What makes someone eligible for VA benefits?
Basic Eligibility: A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable may qualify for VA health care benefits including qualifying Reserve and National Guard members.
Do all Veterans qualify for VA benefits?
All enrolled Veterans receive the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA's) comprehensive Medical Benefits Package which includes preventive, primary and specialty care, diagnostic, inpatient and outpatient care services.
What is the VA 5 year rule?
The VA disability rating 5-year rule states that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) cannot reduce a veteran's disability rating if it has been in place for five years or more unless the condition shows sustained improvement over time. In this situation, the veteran's rating is considered a stabilized rating.
How long do you have to be in the military to be considered a veteran?
To be considered a veteran, any military personnel must be on active-duty service for at least 180 days. The only exception is if the member sustained a service-related injury and was discharged under honorable conditions.
What qualifies you to be a veteran?
The term "veteran" means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. (E) authorized travel to or from such duty or service. 38 U.S.C.
Is a 6 year reservist considered a veteran?
A former Reservist is not a veteran unless called to active duty. The Reserves can be called to active duty by the President or the Secretary of Defense. Approximately, 65,000 reserve troops are on active duty at any given moment, supporting military operations around the world.
What is the 55 rule for VA disability?
What is the VA 55-year-old rule? Veterans who receive VA disability benefits for service-connected conditions are exempt from periodic future examinations once they turn 55 years old. This includes veterans who will be 55 by the date of a future examination, according to the VA Adjudication Procedures Manual.
What is the easiest VA disability to claim?
According to a recent Veterans Administration report to Congress, the ten most commonly awarded medical conditions that are getting approved for benefits are as follows:Tinnitus.Limitation of flexion (knee)Hearing loss.Lumbosacral or cervical strain (back and neck strains)Limitation of arm motion.General scars.More items...•
How often is your VA disability reviewed?
between two to five yearsYour re-examination will typically be scheduled for some time between two to five years from the date that you are initially awarded disability benefits. The VA can also call for a re-examination anytime evidence surfaces that a veteran's disability may have improved.
Are you considered a veteran if you never deployed?
"Anyone who has reached 20 years of service, even if they were never activated on a [federal] order for more than 180 days outside of training, will now be considered a veteran," he said. The change in law, said Krenz, simply recognizes those who serve.
What are the 5 types of veterans?
Under VEVRAA, a veteran may be classified as a ''disabled veteran,'' ''recently separated veteran,'' ''active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran,'' or ''Armed Forces service medal veteran. ''
Are you considered a veteran after basic training?
If a member of the armed forces was discharged during basic training for medical reasons, they are still considered a veteran for Federal student aid purposes so long as they served at least one day before being discharged.
Am I eligible for Veterans Pension benefits?
You may be eligible for the Veterans Pension program if you meet these requirements. Both of these must be true: You didn’t receive a dishonorable...
How do I know if I served under an eligible wartime period?
Under current law, we recognize the following wartime periods to decide eligibility for VA pension benefits: Mexican Border period (May 9, 1916, to...
What should I do if I received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge?
If you’ve received one of these discharge statuses, you may not be eligible for VA pension benefits. There are 2 ways you can try to qualify: Find...
What does enhanced eligibility mean?
You may qualify for enhanced eligibility status (meaning you’ll be placed in a higher priority group, which makes you more likely to get benefits) if you meet at least one of the requirements listed below. At least one of these must be true.
How many priority groups are there for VA?
When you apply for VA health care, you’ll be assigned 1 of 8 priority groups. This system helps to make sure that Veterans who need immediate care can get signed up quickly. Your priority group may affect how soon we sign you up for health care benefits.
How long did you serve at Camp Lejeune?
Served at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. If none of the above apply to you, you may still qualify for care based on your income. Learn more about how the amount of money your family makes can affect whether you qualify for VA benefits. Learn more about income limits.
Can I get VA health care benefits if I served in the military?
Am I eligible for VA health care benefits? You may be eligible for VA health care benefits if you served in the active military, naval, or air service and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge.
What is VA DIC?
Compensation benefits for a surviving spouse and dependents (VA DIC) Learn about getting VA disability benefits as a surviving spouse, dependent child, or parent.
What is VA disability compensation?
VA disability compensation. VA disability compensation (pay) offers a monthly tax-free payment to Veterans who got sick or injured while serving in the military and to Veterans whose service made an existing condition worse. You may qualify for VA disability benefits for physical conditions ...
Can you get VA disability for mental health?
You may qualify for VA disability benefits for physical conditions (like a chronic illness or injury) and mental health conditions (like PTSD) that developed before, during, or after service. Find out how to apply for and manage the Veterans disability benefits you've earned.
How many days of service do you have to serve to qualify for VA pension?
Veterans Pension for non-service connected disabilities are available to low-income veterans. Veterans must have at least 90 days of active duty, including one day during a wartime period. If the active duty occurred after September 7, 1980, you must have served at least 24 months or the full period that you were called up (with some exceptions).
What is the eligibility for VA compensation?
Eligibility for VA Compensation. To be eligible for VA Compensation, a veteran must have been considered active duty. You must also have a service-connected impairment. That means that your impairment was caused by your active duty service, or that it was worsened by your active duty service. You must also have separated or been discharged ...
Does Woods and Woods charge for VA disability?
Woods & Woods never charges for Veterans Disability Benefits consultations. There is also never a fee for help with the application process. If you have more questions regarding your eligibility for VA Disability Benefits, please fill out the online contact form or call toll-free (866) 232-5777.
Is a National Guard member considered active duty?
A National Guard member or Armed Forces Reservist who served in Afghanistan or Iraq is considered to have been active duty and are entitled to VA Veterans Disability Benefits.
Can a veteran receive disability benefits if he received a discharge?
However, if a veteran served two active duty terms and received two different discharges and one is Dishonorable, the veteran may still be able to receive VA Veterans Disability Benefits.
Can a veteran receive DIC benefits?
Families that lost a veteran from a service-connected disability may be eligible for VA Disability Benefits. If the veteran died from their service-connected disability, your family could receive DIC Benefits. Many families don’t even realize their loved one had a service-connected disability.
How do I know if I served under an eligible wartime period?
Under current law, we recognize the following wartime periods to decide eligibility for VA pension benefits:
What should I do if I received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge?
If you’ve received one of these discharge statuses, you may not be eligible for VA pension benefits.
What is disability compensation?
Eligibility. Disability compensation is a monthly tax-free benefit paid to Veterans who are at least 10% disabled because of injuries or diseases that were incurred in or aggravated during active duty or active duty for training. A disability can apply to physical conditions, such as a chronic knee condition, as well as a mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you were on inactive duty for training, the disability must have resulted from injury, heart attack, or stroke. Your discharge from service must have been under other than dishonorable conditions.
Can you get VA disability if you are in the military?
VA presumes that some disabilities are due to military service. You may be eligible to receive service-connected disability benefits if you have a qualifying disability associated with certain conditions of service, such as: