There are many veterans in our country that have no idea that they could be receiving benefits. While some feel like leaving the past behind them, so to speak, others do not even realize that there may be reason for them to receive benefits. Plus, the laborious, seemingly endless application process can seem too daunting even to give it a try. If you are a veteran and you have a disability or injury this is something you should look into, you have earned these benefits.
Q: How does a veteran know if he or she should be getting benefits? Who is qualified to receive benefits?
A: There are three key factors in determining if you might be eligible to obtain VA service connected disability benefits. First, you had to have served in the Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Marines, or Air Force. Secondly, you must currently suffer from a disability which began during your years of service, or began before hand and was worsened by doing service. There is a wide range of these sorts of disabilities, to some types of cancer, to breathing problems, to other disabilities that originated from or were affected by your service. Third, you have to be able to connect your current disability to your time in the service.
A good illustration of this kind of injury is if you injured your knee while hiking with your some friends while on leave from active duty. Because of the injury you now need a knee replacement or surgery, even if its years later. Though it may not seem like it, this injury itself is service connected, as you were on active duty when the accident or illness occurred, even though you were on leave. And in addition to the surgery, the incident has caused other problems that you need taken care of.
Q: But how will receiving benefits from Veteran Affairs really help me?
A: If you are successful in being service connected for your disability you could receive a monthly benefit and you become eligible for medical care at your local VA facility. The amount of your monthly benefit will depend on your percentage of service connection granted.
Q: If I am currently service connected and I have hearing loss at 10% and PTSD at 30% why am I only considered 30% service connected?
A: The VA has a rating schedule that they use to determine what percentage is to be granted for each disability depending on the severity of the disability. Rather than using math to determine these percentages, they use a rating chart to give you a total final percentage, or rating. These service connection percentages can be tricky to understand and if you feel that you should be receiving more benefits or a higher percentage then you should look into your disability and the severity or contact a professional that could assist you.
Q: My cousin has obtained a 65% service connection for the exact same disability I have. Why?
A: This is due to the fact that the VA rates everyone separately depending on the severity of their disability. Again, there is a rating schedule that determines the amount of benefit and the percentage of service connection that each person receives.
Q: If I work at Veteran Affairs, can I still receive disability benefits for my time in service?
A: Yes. VA service connected disability benefits are not like Social Security Disability benefits in this respect. If you are granted service connection for a disability that is not keeping you from working then you can still work and receive benefits. Your disability benefits are not reduced or annulled if you are earning an income.
Q: Can I obtain benefits from both Social Security Disability and the Dept. of Veteran Affairs? A: Yes, you can. Social Security Disability does look at earned income but VA service connected disability benefits are not earned income so these benefits do not interfere with one another.
Q: My spouse, who was in the service and getting benefits from the VA for a service connected disability, has passed away. Am I eligible to get his or her VA benefits?
A: There are benefits for surviving spouses and dependent children. However, every case is different, and you need to be sure to speak to a professional before moving forward.
Q: How do I file a claim?
A: Veteran Affairs has laws to follow called "Veteran Friendly Laws." The VA has the duty to help you file a claim and walk you through the process of obtaining benefits. There are Regional Offices in every state and there are organizations set up to assist the veterans at no cost to you. You can find your local VA Regional Office as well as Veterans Service Organizations on the VA website at www.va.gov.
Q: Can I employ a lawyer to help me?
A: Veteran Affairs has some laws that help a lawyer to know when he or she can represent you for a fee, and when he or she cannot. You can find some lawyers who will represent you for free, or Pro Bono, and others who will require you to sign a contract promising payment for their services. You should contact a local attorneys office for more information and specifics regarding your claim.
Q: I am already receiving VA service connected disability benefits, can I receive anything else?
A: The answer to this question will depend on your situation. If, for instance, your service connected disability has grown in severity since you began receiving benefits, you can apply for an increase in your percentage or rating, which will also increase the amount of your monthly benefits. The VA also has benefits for those veterans that are unemployable due to their service connected disability. If this is your situation, there is a second application that you need to fill out in order to apply. If you feel you are unemployable and should be receiving higher benefits you should contact a VSO or an Attorney to answer your questions and possibly assist you in obtaining these benefits. Veteran Affairs also provides additional benefits to those veterans who, due to their service connected disability, are mostly homebound and cannot care for themselves. This is called homebound compensation. This is an option to consider if you feel you need assistance to care for yourself.
Every veterans case is different and obtaining the benefits set aside for you by the VA can be quite confusing to some people. The Dept. of Veteran Affairs website is full of information to help you understand what VA benefits might be available to you, and how to get them. If, as a veteran, you were injured in any way during service, or saw your previous disability or injury exacerbated by your service, it is very important to look into your benefits options. You served for our country and you may be entitled to veterans benefits.