Answers to Your Biggest VA Benefits Questions

Many American veterans are unaware of the fact that they might be eligible to receive benefits. Some veterans feel that they do not have any reason to receive benefits and others upon being discharged would rather leave that life behind. Plus, the laborious, seemingly endless application process can seem too daunting even to give it a try. But injured or disabled veterans have a right to benefits, and so should look into the process for obtaining them.

Q: How do you know if you could be receiving benefits? Who, exactly, is qualified to receive them?

A: Three main components make up a veteran's possible eligibility for service connected disability benefits. The first is that you must have done service with either the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force, or the US Coast Guard. Second, you must have a current disability, either caused by your time in the service or a disability that you had going into the service and it was aggravated or made worse by your time in the service. This could be anything from High Blood Pressure to certain types of cancers as well as many other disabilities depending on when and where you served. Third, you have to be able to connect your current disability to your time in the service.

An example is, if you were on leave from active duty and vacationing with your family and while skiing you fell and broke your leg or injured your knee. 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: Like this: if you do obtain benefits, you can receive monthly monetary benefits, as well as eligibility to use the VA hospital and medical facilities. The amount of your monthly benefit will depend on your percentage of service connection granted.

Q: If I am eligible for service connected benefits, and have 10% hearing loss and 30% PTSD, why are my disabilities considered only 30% connected to my military service?

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. They also use a rating chart to total your percentage of service connection, they do not use mathematical terms. 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. It is important to remember that the VA uses a rating schedule to determining the percentage and, therefore, the amount of benefits an individual receives.

Q: If I work at Veteran Affairs, can I still receive disability benefits for my time in service?

A: Yes, you can. 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. The VA does not reduce your VA service connected disability benefits just because you are working and receiving an earned income.

Q: Can I obtain benefits from both Social Security Disability and the Dept. of Veteran Affairs? A: Yes, you can. While Social Security Disability does gauge your earned income when determining your SSD benefits, your VA benefits are not considered earned income, and so will not get in the way of your SSD benefits.

Q: My husband/wife was in the service and receiving VA service connected disability benefits but they have passed. Can I receive their benefits?

A: There are benefits for surviving spouses and dependent children. Each situation is different so this is something that you should consult with a professional about.

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. Some attorneys will represent you on a Pro Bono basis, meaning they wont charge you, and others will have you sign a Contract with a fee stipulation. You should contact a local attorney's office for more information and specifics regarding your claim.

Q: I already get benefits for a service connected ability. Is there any other benefit I can receive?

A: This depends on your situation. If you have a service connected disability and it has gotten worse, you can request for an increase in your rating which would result in higher benefits if a higher rating is granted. 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 that your disability makes it impossible for you to work, and should therefore receive more benefits from the VA, you should either contact a VSO or a lawyer to answer your questions and help you through the process. 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. If you need assistance in caring for yourself but are having trouble paying for the care you should look into this option.

Because each claim is different, getting the benefits that you are entitled to can be a complex and confusing process. The VA's website has a lot of information on what kind of benefits there are beyond disability benefits and what you can do to receive these benefits. If you are a veteran and you were injured in any way or your disabilities that you had before going into the service were aggravated in any way please look into your options. After all, you served your country in the past, and may very well be entitled to receive benefits for it today.

References:

1. Social Security Benefits