VA disability compensation is a monthly payment to veterans with disabilities resulting from disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. The Veterans Affairs Department pays the tax-free compensation based on a veteran’s disability rating and dependent status. Veterans must have a disability rating of 30 percent or higher to be eligible for higher payments based on whether they have a spouse or children.

A variety of medical and dental special pays are authorized for military doctors, nurses dentists and health care support staff, who are highly sought after in the private sector. The Defense Department pays annual special pay, incentive pay, retention bonuses, accession bonuses and more. Payments vary widely based on an individual’s particular specialty.

FILE – In this May 6, 2015 file photo, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf at the Presidential Palace, in Dijbouti, Dijbouti. The State Department says Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Russia this week for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)