Original content owned & copyrighted by Green Global Travel.
This post was brought to you in partnership with KOA (Kampgrounds of America).
Picture yourself hitting the open road in your home on wheels, or settling into your perfect vacation spot for weeks at a time.
The freedom of RV travel is a dream shared by millions, whether you’re exploring new destinations or enjoying an extended stay in one beautiful location.
With Kampgrounds of America (KOA), finding RV camping sites with full hookups is fast, affordable, easy and fun.
Here’s a look at everything you need to know about RV camping at KOA, which has more than 500 locations spread across the United States and Canada!
Whether you’re part of one of the 8.1 million households that already own an RV, or among the 16.9 million people who hope to join the growing RV community, finding quality campsites is essential.
Since 1962, KOA has helped families and adventurers create unforgettable memories in the great outdoors.
Spending time in nature offers numerous health benefits, including reduced stress and improved mood, better sleep, and an enhanced immune system.
So, when you camp at KOA, you’re investing in both adventure and well-being.
KOA operates North America’s largest network of campgrounds, with over 500 locations spanning the United States and Canada.
You can park your rig beside a mountain lake, nestled in a coastal forest, or near major cities for easy access to urban attractions.
There are three distinct KOA campground types to match your personal travel style:
KOA Journey: Perfect for travelers who need a convenient overnight stop — you’ll find them near major highways with easy access and after-hours check-in
KOA Holiday: Designed for weekend getaways or short vacations, offering more amenities and activities
KOA Resort: Ideal for extended stays, typically featuring resort-style pools and extensive facilities
Matching the KOA brand to your preferred camping style or goals is the first step in choosing your location.
Camper Type
Best KOA Choice
Why It Will Suit You
The Weekend Warrior
KOA Holiday
Close to attractions, full amenities, plenty of activities for the whole family
The Cross-Country Voyager
KOA Journey
Highway-convenient locations, quick check-in, clean facilities for overnight stops
The Snowbird
KOA Resort
Extended stay options, resort amenities, vibrant community atmosphere
The Nature Lover
KOA Holiday or Resort
Proximity to trails and outdoor recreation, peaceful settings, wildlife viewing opportunities
The Family Vacationer
KOA Holiday
Playgrounds, swimming pools, organized activities, spacious sites for multiple vehicles
KOA Campgrounds accommodate RVs of all sizes, with sites designed for everything from small camper vans to massive 45-foot-long motorhomes.
Pull-through sites let you drive straight in and out without backing up, which is ideal for larger rigs. Back-in sites offer more privacy and often premium views.
Many locations also feature KOA Patio® sites, which include an extended private patio space with outdoor furniture and a fire pit or fire ring.
Your four-legged family members are always welcome at KOA.
Every location features a KampK9® area, with fenced off-leash space where dogs can play safely. Some campgrounds are rolling out new KOA Paw PenSM sites, which include a private fenced area as part of your campsite. S
Since around 43% of all RVers consider pet-friendly camping important, KOA has made it easy!
Lock In Your Adventure & Join the KOA Rewards Program
KOA’s streamlined online booking system takes the stress out of planning, letting you search by location, filter for amenities like full hookups, and view detailed site information.
You’ll also see transparent pricing, with no hidden fees. The platform shows real-time availability across hundreds of campgrounds, eliminating the need to check multiple sites.
Consider joining the KOA Rewards Program, which offers valuable perks to make camping more affordable.
Members receive a 10% discount on nightly rates at participating locations, plus exclusive promotions and the ability to earn points toward free nights.
Make the most of your experience with these insider suggestions:
Book early for peak seasons: Popular destinations fill up quickly. Reserve your spot several weeks in advance.
Download the KOA app: Access reservation details, check campground maps and discover nearby attractions.
Arrive during office hours on your first visit: Staff can give you a tour and share local tips.
Respect wildlife from a safe distance: Many KOA locations offer incredible viewing opportunities. Always stay at least 100 yards from predators like bears and wolves.
Take advantage of the camp store: Stock up on firewood, ice and other essentials.
Whether you’re visiting Málaga for its beaches, historic charm, food scene, or vibrant nightlife, choosing the right neighborhood can make all the difference. This guide breaks down the best areas to stay in Málaga, along with top hotel recommendations for every budget and travel style.
Later this year, Carnival Cruise Line will be retiring its current loyalty program (the VIFP Club) and introducing a new one with an entirely different structure: the Carnival Rewards program. Since announcing the change last year, loyal Carnival cruisers have felt uncertainty and had questions about the program.
To help answer those questions and put concerns at ease, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on everything we know about the upcoming Carnival Rewards loyalty program. We’re covering how the transition will take place, how long you’ll get to keep your current status, the new way to earn points, tier levels and benefits, and more.
Quick Summary
The Carnival Rewards loyalty program will replace the VIFP Club on September 1, 2026
Guests currently in the VIFP Club must purposely opt into Carnival Rewards in order for their current status progress to carry over
Carnival Rewards will have two “points” systems: Carnival Rewards Points and Status Qualifying Stars, both of which are based on spend
There are four tiers in the Carnival Rewards program: Red, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond
To prevent points from expiring, guests must have an “eligible qualifying activity” on their account at least once every three years
Diamond tier guests are the only ones that permanently keep their status in the Carnival Rewards program; others must requalify every two years
When will Carnival Rewards replace the current Carnival VIFP Club?
Carnival’s current loyalty program, called the VIFP Club (Very Important Fun Person) is still in effect at the time of publishing. However, Carnival Rewards will officially replace this program on September 1, 2026.
How do you sign up for the Carnival Rewards loyalty program?
If you’re an existing Carnival VIFP loyalty program member, you will need to accept the new terms and conditions and opt into Carnival Rewards. Due to privacy laws, guests must opt into and enroll in Carnival Rewards prior to when it launches on September 1. Only then will your current status progress and benefits carry over to the new program.
Those who opt out will not have their current status honored when the new program launches.
If you have not received or lost the email requesting that you opt into the new program, you can request another email here.
For more information, visit the line’s FAQ page on the Carnival Rewards program here.
How do you earn points in the Carnival loyalty program?
Carnival Rewards will have two “points” systems. The first is Carnival Rewards points, which are points that are earned based on spend. This spend includes eligible cruise fares, onboard purchases, credit card activity, and more.
The other points system is Status Qualifying Stars, which determine the progression of your status in the Carnival Rewards program. Stars are also earned based on spend.
Carnival Rewards Points
Carnival Rewards Points are redeemable points that can be used like cash for various Carnival purchases. You earn three points for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases. You also earn one Carnival Rewards point for every one casino point remaining at the end of a sailing.
These points can be redeemed for almost anything Carnival offers, including your cruise fare, pre-cruise packages, onboard purchases, gratuities, future cruises, and more. Carnival Rewards points do not expire as long as there’s activity on your Carnival Rewards account at least once every three years.
Status Qualifying Stars
Status Qualifying Stars determine your tier within the Carnival Rewards program. You earn three Status Qualifying Stars for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival purchases, including cruise fare, pre-cruise packages, and onboard spend. You also earn one Status Qualifying Star for every one casino point earned.
Status is earned over a two-year period and is retained for the following two years. Unlike with the VIFP program, status is no longer lifetime and will require requalification every two years (except for Diamond members who will receive lifetime status).
The more Status Qualifying Stars you accumulate, the higher your status level.
What’s happening with the Carnival Mastercard?
Current Carnival Mastercard cardholders will automatically move to the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard upon its launch in September 2026. The balance of your Fun Points will be converted to Carnival Rewards Points.
Benefits of the new Carnival Rewards Mastercard will include:
Earn up to 6x points on Carnival purchases, 3x points from your card, plus 3x points through Carnival Rewards
Earn 2x points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores
Earn 1x points on all other purchases
Earn 1 Status Qualifying Star per $1 spent on your everyday purchases, which is up to 4 stars per $1 on Carnival purchases when combined with the 3 stars you earn through Carnival Rewards
What can you use Carnival Rewards points on?
Carnival Rewards points can be used on lots of things — at the time of booking, prior to sailing, and once on board. Think about how airlines operate their loyalty programs. You earn airline miles, which you can use on actual flights. But, you can also use them for things like checked bags, seat upgrades, accessing an airport lounge, vacation packages, and more. Carnival Rewards points work similarly.
Points can be redeemed during the booking process, allowing you to put them towards your deposit or the actual cruise fare. You can also redeem them prior to sailing on things like shore excursions, drink packages, and wifi packages, pre-booked spa treatments, or pre-booked specialty dining.
During your cruise, points can also be converted to onboard credit. From there, the possibilities for using them abound. You can buy gifts and souvenirs in the onboard shops, book a thermal suite pass, play in the casino, enjoy a specialty restaurant, buy drinks and treats, purchase passes for extra-fee onboard attractions, and more.
How many levels are in the Carnival Rewards program?
There are four status levels in the Carnival Rewards program: Red, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.
Since Blue will no longer exist in the new program, all current Blue tier guests (those who haven’t yet taken their first cruise with Carnival) will be rolled into the Red tier when Carnival Rewards launches (if they opt into the program).
Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Rewards Tiers & Benefits
Red: Upon Sign-Up
Upon signing up for the Carnival Rewards program, you’re automatically enrolled into the Red tier. Red member perks include a free 1.5 liter bottle of water, members-only offers, and a red Sail & Sign card on board.
Gold: 10,000 to 49,999 stars
The second tier in the Carnival loyalty program is Gold, which you achieve upon reaching 10,000 stars. In addition to the Red perks, Gold members receive one free specialty drink on 5+ day cruises, Gold member support, and a Gold member Sail & Sign card.
Platinum: 50,000 to 99,999 stars
Platinum is where the perks really start to kick in on Carnival Cruise Line. In addition to the Gold perks, Platinum members receive complimentary bags of laundry (1-4 bags depending on the length of the cruise), a collectible pin, two complimentary beverages, and preferred seating in the main dining room as well as preferred specialty dining reservations.
Guests also receive early online check-in (16 days), priority check-in, security, boarding, and luggage delivery upon embarkation (as well as access to the Captain’s Lounge where available), and priority tender boarding and debarkation.
Early bag drop-off in stateroom on embarkation day, as well as priority spa reservations, casino cashier line, guest services line, and guest services phone assistance are also perks of being Platinum. Of course, Platinum members also receive Platinum member support and a Platinum Sail & Sign card.
Diamond: 100,000+ stars
Diamond is the highest tier in the Carnival Rewards loyalty program. In addition to the perks that Platinum guests receive, Diamond members are guaranteed their top choice for main dining time (early or late seatings only), 2-5 bags of laundry depending on the cruise length, retail concierge services, and access to a dedicated casino host upon request.
Diamond members also have dedicated member support (sales and service) and receive a Diamond member Sail & Sign card.
Milestone Rewards
In addition to the tiers mentioned above, Carnival Cruise Line offers two milestone rewards to guests based on number of days sailed. Once a guest has reached their first 50 days sailed, they receive a bonus 5,000 points and a special milestone Sail & Sign card.
Every 100 days sailed, guests receive 10,000 points, a commemorative gift, and a milestone Sail & Sign card.
Do Carnival Rewards points expire?
Carnival Cruise Line requires that you have an “eligible qualifying activity” at least once every three years in order to keep your points. The line defines eligible qualifying activity as any activity with Carnival that leads to either earning or redeeming points. Examples of eligible activity include:
Completing a sailing and earning points from the sailing
Earning points from a partner transaction
Redeeming points towards an onboard purchase
Once an eligible activity takes place, the points expiration date extends another three years from the activity date.
Carnival Rewards points never expire for Carnival Mastercard card members.
How long do I get to keep my VIFP status once Carnival Rewards launches?
Diamond
All VIFP Club members who earn Diamond status by August 31, 2026 will be able to PERMANENTLY keep their Diamond status in Carnival Rewards.
Platinum
Guests who are Platinum as of August 31, 2026 will be able to keep their Platinum status through December 31, 2028. Upon launch of Carnival Rewards, all Platinum guests will also receive 10,000 status qualifying stars deposited into their account. That will provide a minimum of Gold status in the subsequent January 2028 to December 2030 cycle and provides a boost towards maintaining Platinum or earning Diamond.
The 10,000 status qualifying stars deposit will be a biennial gesture at the start of each new two-year earning cycle, providing Gold and a head start towards Platinum or Diamond. This deposit is limited to existing Platinum VIFP guests as of August 31, 2026.
Red & Gold
Red and Gold level guests will keep their status for two years, through December 31, 2028, unless their cruise activity, cruise spend, and credit card activity (if they have the Carnival Rewards Mastercard) qualifies them for a higher status earlier.
Does Carnival do status matching?
No, Carnival Cruise Line does not do status matching with other cruise lines.
Comments
What are your thoughts on the new Carnival Rewards loyalty program? What’s your current loyalty status with the cruise line? Drop us an anchor below to share if you’re staying loyal to Carnival Cruise Line or jumping ship.
New VA disability claims data reveals a brutal truth: Most veterans begin their VA disability journey underrated. The most common starting rating is 10%, but the most common rating overall is 100%.
That means many veterans don’t stay where VA first rated them—they keep fighting, building the right evidence, and proving what they deserved all along.
According to the newly released 2025 VBA Compensation Report, the most common combined VA disability rating for new compensation recipients in FY2025 was just 10%.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Of the 476,802 veterans who began receiving VA disability compensation in FY2025, 131,924 were rated 10%. That was the single most common rating for new recipients. Wowza.
But here’s where the data gets really interesting.
Among allveterans receiving VA disability compensation, the most common combined rating is now 100%.
For example, VA reported 1,847,449 veterans rated 100% in FY2025. That’s more than 29% of all veterans receiving VA disability compensation.
That is a massive gap and it begs the question: Why are so many veterans starting at 10%, while 100% is now the most common rating overall?
In my experience helping millions of veterans since 2013, this is one of the biggest warning signs in the entire report.
Millions of deserving veterans enter the VA claims process undereducated, underprepared, and underevidenced. They file a claim, guess their way through it, toss everything at the wall to see what sticks, minimize their symptoms, leave out high-value claims and secondary conditions, fail to fully explain functional impairment, and submit weak or incomplete evidence.
Then VA comes back with a denial, 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or a rating that does not reflect the full severity of what they’re dealing with. That’s usually when the light bulb turns on.
Veterans start asking themselves:
“Why did I get a lowball rating when my buddy is at 100%?”
“Did the VA miss something in my records/evidence?”
“Did I do something wrong that could have caused this?”
“Why do some conditions I filed for say not service connected?”
“Did I miss conditions I should have claimed?”
“What do I do now?”
Okay, let’s break down the most important trends from VA’s 2025 VBA Compensation Report and what they really mean for veterans.
Summary of Key Points
The most common new VA disability rating is 10%. VA’s 2025 data shows 131,924 new compensation recipients were rated 10%, making it the most common starting point for newly rated veterans.
100% is now the most common VA disability rating overall. Nearly 1.85 million veterans are rated 100%, representing more than 29% of all veterans receiving VA disability compensation.
The gap between 10% and 100% shows many veterans start underrated. A low rating does not always mean the condition is mild; sometimes it means VA did not have the full picture, including secondary conditions, functional impairment, and strong medical evidence.
Modern VA claims are rarely about one condition. VA reported more than 46.4 million service-connected disabilities across 6.3 million veterans, proving that strategy, education, and evidence are critical to getting the rating veterans legally deserve.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways from the 2025 VBA Compensation Report
Data Point
2025 VBA Claims Data
Why It Matters
New veterans receiving VA compensation
476,802
Nearly half a million veterans newly entered the VA compensation system.
Most common new VA rating
10%
Many veterans start at the lowest compensable rating.
New recipients rated 10%
131,924
About 27.7% of all new recipients were rated 10%.
New recipients rated 100%
73,649
About 15.4% of new recipients started at 100%.
Total veterans receiving VA compensation
6,338,253
More than 6.3 million veterans now receive VA disability compensation.
Veterans rated 100% overall
1,847,449
Nearly 1.85 million veterans are now rated 100%.
Percent of all recipients rated 100%
29.15%
100% is now the most common combined rating overall.
Total service-connected disabilities
46,496,235
Modern VA claims are rarely about one simple condition.
Average disabilities per compensated veteran
7.34
The average compensated veteran has more than seven service-connected disabilities.
Average disabilities per new recipient
6.15
Even new recipients are entering the system with multiple rated conditions.
The Most Common New VA Disability Rating Is 10%
The biggest takeaway from the report is simple: The most common new VA disability rating is 10%.
That does not automatically mean VA got every rating wrong. But it should make veterans pay attention.
A 10% rating does not always mean your condition is mild. Sometimes it means VA did not have the full picture.
Maybe your service treatment records (STRs) were thin because you didn’t go to the doctor on active duty. Maybe you didn’t submit the right evidence. Maybe VA claims adjudicators missed some of your evidence. Maybe your C&P exam did not capture your worst symptoms. Maybe you did not explain functional impairment and how your condition affects your work, sleep, relationships, movement, focus, mood, or daily life.
Maybe you didn’t have a current diagnosis, evidence of an in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation, a clear nexus for service connection, or documentation of your severity of symptoms.
This is where a lot of veterans get hurt. They assume VA will connect the dots for them.
Do not assume that.
VA rates what is in the record. If the evidence does not clearly show the severity of your condition, you can get underrated.
Pro Tip: A lowball VA rating should always lead to one question: Did VA have the full story? If VA did not have the full story, your rating may not reflect the full impact of your service-connected condition.
Nearly 1.85 Million Veterans Are Now Rated 100%
Now let’s look at the other side of the data.
VA reported 1,847,449 veterans rated 100% disabled in FY2025. That is the largest rating group among all veterans receiving VA disability compensation.
That is a big deal. But let me be very clear: This does not mean every veteran should be rated 100%.
It means more veterans are learning how to properly document the full impact of their service-connected disabilities.
Many veterans do not get the correct rating the first time. They learn the system. They file to increase their VA rating. They claim secondary conditions. They appeal bad decisions. They submit stronger medical evidence. They get better C&P exams. They stop minimizing their symptoms. They work with an expert.
And over time, their rating starts to better reflect reality.
That is the story buried inside this report. Many veterans start low because they do not know what they do not know.
The Number of 100% Rated Veterans Is Growing Fast
The 100% VA rating category is not just the largest rating group. It is also growing fast.
In FY2024, VA reported 1,547,842 veterans at 100%. In FY2025, that number jumped to 1,847,449.
That is an increase of 299,607 veterans in one year, or about a 19% increase.
Go back to FY2021, and VA reported 972,893 veterans rated 100%. That means the number of 100% rated veterans has nearly doubled in just four years.
Again, this does not mean every veteran qualifies for 100%. But it does tell us something important:
More veterans are documenting the true severity of their conditions.
More veterans are filing secondary claims.
More veterans are pursuing increases.
More veterans are appealing bad decisions.
More veterans are realizing the first rating VA gives them may not be the final answer.
Modern VA Claims Are Rarely About One Condition
This might be the most important data point in the entire report: VA reported 46,496,235 service-connected disabilities across 6,338,253 veterans receiving compensation.
That equals an average of 7.34 service-connected disabilities per veteran.
For new recipients, VA reported 2,933,013 service-connected disabilities across 476,802 veterans. That equals an average of 6.15 service-connected disabilities per new recipient.
Translation?
Today’s VA claims are not usually about one simple condition.
They are about multiple conditions, multiple body systems, secondary connections, worsening symptoms, overlapping impairments, and evidence that explains how all of it affects your life.
The 0% and 10% Trap
The report also shows something every veteran needs to understand.
A huge number of individual service-connected disabilities are rated 0% or 10%.
Together, that is more than 31 million individual service-connected disabilities rated either 0% or 10%.
That is massive.
Now, a 0% rating is not worthless. In many cases, it is very valuable because VA has granted service connection. But 0% also means VA is saying your condition does not meet the criteria for monthly compensation.
That might be correct. Or it might mean the evidence did not show the true severity of your symptoms.
Same thing with 10%. A 10% rating might be accurate. But it might also be a starting point.
What to Do If You Have a 0% or 10% Rating
Do not ignore it. Review it.
Read the VA rating decision letter.
Look at the evidence VA used.
Look at the rating criteria.
Ask whether the decision matches your actual symptoms.
Ask whether the condition has worsened.
Ask whether the condition caused or aggravated another condition.
Sometimes service connection is the hardest part. Once VA grants it, the next question becomes whether the rating is correct. You can always file for increases if your symptoms get worse.
10 Most Common VA Disability Claims Right Now
VA’s report also shows the most common service-connected disabilities among all veterans receiving compensation.
The top 10 were:
Tinnitus
Limitation of flexion, knee
Paralysis of the sciatic nerve
Lumbosacral or cervical strain
PTSD
Hearing loss
Limitation of motion of the arm
Scars and burns
Migraine
Limitation of motion of the ankle
These 10 conditions accounted for 18,448,237 service-connected disabilities, which is nearly 40% of all service-connected disabilities in the report.
For new recipients, the list was very similar:
Tinnitus
Limitation of flexion, knee
Lumbosacral or cervical strain
Limitation of motion of the arm
Hearing loss
Scars and burns
Migraine
Paralysis of the sciatic nerve
PTSD
Limitation of motion of the ankle
The takeaway is simple: The most common VA claims are heavily concentrated in hearing conditions, joint and spine conditions, nerve issues, migraines, scars, and mental health.
If you are a veteran dealing with these conditions, you are not alone. But common does not mean automatic. You still need the right evidence.
Musculoskeletal Conditions Dominate VA Claims
Musculoskeletal conditions are the biggest category of VA disability claims by far.
VA reported 17,838,998 musculoskeletal service-connected disabilities, which represented 38.4% of all service-connected disabilities.
This includes conditions involving the knees, back, neck, shoulders, ankles, hips, feet, and other joints.
Here is the problem: Musculoskeletal claims are often underrated when veterans fail to properly explain functional loss.
VA is not just looking for pain. VA is looking at how the condition affects movement and function.
That means things like:
Painful motion
Flare-ups
Range of motion
Repeated use over time
Difficulty standing
Difficulty walking
Difficulty lifting
Difficulty bending
Difficulty sitting
Difficulty using stairs
Impact on work and daily life
Too many veterans walk into a C&P exam on a “good day,” push through the pain, and say, “I’m fine.”
Do not do that.
Tell the truth. Explain your worst days. Explain what happens after repeated use. Explain how flare-ups affect you. Explain what you can no longer do.
That is not complaining. That is evidence.
Mental Health Claims Are Different
One of the most important hidden gems in the report is the mental health data.
VA reported 3,163,838 mental health service-connected disabilities.
The most common mental health rating was 70%, making it a high-value claim.
That matters.
Mental health claims are rated based on occupational and social impairment. That means VA is looking at how your symptoms affect your ability to work, function, maintain relationships, handle stress, control emotions, sleep, focus, and live your life.
PTSD was the most common mental health condition in the report, with 1,760,497 service-connected PTSD disabilities. That represented 55.6% of all mental health disabilities.
Why Veterans Get Mental Health Ratings Wrong
A mental health diagnosis alone is not enough. You must explain impairment.
How does it affect your work?
How does it affect your marriage?
How does it affect your kids?
How does it affect your sleep?
How does it affect your anger, anxiety, memory, motivation, mood, isolation, or ability to function?
Veterans are trained to suck it up. We minimize. We say, “Others had it worse.” We say, “I’m fine.”
But VA cannot rate what you refuse to say.
Tell the truth.
GWOT Veterans Have Some of the Most Complex Claims
The report also breaks out data for Global War on Terror veterans as a subset of the Gulf War Era.
VA reported 1,755,659 GWOT veterans receiving compensation.
Those veterans had 16,879,238 service-connected disabilities. That equals an average of 9.61 service-connected disabilities per GWOT veteran, which is higher than the overall average of 7.34.
Even more striking, 37.54% of all GWOT compensation recipients were rated 100%.
That is more than one out of every three GWOT veterans receiving VA compensation is rated at 100%.
This makes sense if you think about it.
Post-9/11 veterans often have complex claims involving deployments, airborne hazards, burn pits, chronic pain, joint injuries, blast exposure, mental health, migraines, sleep problems, respiratory issues, digestive issues, and secondary conditions.
For GWOT veterans, the top conditions included tinnitus, knee conditions, PTSD, back and neck strain, sciatic nerve issues, migraines, ankle conditions, scars, and allergic rhinitis.
Again, the lesson is simple: Complex claims require a strategy.
You cannot wing it.
Respiratory and Digestive Claims Are Rising
Another important trend in the report is the growth in respiratory and digestive conditions.
The report also showed respiratory disabilities among all compensation recipients increased 16.0% from FY2024 to FY2025.
Digestive disabilities increased 13.1%. Among new recipients, digestive disabilities increased 21.8%.
The report does not say every increase is because of the PACT Act, and we should not overstate that. But the trend is important.
Respiratory and digestive conditions are a major part of the modern VA claims landscape, especially for veterans with toxic exposure, burn pit exposure, Gulf War service, airborne hazards, sinus issues, rhinitis, asthma, sleep apnea, GERD, IBS, or related symptoms.
What Veterans Should Look At
If that is you, do not guess.
Look at your service history.
Look at your diagnoses.
Look at presumptive rules.
Look at secondary service connection.
Look at whether your current conditions may be connected to service or aggravated by another service-connected disability.
Female Veterans Had Higher 100% Rating Percentages
The report also shows an important trend for female veterans.
Among new female compensation recipients, 18.75% were rated 100%. Among new male compensation recipients, 15.00% were rated 100%.
Among all female compensation recipients, 32.55% were rated 100%. Among all male compensation recipients, 28.84% were rated 100%.
VA’s report does not explain why this gap exists, so we should be careful not to assume too much. But the data matters.
Female veterans should never assume their conditions “do not count” or that they are not eligible. They are.
Many female veterans have complex claims involving mental health, migraines, musculoskeletal conditions, reproductive health, military sexual trauma-related conditions, and other service-connected disabilities.
If you served and your condition is connected to service, you have the right to file. Period.
The Payment Gap Between 10% and 100% Is Life-Changing
The difference between 10% and 100% is not just a rating percentage. It can be life-changing money.
For new compensation recipients, VA reported the estimated average annual payment at 10% was $2,105. At 100%, it was $49,446.
For all compensation recipients, VA reported the estimated average annual payment at 10% was $2,122. At 100%, it was $50,793.
That’s a huge difference in compensation and benefits.
That is the difference between a couple thousand dollars per year and more than fifty thousand dollars per year in tax-free VA disability compensation.
Now, the goal is not to chase a rating you do not deserve. The goal is to make sure VA has the full and accurate picture of your service-connected disabilities.
Because if you are underrated, you could be leaving thousands of dollars in tax-free compensation on the table every single year.
What Veterans Should Do With This Data
Do not read this report and think, “Everyone should be 100%.” That is not true.
Read this report and think:
“I need to make sure VA has the full picture.”
That is the point.
Before you file a new claim, increase, supplemental claim, or higher-level review, ask yourself:
What conditions am I already service connected for?
Because a low rating does not always mean your condition is mild. Sometimes it means VA did not have the full picture. Sometimes it means you were underdocumented. Sometimes it means you missed secondary conditions. Sometimes it means you minimized your symptoms. Sometimes it means you did not explain functional impairment. Sometimes it means you need stronger evidence.
You served. You earned the right to file. You earned the right to be heard. And you earned the right to pursue every VA benefit you legally qualify for.
So here is the real question:
Do you have the VA rating you were given, or the VA rating you truly deserve?
Want Expert-Level VA Claim Help? WE GOT YOUR SIX!
VA Claims Insider helps educate and empower veterans to get the VA rating they deserve.
Work directly with a VA Claims Insider Coach who can help lead you to VA claim victory.
50,000+ disabled veterans served in our membership programs since 2016.
33% average rating increase for veterans who complete our #1 rated Elite program.
The Quality Assurance (QA) team at VA Claims Insider has extensive experience researching, fact-checking, and ensuring accuracy in all produced content. The QA team consists of individuals with specialized knowledge in the VA disability claims adjudication processes, laws and regulations, and they understand the needs of our target audience. Any changes or suggestions the QA team makes are thoroughly reviewed and incorporated into the content by our writers and creators.
Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.
A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.
Fifty years ago, a U.S. Air Force colonel named John Boyd offered a profound insight into why battles are won or lost.
His famous Observe, Orient, Decide, Act — or OODA — Loop described the mental cycle by which combatants, from fighter pilots to generals, assess and react to a constantly changing situation.
Those with a faster OODA Loop could exploit opportunities while their befuddled opponents struggled to understand what was going on.
Germany crushed France in 1940 largely because of a sluggish French command system that was always one OODA step behind the swift panzer divisions. More recently, OODA might explain why tactically rigid Russian tank columns were decimated by outnumbered but agile Ukrainian troops in 2022.
Had the Soviets invaded Western Europe during the Cold War, NATO would have relied on OODA — plus airpower and more advanced weapons technology — to stop the Soviet steamroller.
To the troops watching waves of Soviet tanks roll into the Fulda Gap or the North German Plain, OODA would have been just a buzzword. But NATO needed every advantage it could get to compensate for superior Soviet numbers and firepower.
Flashpoint Campaigns: Cold War, published by Matrix Games, is a computer wargame that depicts a hypothetical Warsaw Pact invasion of West Germany in 1989.
But it is more than just another World War III wargame. Flashpoint Campaigns is the OODA Loop gamified. In fact, the game comes in two versions: the regular game for armchair generals, and a professional edition for real soldiers.
Flashpoint Campaigns is a 2-D map game, with NATO platoons and Warsaw Pact companies waging battalion- to division-sized battles. Set in the twilight of the Cold War, much of the hardware — such as Abrams and T-72 tanks, and Bradley and BMP infantry fighting vehicles — are still around today.
Players issue orders to their troops, such as movement, direct fire, calling in artillery and airstrikes, combat engineering operations and resupply. For example, a tank platoon can be ordered to head to a crossroads via a series of designated waypoints along the route.
Units can be given standard operating procedures, or SOPs, such as determining at what range to open fire, when to change firing position and when to retreat. Enemy units are usually invisible until spotted. With Late Cold War weapons so devastating, combat is deadly and proper concealment and reconnaissance a must.
After a player finishes issuing commands, they can hit the start button. A game clock then appears and a certain number of minutes elapse, during which units try to fulfill orders.
It all sounds like a straightforward process — until OODA intervenes.
Unlike many wargames, players in Flashpoint Campaigns can’t give orders to their troops at will. Instead, only at certain intervals does the game clock pause and allow commanders to issue fresh orders. This reflects the time it takes for the command system to collect information, analyze it, reach a decision and pass a new order to subordinates.
Like an object in motion in Newtonian physics, units will try to execute their last set of orders until new instructions arrive. That tank platoon heading down the road toward a village will keep going toward that village until told otherwise, even if the tactical situation has changed.
This is where NATO’s OODA advantage kicks in. The NATO player might have to wait, say, for 14 minutes of game time to elapse before issuing fresh orders. For the Soviets, the delay might be 23 minutes, or about 50% longer.
This means that NATO will have more opportunities to give new orders than the Soviets do. In turn, this means NATO troops can more quickly react to new threats such as enemy forces on their flank, or exploit discovery of a gap in the enemy’s lines.
It also means that NATO can be more flexible in its planning, rather than having to anticipate the tactical situation far in advance.
“We all know what happens when plans make contact with the enemy,” Robert Crandall, president of On Target Simulations, which designed Flashpoint Campaigns, told Military Times. “NATO spent considerable efforts to train for what happens after that contact and to respond faster than their counterparts. This could let them operate inside the Warsaw Pact command loop and outmaneuver them.”
But even NATO has OODA problems in the game. The presence of electronic warfare, in which the Soviets invested heavily, lengthens the interval before a player can give orders. Units engaged in combat will require 50% more time to react to new orders.
And commanders who send too many orders to their troops will receive an unpleasant surprise: too much radio traffic reveals the location as a headquarters, marking it for an artillery or airstrike.
Indeed, some U.S. Army experts today worry American command posts are so chatty that they will be targeted in wartime.
As battles progress in Flashpoints Campaigns, and units takes losses and headquarters are disrupted, command delays will inevitably lengthen for both sides.
Clausewitz’s “friction of war” will become an impediment, though a bit less so for NATO. Commanders on both sides will have to grit their teeth and accept that they can’t control their troops as they would like to.
Would NATO’s tighter OODA Loop have been enough to defeat the Soviets?
“One of the nicest compliments the game received came from a former Warsaw Pact officer who said he played the game using strict Warsaw Pact doctrine and won,” Crandall recalled.
“If the Warsaw Pact player has figured things out correctly, his initial plan will not have needed much, if any, adjustment and just rolls along at maximum speed. His opponent will be wrong-footed and at the mercy of the OODA Loop to react in time. With the fast-moving, hyper-lethal forces of 1989, good luck with that.”
In some ways, Flashpoint Campaigns is a memorial to another era.
The year 1989 was the twilight of 20th Century mechanized warfare. With the threat of drones paralyzing battlefield maneuver in the Ukraine War, discussing OODA’s influence on tactics seem almost quaint.
And yet, there is a reason why there is a global arms race today to develop smarter AI, quicker kill chains between sensors and weapons, and tightly networked forces that can act faster than the enemy.
Every year, the OODA Loop seems to tighten, with less margin to fall behind. As OODA reminds us, time is too precious a commodity to squander.
BLUF: The VA doesn’t care how much evidence you submit; it cares whether the evidence proves your condition got worse.
The most important evidence for a VA rating increase is recent, credible medical and lay evidence showing your service-connected condition has worsened and now meets the criteria for a higher rating under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD).
Many veterans believe they need to submit hundreds of pages of medical records to win an increased rating claim. That’s usually not true.
What matters most is whether your evidence clearly demonstrates worsening symptoms, greater functional impairment, and limitations that align with the next higher rating criteria. In many successful claims, the strongest evidence includes updated medical records, favorable C&P exam findings, DBQs, credible lay statements, and documentation showing how your condition affects work and daily life.
The key is quality and relevance, not volume.
Summary of Key Points
The best evidence for a VA rating increase directly matches the rating criteria for your condition under the VASRD.
Recent medical evidence showing worsening symptoms usually carries the most weight with VA raters.
DBQs, C&P exams, and objective findings can significantly strengthen your claim.
Lay statements and symptom journals help prove functional impairment and real-world limitations.
More evidence is not always better. Targeted, relevant evidence is more effective than overwhelming the VA with unnecessary records.
Table of Contents
Understanding VA Rating Increase Claims
A VA increased rating claim is for veterans whose service-connected disability has worsened since their last evaluation.
To approve a higher rating, the VA must see evidence that your condition now meets the criteria for the next higher percentage under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (38 CFR Part 4). That means the VA is evaluating symptom severity, frequency, duration, functional loss, occupational impairment, and, in some cases, objective medical findings.
For example, migraine ratings often depend on the frequency of prostrating attacks and their impact on employability, while PTSD ratings focus heavily on occupational and social impairment. Orthopedic conditions may rely on range-of-motion measurements, flare-ups, and documented functional loss.
The strongest evidence specifically addresses the criteria required for the next higher evaluation.
What Evidence Matters Most for a VA Rating Increase?
1. Recent Medical Records Showing Your Condition Has Worsened
Current medical evidence is often the foundation of a successful VA increase claim.
The VA generally gives the most weight to recent treatment records showing symptom progression over time, failed treatments, worsening pain, increased medication usage, reduced functionality, or occupational impairment.
Strong evidence may include:
Specialist evaluations
Imaging results
Mental health treatment notes
Physical therapy records
Documentation of emergency care and hospitalizations
The strongest medical evidence is recent, specific, consistent over time, and supported by objective findings whenever possible.
The more clearly your records explain functional limitations, the stronger your claim becomes.
2. A Favorable C&P Exam Can Make or Break Your Claim
In many increased rating claims, the compensation and pension (C&P) exam becomes the single most influential piece of evidence.
Why? Because the examiner is specifically evaluating whether your symptoms meet the criteria for a higher rating.
A strong C&P exam may document reduced range of motion, pain during flare-ups, migraine frequency, occupational impairment, mental health symptoms, radiculopathy, or other findings that support a higher evaluation.
During your exam, be honest and accurate about how your condition affects you on your worst days. Explain how often flare-ups occur, how long they last, and what activities become difficult or impossible during those periods. Never exaggerate symptoms, but you shouldn’t downplay them either.
Whenever possible, submit strong medical evidence before your C&P exam. The examiner and rater will often compare your exam findings against the medical records already in your file.
DBQs are one of the most valuable tools available for a VA rating increase because they are designed specifically around the criteria VA raters use to evaluate disabilities.
A strong DBQ can:
Clarify symptom severity
Document flare-ups and functional loss
Capture occupational impairment
Directly address the criteria required for a higher rating
Because DBQs organize information in a format VA raters already understand, they can make it easier for the VA to identify qualifying symptoms and compare your condition against the VASRD.
Submitting a private DBQ doesn’t guarantee that the VA will skip a C&P exam. The VA still schedules additional exams frequently, even in well-supported claims.
4. Objective Medical Evidence and Specialist Opinions
Objective medical findings often carry significant weight because they provide measurable evidence of worsening.
Depending on your condition, this may include:
MRI findings
Reduced range of motion
Pulmonary function testing
Neurological evaluations
Cognitive testing
Sleep studies
EMG results
Specialist opinions can also be extremely persuasive in complex claims. For example, a neurologist may provide insight into migraine severity, while a psychiatrist or psychologist may document occupational and social impairment related to PTSD.
In some cases, an Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) can help address disputed C&P findings or explain why your symptoms satisfy higher rating criteria. The strongest IMOs clearly explain the severity of symptoms, the resulting functional impairment, and how the evidence supports a higher evaluation under the law.
5. Lay Statements and Buddy Letters
Lay evidence can be extremely powerful, especially for symptoms that are difficult to measure objectively.
The VA must consider competent lay evidence under federal law, and these statements often help fill in the gaps left by medical records.
Lay statements may come from:
You
Your spouse
Family members
Friends
Coworkers
Supervisors
The most effective statements are specific, detailed, and focused on observable limitations. A weak statement simply says a condition has worsened. A stronger statement explains exactly how symptoms affect daily life, employment, relationships, sleep, mobility, concentration, or social functioning.
For example, a spouse describing panic attacks, isolation, anger outbursts, or severe sleep problems can provide important context that may not fully appear in treatment notes.
The VA applies ratings based on diagnoses and impairment. Evidence showing reduced functioning in real-world situations can be critical for securing a higher evaluation.
These records help establish consistency over time and can support both medical evidence and lay statements.
A strong symptom log may track:
Frequency and severity of symptoms
Duration of flare-ups
Missed work
Medication use
Recovery time
Activities impacted by symptoms
Consistency matters more than perfection. Even simple notes documenting recurring limitations can help demonstrate the real-world impact of your condition.
Can Too Much Evidence Hurt a VA Rating Increase Claim?
Yes, sometimes.
One of the biggest mistakes veterans make is submitting massive amounts of irrelevant evidence in an attempt to strengthen their claim.
More evidence does not guarantee a better outcome.
Submitting hundreds of unrelated pages can slow processing, bury your strongest evidence, create inconsistencies, and make it harder for raters to identify the symptoms that actually support a higher evaluation.
Targeted evidence tied directly to worsening symptoms and rating criteria is usually more effective than volume.
Common Mistakes Veterans Make in VA Increase Claims
Submitting Outdated Medical Evidence
Older records may help establish medical history, but recent evidence usually matters most in increased rating claims.
If you haven’t sought treatment recently, the VA may conclude your condition has not significantly worsened. When possible, submit records from the past 6–12 months that clearly document increased severity and functional limitations.
Not Understanding the Rating Criteria
One of the most common reasons veterans lose increase claims is because their evidence does not match the legal criteria for the next higher rating.
Before filing, review your diagnostic code and understand exactly what symptoms, limitations, or occupational impairment the VA requires for a higher evaluation.
Downplaying Symptoms
Many veterans minimize symptoms during medical appointments or C&P exams because they are used to “pushing through.”
Unfortunately, that mindset can weaken a claim.
Be honest about pain levels, flare-ups, missed work, mental health symptoms, and daily limitations. The VA can only evaluate the symptoms and impairment that are documented in your records and examinations.
Does the VA Need New Evidence for a Rating Increase?
Yes, usually.
The VA generally expects evidence showing that your condition has worsened since your initial rating.
Updated treatment records, specialist evaluations, DBQs, imaging, worsening symptoms, or new C&P findings can all help support an increase claim.
How Much Evidence Is “Enough” for a VA Rating Increase?
There’s no specific number of records required.
Some veterans win increased ratings with a strong C&P exam, updated treatment records, and one detailed lay statement. Others may need more extensive evidence for complex conditions.
The goal is not to submit the most evidence but the right evidence, meaning it’s relevant, credible, recent, consistent, and directly connected to the rating criteria.
When Should You File for a VA Rating Increase?
Timely filling matters.
You should consider filing when your symptoms have clearly worsened, your condition causes greater functional impairment, or medical evidence supports a higher evaluation.
In most cases, the effective date for an increased rating is tied to either the date the VA receives your claim or the date evidence shows worsening occurred.
The strongest evidence for a VA rating increase is evidence that clearly proves your condition has worsened and now meets the criteria for a higher evaluation under the law.
For most veterans, that means recent medical records, favorable C&P exam findings, strong DBQs, objective testing, credible lay statements, symptom journals, and documentation showing occupational and functional impairment.
Remember: VA raters are comparing your symptoms against specific legal criteria, not simply counting pages of medical records.
The more directly your evidence supports those criteria, the stronger your claim becomes.
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What is the best evidence for a VA rating increase?
The strongest evidence usually includes recent medical records, favorable C&P exam findings, DBQs, objective testing, and credible lay statements showing worsening symptoms and functional impairment.
Do I need new medical evidence for a VA increase claim?
Usually, yes. The VA generally requires updated evidence showing your service-connected condition has worsened since your current rating was assigned.
Are DBQs important for a VA rating increase?
Yes. DBQs are specifically designed to document the symptoms and limitations VA raters use to evaluate disabilities under the VASRD.
Can lay statements help increase my VA disability rating?
Absolutely. Lay statements can provide valuable evidence about symptom severity, daily limitations, occupational impairment, and social functioning.
Can too much evidence hurt a VA claim?
Sometimes. Submitting excessive irrelevant evidence can bury the strongest parts of your claim and make it harder for raters to identify qualifying symptoms.
What if my C&P exam conflicts with my medical records?
The VA must weigh all evidence together. Strong treatment records, DBQs, or specialist opinions may help challenge unfavorable exam findings.
How recent should medical evidence be for a VA increase claim?
Generally, records from the past 6 to 12 months carry the most weight because they best reflect your current level of disability.
What form do I use to file for a VA rating increase?
Most veterans use VA Form 21-526EZ to request an increased disability rating.
About the Author
Katie McCarthy
Katie McCarthy is a writer and editor with experience in daily news and digital and print magazine publishing. She honed her editorial (and firearms) skills at Guns & Ammo before helping launch Black Rifle Coffee Company’s Coffee or Die Magazine as the managing editor. She holds degrees in English (BA) and public administration (MPA). Katie is a military spouse and word nerd who enjoys reading, hiking, camping, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Looking for the best vacation rentals in Alicante? From stylish city-centre lofts to beachfront apartments and spacious group stays, these are the top Alicante apartments to book for your next Costa Blanca getaway.
2027 VA disability pay rates are projected to increase by 3.9% with the annual COLA. If that estimate holds, it would be the largest COLA increase for veterans since 2022.
But here’s the deal: These rates are not official yet. The final 2027 COLA won’t be announced until mid-October 2026, after the July, August, and September CPI-W inflation data is released.
For now, we’ve applied a projected 3.9% COLA to the official 2026 VA disability rates so you can estimate your projected 2027 tax-free monthly VA compensation by rating and dependents.
2027 VA Disability Pay Rates (Without Children)
Rating
Veteran Alone
Veteran & Spouse
Veteran, Spouse, & One Parent
Veteran, Spouse, & Two Parents
Veteran & One Parent
Veteran & Two Parents
100%
$4,092.18
$4,320.34
$4,503.45
$4,686.57
$4,275.30
$4,458.41
90%
$2,454.43
$2,659.15
$2,823.37
$2,987.59
$2,618.65
$2,782.87
80%
$2,184.13
$2,365.71
$2,512.03
$2,658.36
$2,330.46
$2,476.79
70%
$1,878.98
$2,038.12
$2,166.29
$2,294.47
$2,007.15
$2,135.32
60%
$1,490.99
$1,627.70
$1,736.65
$1,845.59
$1,599.92
$1,708.87
50%
$1,177.08
$1,290.30
$1,381.09
$1,471.88
$1,267.87
$1,358.66
40%
$826.88
$917.67
$990.29
$1,062.92
$899.50
$972.13
30%
$574.02
$642.37
$696.85
$751.32
$628.49
$682.96
Rating
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
Additional For A/A Spouses
$209.26
$187.99
$167.69
$146.33
$124.97
$104.67
$83.31
$61.95
2027 VA Disability Pay Rates (With Children)
Rating
Veteran & Child
Veteran, Spouse, & Child
Veteran, Spouse, Child, & One Parent
Veteran, Spouse, Child, & Two Parents
Veteran, Child, & One Parent
Veteran, Child, & Two Parents
100%
$4,244.76
$4,487.43
$4,670.55
$4,853.67
$4,427.88
$4,610.99
90%
$2,591.16
$2,810.11
$2,974.64
$3,139.08
$2,755.61
$2,920.13
80%
$2,305.90
$2,500.28
$2,646.62
$2,792.96
$2,452.23
$2,598.56
70%
$1,984.72
$2,155.62
$2,283.79
$2,411.97
$2,112.89
$2,241.07
60%
$1,581.78
$1,728.11
$1,837.06
$1,946.00
$1,690.71
$1,799.66
50%
$1,252.92
$1,374.68
$1,465.47
$1,556.26
$1,343.71
$1,434.50
40%
$887.76
$984.95
$1,057.57
$1,130.20
$960.38
$1,033.01
30%
$618.88
$692.59
$747.06
$801.54
$673.35
$727.83
Rating
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
Each Additional Child Under 18
$113.37
$101.47
$89.72
$79.04
$67.29
$56.60
$44.86
$33.11
Each Additional Schoolchild Over 18
$366.20
$328.97
$292.66
$255.27
$218.96
$182.65
$146.33
$108.95
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2027 COLA prediction?
The latest 2027 COLA prediction is 3.9%, according to The Senior Citizens League, with some estimates as high as 4.2% if inflation stays elevated. The official COLA won’t be announced until October 2026, after July, August, and September CPI-W data is released.
Why does the projected 2027 COLA keep increasing?
The projected 2027 COLA keeps rising because inflation is running hotter than expected. Everyday costs like energy, housing, food, utilities, and healthcare are still putting pressure on Americans, which is why COLA estimates have moved higher in recent months.
What is the projected 2027 VA disability pay increase?
The projected 2027 VA disability pay increase is 3.9%. If that estimate holds, veterans rated 10% or higher would see their tax-free monthly VA compensation increase beginning with their January 2027 payment. A 3.9% COLA boost would also be the largest COLA for veterans since 2022. For example, a veteran receiving $1,000/month in 2026 would see about a $39/month increase in 2027, while a veteran receiving $4,000/month would see about a $156/month increase.
When do the new rates take effect, and when will I see the higher payment?
The new 2027 VA disability pay rates will take effect on December 1, 2026. Because VA pays disability compensation in arrears, your December 2026 benefits are paid in your January 2027 payment. That means veterans should typically see the higher 2027 VA disability payment around January 1, 2027. However, your deposit may arrive one to three days early depending on your bank or credit union, including institutions like USAA or Navy Federal.
Do I need to do anything to get the 2027 COLA increase?
No. The COLA increase is automatic. You don’t need to apply, call the VA, or submit a claim. The VA adjusts your benefit amount internally based on your VA rating, and you’ll see the change reflected in your January 2026 deposit. If you’re receiving multiple VA benefits—like Special Monthly Compensation (SMC), Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), or VA Pension—they’ll all increase automatically as well.
Who gets the 2027 COLA increase?
All veterans with a VA disability rating of 10% or higher should qualify for the 2027 COLA increase if it’s finalized. That includes veterans rated from 10% to 100%, veterans receiving Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) paid at the 100% rate, and recipients of Special Monthly Compensation (SMC), Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), or VA Pension benefits. If you have a 0% VA rating, you won’t see a monthly pay increase because 0% ratings do not include monthly VA disability compensation.
Do I get extra dependent pay at 10% or 20%?
No. Veterans rated at 10% or 20% receive a flat monthly rate, regardless of dependents. Additional VA compensation for dependents, including a spouse, children, or dependent parents, starts at a combined VA disability rating of 30% or higher. See the projected 2027 VA pay tables above to estimate your monthly compensation with or without dependents.
Does the projected 2027 3.9% COLA affect my retroactive or back pay?
It depends on the months covered by your retroactive pay. VA back pay is calculated using the pay rates that were in effect for each month of your retro period. If your back pay includes months after December 1, 2026, those months would use the new 2027 VA disability rates. But if your back pay covers earlier years, those months are calculated using the VA pay rates in effect for those specific years.
Is VA disability pay taxable?
No. VA disability compensation is completely tax-free at both the federal and state levels. That includes payments for SMC, DIC, VA Pension, and Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC). If you receive both VA disability and military retired pay, make sure to review your DFAS Form 1099-R to understand which portions are taxable. See my full breakdown of Veterans’ Tax Rules and Exemptions.
How does the VA determine my disability rating?
The VA uses the Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) found in 38 CFR Part 4 to assign a percentage to each service-connected condition. Each condition gets a diagnostic code and rating level based on symptom severity, frequency, and impact on your work and life. If you have multiple service-connected conditions, VA applies the Combined Ratings Table—often called “VA math”—to determine your final combined rating. Try our free VA disability calculator to quickly find your combined VA rating and monthly payment amount.
Can I file for a VA disability rating increase?
Yes. If your service-connected conditions have worsened or you’ve obtained new medical evidence, you can request a VA rating increase at any time through VA.gov. A properly documented increase claim can often raise your monthly benefit more than a COLA adjustment alone. If you need help developing your evidence and strategy, see my guide: 8 Ways to Increase Your VA Disability Rating.
How do I find VA resources near me?
You can search for VA-accredited VSOs, attorneys, or claims agents using the VA’s official tool (VSO services on claims are free), and you can look up nearby VA facilities (medical centers, Vet Centers, regional benefits offices).
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VA Claims Insider is the #1 most trusted name in VA disability claims.
Work directly with a VA Claims Insider Coach who can help lead you to VA claim victory.
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The Quality Assurance (QA) team at VA Claims Insider has extensive experience researching, fact-checking, and ensuring accuracy in all produced content. The QA team consists of individuals with specialized knowledge in the VA disability claims adjudication processes, laws and regulations, and they understand the needs of our target audience. Any changes or suggestions the QA team makes are thoroughly reviewed and incorporated into the content by our writers and creators.
Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.
A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.
We just returned from a Carnival cruise visiting both the brand-new RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key in the Bahamas. Both private destinations were a highlight of the trip but for very different reasons. Each has a distinct vibe — one is a purpose-built resort with a massive lagoon pool, waterslides, and 30+ food and drink options and the other is 2.5 miles of natural, pristine Bahamian beach. Which one is better? That depends entirely on what kind of beach day you want. RelaxAway Half Moon Cay vs. Celebration Key: here’s how they compare.
What Are Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay?
Both Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay are privately owned by Carnival Corporation, which means the only way to visit either is on a cruise. Carnival guests at both destinations dock directly at a dedicated pier — so getting ashore at each is simple.
Celebration Key is Carnival’s newest private destination, located on the southern coast of Grand Bahama Island about 23 miles from Freeport. It opened in July 2025 and is designed from the ground up to be a full resort experience — a freshwater lagoon, a 10-story sandcastle with dual waterslides, an adults-only beach club, and more food and drink options than most ships. It’s lively, amenity-packed, and built for fun. Carnival ships and Princess ships visit Celebration Key.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is entirely different. Formerly known simply as Half Moon Cay, this crescent-shaped island about 100 miles southeast of Nassau has been a Carnival Corporation destination since it opened in 1997. It recently underwent a major expansion and rebrand as part of Carnival’s Paradise Collection — including a brand-new pier and a fully developed north side experience exclusively for Carnival guests. Holland America ships still visit the south side of the island via tender boats. But the philosophy hasn’t changed: this is a natural beach perfect for relaxation. No pools, no waterpark, no manufactured lagoon.
Beach & Pool Experience
Key Takeaway: If you want a pool and a resort day vibe, go to Celebration Key. If you want a natural unspoiled beach, go to Half Moon Cay. Neither is objectively better — they’re just completely different.
Celebration Key
Celebration Key’s signature feature is its enormous freshwater lagoon — totaling over 275,000 square feet, making it the largest freshwater lagoon in the Caribbean. Starfish Lagoon on the east side of the property is the family-friendly pool with a gentle sloped entry, a 10-story sandcastle structure with two waterslides, and a splash pad nearby for younger kids. Calypso Lagoon on the west side has more of an adult energy and a DJ island at the center. There’s also a beach on both sides — Starfish Beach and Calypso Beach — with free loungers and umbrellas available.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
Half Moon Cay has no pool, splash pad, or waterslides by design. Instead, it has approximately 2.5 miles of beachfront. Think white sand, turquoise water, and over 4,500 complimentary umbrellas and double that number of chairs spread across the sandy shoreline. This is a proper beach day, where guests can swim, snorkel, or simply relax away.
Food & Drinks
Key Takeaway: Food is included at both destinations, but in very different ways. Half Moon Cay offers an unlimited buffet. Celebration Key gives each guest one Island Eats meal credit with 30+ options to choose from — but everything beyond that costs extra. At both destinations, the Cheers drink package does not work.
Celebration Key
Celebration Key has a variety of food offerings spread across the property, from food trucks serving Bahamian tacos, doughnuts, and fritters, to a food hall, Snack Shack locations, and full-service sit-down restaurants including Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Kitchen, Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brews, and Gill’s Grill.
The catch is the Island Eats credit system. Rather than an unlimited buffet, each guest receives one meal credit per person — redeemable at a quick-casual venue for a free meal, or as a 40% discount on one entrée at a full-service restaurant.
On the drinks side, there’s no shortage of bars — swim-up bars in both lagoons, the Sunshine Swings Bar, multiple beach bars, and even a coffee shop. However, Carnival’s Cheers drink package does not work at Celebration Key. All alcoholic and specialty drinks are paid out of pocket via your Sail & Sign card.
The menu items we sampled were flavorful and the portions were a good size. We appreciate the variety when compared to a traditional island BBQ; however, you need to go in knowing that you’ll likely spend extra on food.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
Half Moon Cay keeps it simple. A complimentary, unlimited lunch buffet is available at two locations on the north side — Orchid Beach Grill & Bar and Hibiscus Beach Grill & Bar serving burgers, hot dogs, BBQ chicken, pulled pork, nachos, salads, and desserts. There are currently no premium offerings or up-charge restaurants.
There are bars spread across the north side, including Lil’ Tiki Bar, Stay Awhile Beach Shack, Luna Tide Beach Bar, and Rum Time Bar Shack — each serving a full menu of island-inspired cocktails. Like Celebration Key, Carnival’s Cheers package does not work at Half Moon Cay either. You’ll need to use your Sail & Sign card for beverages.
The RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay buffet is large with lots of stations and seating areas. The items we sampled were definitely on par or slightly better than other cruise lines’ island buffets.
Activities & Amenities
Key Takeaway: Choose Celebration Key for built-in thrills and resort-style amenities and Half Moon Cay for nature-based experiences including the very popular horseback riding excursion.
Celebration Key
Celebration Key was built to keep guests active and entertained beyond the beach and pools. The standout upcharge activity is the Suncastle’s dual racing waterslides — two 350-foot, 10-story slides available for $15 per person for unlimited rides. Sports courts with pickleball, basketball, and volleyball are complimentary, as is the gaming pavilion with table tennis and cornhole. The Guppy Grotto splash pad is free for younger kids.
For those wanting to venture off property, Celebration Key’s location on Grand Bahama Island opens up a range of shore excursions like ATV tours, ziplining, city tours, glass-bottom boat trips, and more.
Cabana and villa rentals are available across both lagoon areas and the beach. The adults-only Pearl Cove Beach Club is the premium experience, with an 11,000-square-foot infinity pool, elevated dining, and a swim-up bar.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
Half Moon Cay’s activities lean heavily on the natural environment. Horseback riding is one of the most popular shore excursions on the island and a bucket-list experience. Beyond that, guests can rent kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear, and more, or book guided excursions like a stingray adventure, eco lagoon tour, or snorkeling by boat. Cabana and daybed rentals are available at an upcharge, with standard cabanas starting at $799.99 and daybeds starting at $149.99.
On the complimentary side, the beach itself is the main attraction. And unlike Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay does not have an adults-only section.
Comparison Table
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
Celebration Key
Getting Ashore
Dedicated pier on north side for up to 2 ships
Dedicated pier for up to 4 ships
Beach
Yes — 2.5 miles of natural beach
Yes — Starfish & Calypso Beaches
Pool/Lagoon
None
Massive freshwater lagoon
Included Food
Unlimited lunch buffet
One Island Eats meal credit per guest
Cheers Package
Does not work
Does not work
WiFi Package
Works on north side of island
Works
Waterslides
No
Yes — upcharge ($15/person)
Adult-Only Space
No
Yes — Pearl Cove Beach Club (upcharge) & 13+ section in Calypso Lagoon
Overall Vibe
Natural, relaxed beach
Lively and fun resort
Overall Vibe & Pros and Cons
Visiting both destinations on the same cruise made one thing immediately clear to us: these two Carnival private destinations are completely different.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay has been a Carnival Corporation favorite for years and for good reason. The island’s entire identity is built around preservation and simplicity, and the 2026 expansion has added infrastructure without changing the island’s vibe. The beach is beautiful, the pace is slow, and the experience feels like the Bahamas rather than a theme park. The tradeoff is that if you’re expecting the amenities of Celebration Key, you’ll be surprised by what isn’t here.
Celebration Key is Carnival’s vision of what a private destination can be. It’s lively, impressive, and loaded with amenities. The lagoons are breathtaking in scale, Pearl Cove is one of the best adults-only retreats at any cruise destination, and the sheer variety of food and activities means there’s something for everyone. The tradeoff is that it can feel too loud for those seeking a relaxing day in the sun.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay Pros
2.5 miles of pristine white sand beach with included chairs and umbrellas
Unlimited included lunch buffet
Horseback riding and other nature-focused excursions
A natural, unhurried vibe
Maximum of three ships in port with plenty of beach space to spread out
Pier allows for easy access ashore, no more tendering
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay Cons
No pool of any kind
No adult-only section
Cheers package doesn’t work here
Fewer dining options and bars vs. Celebration Key
Distance between tram stops/amenities can be significant
Celebration Key Pros
Massive freshwater lagoon — PLUS plenty of beach space
A variety of food and drink options
Pearl Cove Beach Club is an adults-only retreat
Waterslides, sports courts, splash pad, and plenty to keep everyone busy
Access to Grand Bahama Island for diverse shore excursions
Island Eats credit system adds complexity to dining
Cheers package doesn’t work here
Feels theme park-like rather than naturally beautiful
Pier now accommodates up to four ships at a time, which could lead to crowding
Louder, party vibes can distract from a relaxing day ashore
Which Should You Choose?
Here’s our honest bottom line: RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key are built for different travelers on different kinds of days. “Better” all depends on how you define your perfect beach day. Do you want a fun, more active day ashore or a quiet, relaxing retreat?
We loved both of these exclusive destinations and think they complement each other nicely on Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries. We wouldn’t hesitate to book another cruise visiting both of these Carnival Paradise Collection locales.
Choose RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay if you want:
One of the most beautiful beaches in the Bahamas
A simple, relaxed day ashore
Horseback riding or other nature-based excursions
The feel of a real Bahamian island rather than a built resort
Choose Celebration Key if you want:
A pool day with swim-up bars and all the amenities
The biggest adults-only beach club retreat in the Caribbean
Maximum variety in food, drinks, and entertainment
A lively, social atmosphere with music and energy
If you’re on a Carnival itinerary that calls at both — as we were — you’re in for two very different but equally memorable days.
Comments
Do you have an upcoming cruise visiting RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay or Celebration Key? Which of these exclusive Carnival destinations do you prefer? Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences visiting Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key.
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