You can apply for this benefit in any of these ways:
- Mail the form to the Pension Management Center (PMC) for your state. Find your PMC
- Work with an accredited representative. Get help filing your claim
- Go to a VA regional office and get help from a VA employee. Find a VA regional office near you
How does someone know if they qualify for VA benefits?
- Were discharged for a disability that was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, or
- Were discharged for a hardship or “early out,” or
- Served prior to September 7, 1980
What benefits does the VA offer veterans?
You may be able to get help with some non-medical services, like:
- Beneficiary travel benefits (help paying for travel related to treatment)
- Caregiver support (help for the person who cares for you)
- Veterans transportation service (help getting to and from appointments)
What VA benefits Am I eligible for?
You may be eligible for VA disability benefits or compensation if you meet both of these requirements. Both of these must be true: You have a current illness or injury (known as a condition) that affects your mind or body, and You served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training And at least one of these must be true:
How do I Check my VA benefits?
You can also use this tool to check the status of a claim or appeal for other benefits like these:
- VA health care
- GI Bill or other education benefits
- Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
- A home loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- A Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) or Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant
- Life insurance
- A pre-need determination of eligibility to be buried in a VA national cemetery
How to apply for VA benefits?
How to apply for VA education benefits?
Where to apply for VA pension?
What to do before leaving the military?
See more
About this website
How do I start applying for VA benefits?
The best way to file for disability compensation is to apply online at www.va.gov/disability. Or, you can fax it to: (844) 531-7818 (inside the U.S.) (248) 524-4260 (outside the U.S.)
Do all Veterans get 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.
When should you apply for VA benefits?
If you have an illness or injury that you believe was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, you can file a claim for disability benefits 180 to 90 days before you leave the military. This may help speed up the claim decision process so you can get your benefits sooner.
What qualifies you for VA disability benefits?
Eligibility for VA disability benefitsYou got sick or injured while serving in the military—and can link this condition to your illness or injury (called an inservice disability claim), or.You had an illness or injury before you joined the military—and serving made it worse (called a preservice disability claim), or.More items...•
Do Veterans get free healthcare for life?
You can get free VA health care for any illness or injury that we determine is related to your military service (called “service connected”). We also provide certain other services for free.
Do VA benefits expire?
Your VA benefits will last for your whole life. Even if your disability is classified as less than total and not permanent, if you've been collecting benefits for 20 years or more, the amount of your benefit won't go down.
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.
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 it easy to get VA disability?
As you might expect, it is difficult to obtain a 100% VA disability rating with just one service-connected disability. Most veterans who receive a 100% rating have two or more disabling conditions. Often, these conditions have a secondary service connection.
How long does a VA claim take?
about 3 to 4 monthsEach claim is different, but it usually takes us about 3 to 4 months to process a claim from start to finish. The processing time for your claim depends on how complex your claim is and how many conditions you've claimed.
What are the most common VA disability claims?
List of the Top 10 Most Common VA Claims#1 Tinnitus.#2 Hearing Loss.#3 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.#4 Scars, General.#5 Limitation of Flexion, Knee.#6 Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain.#7 Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve.#8 Limitation of Range of Motion of the Ankle.More items...
AccessVA - VA Website Maintenance
Click your category to see available applications you can sign in with:
Download VA Benefit Letters | Veterans Affairs
To receive some benefits, Veterans need a letter proving their status. Access and download your VA Benefit Summary Letter (sometimes called a VA award letter) and other benefit letters and documents online.
VA Form 21-526EZ
If claiming additional benefits because you or your spouse require Aid and Attendance, submit a completed VA Form 21-2680, Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance;
2022 VA Disability Pay Rates & Charts | VA Disability Group
2022 VA disability pay rates, which are effective beginning December 1, 2021, have increased by 5.9% based on the latest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
How to apply for VA health benefits?
Why apply for VA health benefits? 1 There is no cost to apply. 2 Enroll once – comprehensive health care services will be available when and where you need them. 3 Remain enrolled, even if you don't use VA for your health care. 4 Enrollment in VA health care meets health care law requirements; you don't need any other coverage. 5 If you are not eligible to enroll at this time, VA will save your application and contact you if eligibility criteria change.
How to apply for VA 10-10EZ?
You will need Adobe Reader 9.2 or newer to open the 10-10EZ form. You can also apply by phone by calling our toll-free number at 877-222-VETS (8387) or in person at your local VA medical center.
Is it expensive to apply for VA health insurance?
There is no cost to apply. Enroll once – comprehensive health care services will be available when and where you need them. Remain enrolled, even if you don't use VA for your health care. Enrollment in VA health care meets health care law requirements; you don't need any other coverage.
How to apply for VA disability?
How do I prepare before starting my application? 1 Find out if you’re eligible for VA disability compensation 2 Gather any evidence (supporting documents) you’ll submit yourself when you file your VA disability claim. 3 Be sure your claim is filled out completely and you have all the supporting documents ready to send in along with your claim. This will help us process your claim quickly.#N#Learn about fully developed claims 4 Find out if you’ll need to turn in any additional forms with your claim
What are VA medical records?
VA medical records and hospital records that relate to your claimed illnesses or injuries or that show your rated disability has gotten worse. Private medical records and hospital reports that relate to your claimed illnesses or injuries or that show your disability has gotten worse.
How to submit intent to file?
You can submit your intent to file by phone or by written form. Note: If you file your claim online, you don't need to separately send an intent to file form. The online application already includes your intent to file.
How to contact VA claims office?
Call 888-442-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET, to request that we send the application to you. Fill it out and mail it to the VA regional claims processing office that’s in the same location as your school. See a list of regional claims processing offices.
What time do you call VA for GI Bill?
You can’t make changes to your application, but if you have questions about VA education benefits, please call 888-442-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. If we’ve asked you for documents, please upload them through the GI Bill website. Go to the GI Bill website.
You can still file a claim and apply for benefits during the coronavirus pandemic
Get the latest information about in-person services, claim exams, extensions, paperwork, decision reviews and appeals, and how best to contact us during this time. Go to our coronavirus FAQs
What evidence will I need to provide to support my claim?
You can help to support your VA disability claim by providing documents, such as:
Should I submit an intent to file form?
If you plan to file for disability compensation using a paper form, you may want to submit an intent to file form first. This can give you the time you need to gather your evidence while avoiding a later potential start date (also called an effective date).
What happens after I file my VA disability claim?
You don’t need to do anything while you’re waiting unless we send you a letter asking for more information. If we schedule exams for you, be sure not to miss them.
More information about filing disability claims
Learn about standard claims, supplemental claims, secondary claims, and more.
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.
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.
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.
Inside Veterans Benefits
We appreciate your patience as we continue to work with you during this time of crisis.
VA Outreach Events
Veterans benefits help Veterans and their families buy homes, earn degrees, start careers, stay healthy, and more. Join an event for conversation and information.
You can still file a claim and apply for benefits during the coronavirus pandemic
Get the latest information about in-person services, claim exams, extensions, paperwork, decision reviews and appeals, and how best to contact us during this time. Go to our coronavirus FAQs
Should I submit an intent to file form?
You may want to submit an intent to file form before you apply for pension benefits. This can give you the time you need to gather your evidence while avoiding a later potential start date (also called an effective date).
How long does it take VA to make a decision?
It depends. We process claims in the order we receive them, unless a claim requires priority processing.
How to apply for VA benefits?
You can apply for this benefit in any of these ways: 1 Mail the form to the Pension Management Center (PMC) for your state.#N#Find your PMC 2 Work with an accredited representative.#N#Get help filing your claim 3 Go to a VA regional office and get help from a VA employee.#N#Find a VA regional office near you
How to apply for VA education benefits?
The best way to apply for your education benefits is by going to www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. You can also apply for education benefits by doing any of the following options: By mail. Call 888-442-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET, to request that we send the application to you.
Where to apply for VA pension?
You can apply for pension benefits online at www.va.gov/pension. To submit a paper application Pension benefits, download and complete VA Form 21P-527EZ, "Application for Pension" and mail it to the Pension Management Center that serves your state.
What to do before leaving the military?
If you are a member of the armed forces serving on either active duty or full-time National Guard duty, you should apply through the VA Pre-discharge claim program before leaving service. Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits for service members and Veterans.
