VA Disability Compensation Disability
Compensation is a benefit paid to a veteran because of injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty, or were made worse by active military service. It is also paid to certain veterans disabled from VA health care.While there is no required minimum active duty service to qualify as a "veteran" for this benefit, one must have a disability that the VA determines happened while on active duty, or was made worse by active military service. One must also have a discharge that the VA determines was under other than dishonorable conditions.The amount of basic benefit paid ranges from $112 to $2,393 per month, depending on how disabled you are. Note: You may be paid additional amounts, in certain instances, if:you have very severe disabilities or loss of limb(s) you have a spouse, child(ren), or dependent parent(s) you have a seriously disabled spouse For complete information, see the VA's Disability Compensation Web site.
VA Disability PensionDisability Pension is a benefit paid to wartime veterans with limited income who are no longer able to work.You may be eligible if:you were discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions, AND you served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war time. However, 38 CFR 3.12a requires that anyone who enlists after 9/7/80 generally has to serve at least 24 months or the full period for which a person was called or ordered to active duty in order to receive any benefits based on that period of service. AND you are permanently and totally disabled, or are age 65 or older, AND your countable family income is below a yearly limit set by law
VA Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation is a program which helps eligible disabled veterans get and keep lasting, suitable jobs. It also helps seriously disabled veterans achieve independence in daily living.The program offers a number of services to help each eligible disabled veteran reach his or her rehabilitation goal. These services include vocational and personal counseling, education and training, financial aid, job assistance, and, if needed, medical and dental treatment. Services generally last up to 48 months, but they can be extended in certain instances.Usually, you must first be awarded a monthly VA Disability Compensation payment. In some cases, you may be eligible if you aren't getting VA compensation (for example, you are awaiting discharge from the service because of a disability, OR you are entitled to VA compensation but have decided not to reduce your military retirement or disability pay).Eligibility is also based on you meeting the following conditions:You served on or after September 16, 1940 AND Your service-connected disabilities are rated at least 20% disabling by VA AND You need Vocational Rehabilitation to overcome an employment handicap AND It has been less than 12 years since VA notified you of your eligibility VA Medical CareThe Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care to eligible veterans.VA provides a Medical Benefits Package, a standard enhanced health benefits plan available to all enrolled veterans. This plan emphasizes preventive and primary care, and offers a full range of outpatient and inpatient services within VA health care system.The character of discharge you received from the military can be a factor. It is not an issue if you received:An honorable discharge A general discharge A discharge under honorable conditions If you have a different character of discharge, you may still be eligible for care. As with other VA benefits programs, the VA will determine if your specific discharge was under conditions considered to be other than "dishonorable."The length of your service may also matter. It depends on when you served. There’s no length of service requirement for:Former enlisted persons who started active duty before September 8, 1980, or Former officers who first entered active duty before October 17, 1981 All other veterans must have 24 months of continuous active duty military service or meet one of the exceptions described below.You do not have to meet the 24 continuous months of active duty service requirement if you:Were a reservist who was called to Active Duty and who completed the term for which you were called, and who was granted an other than dishonorable discharge, orWere a National Guard member who was called to Active Duty by federal executive order, and who completed the term for which you were called, and who was granted an other than dishonorable discharge, or Only request a benefit for or in connection with:a service-connected condition or disability; or treatment and/or counseling of sexual trauma that occurred while on active military service; or treatment of conditions related to ionizing radiation; or head or neck cancer related to nose or throat radium treatment while in the military. Were discharged or released from active duty for a hardship , or Were discharged with an “early out”; or Were discharged or released from active duty for a disability that began in the service or got worse because of the service; or
Have been determined by VA to have compensable service-connected conditions; or Were discharged for a reason other than disability, but you had a medical condition at the time thatWas disabling, and In the opinion of a doctor, would have justified a discharge for disability (in this last case, the disability must be documented in service records) However, even if you meet all of the above conditions, you may not be able to receive health care benefits from the VA. The number of veterans who can be enrolled in the health care program is determined by the amount of money Congress gives VA each year. Since funds are limited, VA set up priority groups to make sure that certain groups of veterans are able to be enrolled before others.For more information, see the VA's Health Care Web site.
