. This amount varies based on the individual’s disability rating. Additional examples for compensation include:

50% rating – $1,207.04 per month
100% rating – $4,201.35 per month

To estimate your benefits according to the VA disability rates in Texas for 2025, use this VA disability calculator for Texas.

Texas VA Disability Benefits

Texas is home to over 1.5 million Veterans, making it one of the largest Veteran populations in the country. Access to disability compensation and VA benefits is an important part of your life after service. However, the process of filing for disability can be overwhelming. Knowing how to file for your Texas VA disability benefits can ensure you receive your compensation while avoiding common missteps along the way.

How To Apply for VA disability in Texas

Veterans with physical or mental health conditions linked to their service may qualify for VA disability compensation. The VA assigns these ratings based on the severity of your condition. This rating then determines your monthly benefits.

While this process is the same across the country, Texas has additional benefits for Veterans, including property tax exemptions, job support and education assistance. By knowing what you qualify for and combining federal VA benefits with Texas programs, you can receive the support that is owed to you. Following is a general outline of the steps you’ll need to take.

Gather All Your Evidence

Before you can file your claim, you’ll need to collect as much documentation as possible to prove that your condition is service-connected. This evidence includes:

All service treatment records that document your injury or illness
Current medical records on file from the VA or private doctors
Nexus letters and/or professional opinions linking your condition to your service
Statements from friends and family about how your disability impacts your daily life

By carefully gathering up all this evidence from the very beginning, you’ll strengthen your case. You’ll also reduce your chances of delays or denials.

File Your Claim

In Texas, you have several options to file your claim:

Go online and file through the VA.gov website.
Mail in your claim using VA form 21-526EZ.
File in person at your local VA regional office.
Enlist the help of a Veterans service organization (VSO) or through a claims assistance provider.

You can also file a disability claim through the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC). Contact them by phone at 800-252-VETS (8387) or schedule an in-person or phone appointment online through their website. These representatives are available in many areas throughout the state and can provide you with valuable in-person assistance.

The VA Claim Review Process

After submitting your claim, the VA will review your application. A claims processor will gather your service records and medical evidence. At this point, they may request that you provide them with additional information. You may also be scheduled for a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam in order to assess the severity of your disability. When these exams are scheduled, it’s important to attend them and describe your symptoms honestly. The results of these exams will play a large role in determining your disability rating.

VA Disability Ratings

The VA uses the Schedule for Rating Disabilities to assign a percentage rating to each medical condition. These ratings range from 0% to 100% and increase in increments of 10%. The higher your rating, the more compensation you are entitled to.

For example, a 10% rating may be assigned for milder conditions with limited impact, while a 50% rating may be awarded for more serious conditions affecting your work and daily activities. A 100% rating may be assigned for a total disability that prevents your ability to work. Texas Veterans who receive higher ratings may also qualify for enhanced state benefits (like full property tax exemptions).

Receiving Your Benefits

If your case is approved, then you will begin receiving monthly disability payments. In addition, as a Texas Veteran, you may qualify for:

Property tax relief based on your disability rating
Educational benefits through the Hazlewood Act
Employment preference for state jobs
Free or reduced-fee fishing and hunting licenses
State Veterans’ homes and cemeteries

When combined with federal compensation, these benefits create a strong support system for Veterans and their families.

If your claim is denied or you feel it is underrated, you have the right to appeal the decision. Many Veterans do win higher ratings or approval after appealing, especially once they submit new medical evidence or stronger documentation of their illness or injury. In Texas, Veterans can find appeal support from assistance providers and local organizations like the Texas Veterans Commission.

Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption in Texas

Texas’s disabled Veteran property tax exemption is a unique benefit afforded to specific Veterans in the Lone Star State. Texas offers two main types of property tax exemptions. The first is a partial exemption based on your disability rating, which is applied to a single property. The second is a full 100% homestead exemption for Veterans in Texas who have a total disability rating that applies to their primary residence.

Partial exemption amounts are awarded according to their service-connected disability rating of 10% or more. The following is a breakdown of exemption levels by disability rating:

10%-29% rating – $5,000 exemption
30%-49% rating – $7,500 exemption
50%-69% rating – $10,000 exemption
70%-100% rating – $12,000 exemption

Surviving spouses may continue to receive the Veteran’s exemption amount as long as they have not remarried. For Veterans with a 100% exemption, the unremarried surviving spouse can continue to receive the total exemption on the same property.

An unremarried surviving spouse of a Veteran who received a partial exemption may continue the deceased Veteran’s fixed dollar amount of the partial exemption on a single property.

Veterans must meet certain criteria to apply for these exemptions. Here is an application checklist to guide you through the process:

Ensure that you’re a resident of Texas.
Request an award letter from the U.S. Veterans Affairs or your military branch that displays your disability percentage.
Fill out and submit the required application form to your county’s appraisal district.
For Veterans seeking homestead-related exemptions (including the 100% disabled Veterans exemption), use Form 50-114.
For Veterans seeking a rating-based exemption on a single property, use Form 50-135.
Provide a valid proof of identification (such as your Texas driver’s license with the homestead address).

For additional information on how to apply for property tax exemptions as a disabled Veteran in Texas, click here. This directory from the Texas Comptroller’s Office contains contact information for appraisal districts and county tax offices. It also includes a listing of the taxing units each one serves.

Texas VA Disability Back Pay & VA Disability Calculator for Texas

VA disability back pay in Texas is calculated at the federal level and doesn’t change based on the state you’re in. The calculation is based on several factors, including:

The effective date – The effective date of your claim is usually when the VA received it or when your disability began. If you filed within a year of leaving active service, it may be the day after your separation.
Your disability rating – Your combined disability rating determines your monthly compensation. A higher rating results in a higher monthly payment.
The time elapsed – The back pay you receive will cover the period between your effective date and the date you start receiving payments as part of your Texas VA disability benefits.
Historical pay rates – These calculations account for the specific compensation rates that were in effect each year throughout the retroactive period. This includes the annual cost of living adjustments (COLA).
Dependency status – If you had dependents during the timeframe in question (including spouses, children or dependent parents), this may increase your compensation rate.

One of the most common claim scenarios occurs when there are processing delays with the initial claim. In this situation, a Veteran may file a claim, but the VA takes several months (or even years) to process or approve it. For example, if a Veteran filed a claim on August 1, 2023, and it’s approved on August 1, 2026, that Veteran would receive two years’ worth of back pay.

Another common scenario occurs when a Veteran files a claim for a service-connected condition within one year of military separation. In this case, they may be eligible for an earlier effective date. So, if a Veteran separates from service on September 30, 2024, and then files a claim on July 1, 2026 (which is within one year), their effective date is October 1, 2024 (which is the day after separation) and not the date on which they filed their claim.

Additional reasons that a Veteran may file a claim for disability backpay include successful appeals, increased disability ratings (if their service-related condition worsens over time), clear and unmistakable errors and new conditions and law changes.

To help you estimate your Texas VA disability backpay, this calculator from the DAV can help you determine what you’ve earned.

How To File Claims Through the Texas Veterans Commission

Understanding what you’re owed by using a VA disability calculator for Texas is only the first step of what is often a lengthy, complicated process.

Veterans in the Lone Star State should consider filing through the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC). The TVC provides free, professional assistance for Veterans through the support of accredited claims benefits advisors. These advisors can guide Veterans through the process from start to finish.

The TVC plays an important role in representing Texas Veterans before the VA. These services are provided at no cost by benefits advisors who are often Veterans themselves. Some ways they can help include:

Advising you about eligibility for federal and state benefits (including pensions and compensation like VA disability back pay in Texas).
Assistance with paperwork to ensure that all forms are completed correctly to prevent unnecessary delays.
Helping you gather evidence to support your case (including service medical records, private medical records and DD-214 forms).
Representing you throughout the entire application and appeals process and communicating with the VA on your behalf.
Meeting with you, whether in person at various TVC offices at major VA facilities in Texas or working with you by phone to accommodate your work schedule.

Filing a claim with TVC assistance is straightforward, and their advisors are well-versed in communicating your situation to the VA effectively and efficiently. Here are the steps you need to get started:

Contact the TVC. They can link you with a representative or a local Veterans county service officer. You can reach them by calling the toll-free number at 1-800-252-8387 (VETS).
Complete and submit VA Form 21-22 to allow a TVC advisor to work on your behalf. This formally designates them as your Veterans Service Organization representative.
The TVC advisor will help you submit an “Intent to File,” which secures a start date for your benefits while you gather all your necessary evidence.
Gather medical records, discharge papers and other documents you’ll need to support your claim.
After obtaining all your information, submit your completed claim.

By using the free services offered by the TVC, Texas Veterans are able to ensure that their claims are submitted correctly and efficiently, minimizing their chances of a denial or delay.

As a United States Veteran, you have served your nation honorably. It’s important that you have proper guidance to help you navigate the claims process so you can receive the Texas VA disability benefits you deserve.

Make sure to reach out and use all the tools and resources available to you. Disability calculators and local Veterans offices can provide you with additional support and assistance to help you along the way. By working with the TVC, their experienced claims benefit advisors will be there throughout every step of the process so they can ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Explore other texas veteran resources

Below you’ll find a complete breakdown of Texas Veteran benefits and support programs available in 2026. These categories cover everything from VA compensation, healthcare, education, housing, and employment, to financial assistance, legal help, family benefits, and exclusive Veteran discounts. Each section links to detailed guides designed to help Veterans, service members, and families understand eligibility, application steps, and how to access the support they’ve earned.