VA Benefits for Combat Veterans
- Healthcare Eligibility and Services. Veterans who served after November 11, 1998 and were discharged on or after January...
- Service Connection for Combat Veterans. For combat veterans, the requirements are a little different. If a veteran...
- Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC). Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) is a special...
What is necessary to be considered a combat veteran?
– A combat veteran is Any GI who experiences any level of hostility for any duration resulting from offensive, defensive or friendly fire military action involving a real or perceived enemy in any foreign theater. Wartime medals also define various levels of individual combat involvement, sacrifice and/or valor.
What benefits are veterans legally entitled to?
You can apply to join the Veterans Concessionary Travel Scheme in London if you are:
- a veteran getting financial help under the War Pensions Scheme
- a veteran getting regular financial help under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
- a war widow or war widower getting financial help from the War Pensions or Armed Forces Compensation Schemes
What defines a combat veteran?
What is a Combat Veteran? – A combat veteran is Any GI who experiences any level of hostility for any duration resulting from offensive, defensive or friendly fire military action involving a real or perceived enemy in any foreign theater. Wartime medals also define various levels of individual combat involvement, sacrifice and/or valor.
What do Veterans need to know about benefits?
- The nature of your disability;
- How quickly we obtain medical evidence from your doctor or other medical sources; and
- Whether it is necessary to send you for a medical examination in order to obtain evidence to support your claim.
What benefits do combat veterans get?
Health Benefits Under The “Combat Veteran” Authority Cost-free care and medications provided for conditions potentially related to combat service. Enrollment in Priority Group 6 unless eligible for enrollment in a higher priority group. Full access to VA's Medical Benefits Package.
What is considered a combat veteran?
Generally, combat veterans are those that served in a combat zone during their military service. This can include service in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and certain areas of Iraq and Afghanistan, among other locations.
Whats the difference between a veteran and a combat veteran?
How Do Combat Veteran Benefits Differ For Non-Combat Veterans? The most significant difference for combat veteran benefits over non-combat veterans is a priority group. Veterans with combat service records rank higher in priority. This means they qualify for more medical coverage and enhanced eligibility enrollment.
Do veterans get combat pay?
Combat-Related Special Compensation provides tax-free payments to retired Veterans with combat-related disabilities. You must apply for CRSC through your uniformed service.
How can you tell if someone is a combat veteran?
The VA lists several different ways in which a Veteran can prove he or she was in combat:If you received a combat service medal.If you received hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, or tax benefits.If you received military service documentation that documents combat theater.
What percent of veterans are combat veterans?
There are more than 2.5 million post 9/11 military veterans that have served our nation, which is less than 1% of the population. 80 percent of those spent some time in an overseas combat zone.
Do you have to see combat to be a veteran?
Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” This definition explains that any individual that completed a service for any branch of armed forces ...
Does PTSD qualify for combat Related Special Compensation?
PTSD, major depressive disorder, and secondary service-connected disabilities are all among the disabilities for which you may receive a VA rating and therefore VA disability compensation—which makes you a candidate for CRSC if you're also receiving military retirement pay.
What medals qualify for combat veteran?
c. Medals. Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (does not include Global War on Terrorism Medal); Kosovo Campaign Medal; Southwest Asia Campaign Medal; and other DOD authorized combat related medals.
How much is combat related compensation?
The CRSC Full Monthly Amount of $2,523 determined in “Step a.” has been reduced by $150 under “Step b.” to $2,373, but is limited here in “Step c.” to no pay no more than the member's full amount that was offset from the member's retired pay due to receipt of VA disability compensation.
How do I know if my VA disability is combat related?
To be considered combat-related under simulated war, your disability must have happened while you were on active duty during training that simulated war. This includes such activities as weapons practice, hand-to-hand combat training, war games, and more. Your injury must directly result from these activities.
What is combat related pay?
Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) is a program that was created for disability and non-disability military retirees with combat-related disabilities. It is a tax free entitlement that you will be paid each month along with any retired pay you may already be receiving. Eligibility.
What is a combat veteran?
Generally, combat veterans are those that served in a combat zone during their military service. This can include service in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and certain areas of Iraq and Afghanistan, among other locations. Combat veterans are eligible for a number of VA benefits and VA applies a unique standard for combat veterans when applying ...
How long does a veteran have to be eligible for VA benefits?
Veterans who are eligible will have the enhanced eligibility for up to 5 years from the date of their discharge or release from service.
What is a vet center?
Vet Centers are free and offer counseling to combat veterans and their families after their discharge from service. Counseling options range from individual counseling, to group and family sessions that are all aimed at assisting combat veterans with the process of readjusting to civilian life. Any veteran who served in a combat theater is eligible ...
What happens if a veteran breaks his leg?
If a veteran broke his or her leg during a combat mission, the standard would apply. However, if a combat veteran broke his or her leg from slipping in the shower on base, the standard for combat veterans above would not apply. VA has this rule because they recognize that records are not always kept, or kept well, ...
What is the number to call for a combat call center?
To speak with someone at the Vet Center Combat Call Center, call 877-WAR-VETS (877-927-8387).
Does the VA accept combat veteran statements?
VA must (generally) accept that a combat veteran’s statements are true when it comes to showing that they were injured or experienced a traumatic event in combat as long as the incident was “consistent with the circumstances, conditions, or hardships of such service,” according to 38 U.S.C. 1154 (b).
Do veterans have to prove PTSD?
For combat veterans, the requirements are a little different. If a veteran served in a combat zone, VA will presume that they were exposed to incidents or events that would cause their PTSD. In this case, veterans do not have to point to a specific event in service and prove that the event happened. Instead, they can say that their service in ...
Why do veterans get favorable treatment?
Combat veterans receive favorable treatment when it comes to proving that their disability was the result of an in-service occurrence or aggravation of a pre-existing disease or injury (the second element for service connection). The reason for this favorable treatment is because military records may not have been well-documented in combat ...
How long does a veteran's military eligibility last?
This eligibility lasts for five years after discharge. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, this eligibility comes back to Public Law 110-181. This law was called the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008. Through this act, the U.S. government extended enhanced eligibility to service members who served in active duty ...
What does the VA need to prove when a veteran is in combat?
A veteran who is trying to prove that they were in combat, usually just needs to provide a statement that says the veteran suffered a disease, injury, or stressor event during combat. The VA must consider the veteran’s statement when determining whether the veteran engaged in combat. However, keep in mind that the VA is not required to accept ...
What are the requirements for a veteran to make a statement?
The next hurdle is that the veteran’s statements must satisfy three requirements: (1) the statements must be satisfactory or credible; (2) the statements must be consistent with the conditions, circumstances, and hardships of service;
When did the enhanced eligibility act end?
Through this act, the U.S. government extended enhanced eligibility to service members who served in active duty after November 11, 1998. This amendment extended enhanced eligibility to veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, as these combat zones were active following that cutoff date.
Can you get VA benefits for veterans who served in combat?
Also, even if records are made during a combat situation, the records may not be complete. Former military service members who served in a theater of combat operations may receive access to a number of VA benefits, including cost-free VA healthcare and special access to medical benefits. They may also be exempt from medical expenses like copays.
Does the VA give the benefit of the doubt?
Statements must be consistent with conditions of service – Here, the VA must give the veteran the benefit of the doubt if the evidence showing the statement is consistent with conditions of service is at least equal to any evidence that the statement is not consistent. So, as long as the unfavorable evidence does not outweigh ...
When did the Indian Wars qualify for VA benefits?
Indian Wars. Any services rendered against Indian nations or tribes during the period between January 1, 1817 and December 31, 1898 with the U.S. military forces qualifies a person for VA benefits.
Is wartime service required for VA benefits?
A wartime service is required for specific VA benefits. There are certain compensations that might be eligible even to the veteran’s next of kin or dependants upon his or her death from the VA.
Applying For VA Benefits: Where Do You Begin?
If you are a Veteran with a physical or psychological disability, you may be eligible to receive tax-free compensation from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA). However, the VA won’t recognize you as a disabled Veteran unless you apply for benefits.
What Does The VA Require Of A Veteran When Applying For Benefits?
When you file a claim to receive disability benefits from the VA, they will ask you to fulfill a few specific requirements to move forward with your application.
What Qualifies A Veteran To Receive Disability Benefits From The VA?
The VA recognizes any service-related disability, either physical or psychological, as potential grounds to give a Veteran monthly benefit. Some of the primary service-related disabilities that can qualify you to receive VA benefits are listed below.
Mental Health Issues
If you served in Vietnam during a specific time period, the VA presumes that you have been exposed to the toxic herbicide Agent Orange. Agent Orange Exposure is linked to several serious long-term health problems, including several cancers.
What If The VA Denies My Claim?
The VA does not always give a Veteran the disability rating that they deserve. In addition, the VA sometimes denies a claim that should be approved. These inaccurate rulings do not mean that the VA is malicious or seeking to short-change Veterans.
Eligibility to apply for Combat-Related Special Compensation
You may be eligible to apply for CRSC if you meet the requirements listed here.
How to apply for CRSC
Send your completed application, along with any supporting documents, to your uniformed service. Please don’t send original supporting documents since your uniformed service won’t return them. Send copies only. And we recommend that you make a copy of your completed application for your own records.
Questions you may have about CRSC
If you were eligible for CRSC payments in the past, you may be able to get back payments.
Healthcare Eligibility and Services
Service Connection For Combat Veterans
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Stressors
When a veteran files for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), VA asks that they show three things: 1. A current diagnosis of PTSD 2. A verified in-service stressor (an event in service that caused their PTSD) 3. A medical nexus linking the veteran’s PTSD to their cl… - Service Connection for Other Conditions
The idea explained above applies to conditions other than PTSD as well, as long as those conditions did occur in combat. If a veteran broke his or her leg during a combat mission, the standard would apply. However, if a combat veteran broke his or her leg from slipping in the sho…
Combat-Related Special Compensation
- Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) is a special type of VA compensation provided to military retirees whose retired pay has been reduced because they receive VA disability compensation. Basically, military retirees (those with 20 or more years of military service) who have a combat-related VA disability will not have their retirement pay re...