If you are seeking information about a specific benefit, you should look to the navigation column to the left of each page.
The benefits a veteran may receive are always based on eligibility. In broad terms, if you have an honorable discharge you are eligible to apply for almost every benefit offered. The focus of this web site is the disability compensation benefit and how that will qualify the veteran to enter other benefits like health care. We will cover dependents benefits such as DIC but there is very little about education, home loans, etc.
If you were injured or became ill on active duty or if there was an event that has caused illness or an injury later in life, you may be eligible to apply for disability compensation benefits.
The terms "Illness" and "Injury" are called conditions by VA. To be eligible for an award of disability compensation you must meet 3 basic elements. (1) A discharge that is other than dishonorable, (2) a record of an illness or injury that occurred in service or a condition that was aggravated by active duty service, and (3) a current diagnosis of the claimed condition(s) that you believe are disabling.
If you were injured or became ill on active duty or if there was an event that has caused illness or an injury later in life, you may be eligible to apply for disability compensation benefits.
The terms "Illness" and "Injury" are called conditions by VA. To be eligible for an award of disability compensation you must meet 3 basic elements. (1) A discharge that is other than dishonorable, (2) a record of an illness or injury that occurred in service or a condition that was aggravated by active duty service, and (3) a current diagnosis of the claimed condition(s) that you believe are disabling.
Merely having a condition doesn't mean it will be disabling. If you had a broken bone in service that was treated and healed and then later in life you decide to file for a disability compensation award, you first must prove that the old injury is disabling today. Many of the documents presented here are in a PDF format. You must have a PDF viewer on your computer to see them. I recommend the free Foxit viewer available here Download Foxit.
Others may be in MS Word. A free Word viewer is available for download here.
Some documents may be out of date. They were accurate at the time of publication. Please notify me if you believe a document is out of date or inaccurate by emailing <jim912@gmail.com>
Others may be in MS Word. A free Word viewer is available for download here.
Some documents may be out of date. They were accurate at the time of publication. Please notify me if you believe a document is out of date or inaccurate by emailing <jim912@gmail.com>
Benefits Timetable Information for Veterans Recently Separated from Active Military Service
Disability Compensation Benefits
11/05/2011 Update: Disability Benefits Questionnaires
11/05/2011 Department of Veterans Affairs - Compensation Service Bulletin October 2011
M21-1MR Website Updates
Public Law 111-275 Increases Automobile Allowance to $18,900
Fast Letter 11-23, Telemental Health Disability Examinations Sufficient for Rating Purposes
M21-1Manual Rewrite (MR) Changes Released Part VI M21-1MR, Part VI, Chapter 2, Section B
11/05/2011 Hearing Loss Calculator
Pharmacy and Medication benefits
Presumptive Condition Benefits
Dental Benefits
11/05/2011 Department of Veterans Affairs - Compensation Service Bulletin October 2011M21-1MR Website Updates
Public Law 111-275 Increases Automobile Allowance to $18,900
Fast Letter 11-23, Telemental Health Disability Examinations Sufficient for Rating Purposes
M21-1Manual Rewrite (MR) Changes Released Part VI M21-1MR, Part VI, Chapter 2, Section B
Divorce In Military Families – How It’s Different & What You Need To Know
TRICARE - Health Care for Service Members and Others
What Do I Need to Know about the Federal Electronic Benefits Rules?
A Servicemembers Guide to Student Loan Interest Rates
Interactive Form and Letter Generators
Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors
2011 Edition
38 USC 1110 - Basic entitlement
For disability resulting from personal injury suffered or disease contracted in line of duty, or for aggravation of a preexisting injury suffered or disease contracted in line of duty, in the active military, naval, or air service, during a period of war, the United States will pay to any veteran thus disabled and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from the period of service in which said injury or disease was incurred, or preexisting injury or disease was aggravated, compensation as provided in this subchapter, but no compensation shall be paid if the disability is a result of the veteran’s own willful misconduct or abuse of alcohol or drugs.
38 USC 1111 - Presumption of sound condition
For the purposes of section 1110 of this title, every veteran shall be taken to have been in sound condition when examined, accepted, and enrolled for service, except as to defects, infirmities, or disorders noted at the time of the examination, acceptance, and enrollment, or where clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrates that the injury or disease existed before acceptance and enrollment and was not aggravated by such service..
38 USC 1111 - Presumption of sound condition
For the purposes of section 1110 of this title, every veteran shall be taken to have been in sound condition when examined, accepted, and enrolled for service, except as to defects, infirmities, or disorders noted at the time of the examination, acceptance, and enrollment, or where clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrates that the injury or disease existed before acceptance and enrollment and was not aggravated by such service..
38 USC 110 - Preservation of disability ratings
A rating of total disability or permanent total disability which has been made for compensation, pension, or insurance purposes under laws administered by the Secretary, and which has been continuously in force for twenty or more years, shall not be reduced thereafter, except upon a showing that such rating was based on fraud. A disability which has been continuously rated at or above evaluation for twenty or more years for compensation purposes under laws administered by the Secretary shall not thereafter be rated at less than such evaluation, except upon a showing that such rating was based on fraud. The mentioned period shall be computed from the date determined by the Secretary as the date on which the status commenced for rating purposes.
38 USC 1115 - Additional compensation for dependents
Any veteran entitled to compensation at the rates provided in section 1114 of this title, and whose disability is rated not less than 30 percent, shall be entitled to additional compensation for dependents in the following monthly amounts:
(1) If and while rated totally disabled and—
(A) has a spouse but no child, $150;
(B) has a spouse and one or more children, $259 plus $75 for each child in excess of one;
(C) has no spouse but one or more children, $101 plus $75 for each child in excess of one;
(D) has a parent dependent upon such veteran for support, then, in addition to the above amounts, $120 for each parent so dependent;
(E) notwithstanding the other provisions of this paragraph, the monthly payable amount on account of a spouse who is
(i) a patient in a nursing home or
(ii) blind, or so nearly blind or significantly disabled as to need or require the regular aid and attendance of another person, shall be $286 for a totally disabled veteran and proportionate amounts for partially disabled veterans in accordance with paragraph (2) of this section; and
(F) notwithstanding the other provisions of this paragraph, the monthly amount payable on account of each child who has attained the age of eighteen years and who is pursuing a course of instruction at an approved educational institution shall be $240 for a totally disabled veteran and proportionate amounts for partially disabled veterans in accordance with paragraph (2) of this section.
(2) If and while rated partially disabled, but not less than 30 percent, in an amount having the same ratio to the amount specified in paragraph (1) of this section as the degree of disability bears to total disability. The amounts payable under this paragraph, if not a multiple of $1, shall be rounded down to the nearest dollar.
VA Publishes Final Regulation on Clothing Allowance Eligibility - Expands Criteria for Veterans with Multiple Qualifying Prosthetic and Orthopedic Devices or Skin Condition Medications
A rating of total disability or permanent total disability which has been made for compensation, pension, or insurance purposes under laws administered by the Secretary, and which has been continuously in force for twenty or more years, shall not be reduced thereafter, except upon a showing that such rating was based on fraud. A disability which has been continuously rated at or above evaluation for twenty or more years for compensation purposes under laws administered by the Secretary shall not thereafter be rated at less than such evaluation, except upon a showing that such rating was based on fraud. The mentioned period shall be computed from the date determined by the Secretary as the date on which the status commenced for rating purposes.
38 USC 1115 - Additional compensation for dependents
Any veteran entitled to compensation at the rates provided in section 1114 of this title, and whose disability is rated not less than 30 percent, shall be entitled to additional compensation for dependents in the following monthly amounts:
(1) If and while rated totally disabled and—
(A) has a spouse but no child, $150;
(B) has a spouse and one or more children, $259 plus $75 for each child in excess of one;
(C) has no spouse but one or more children, $101 plus $75 for each child in excess of one;
(D) has a parent dependent upon such veteran for support, then, in addition to the above amounts, $120 for each parent so dependent;
(E) notwithstanding the other provisions of this paragraph, the monthly payable amount on account of a spouse who is
(i) a patient in a nursing home or
(ii) blind, or so nearly blind or significantly disabled as to need or require the regular aid and attendance of another person, shall be $286 for a totally disabled veteran and proportionate amounts for partially disabled veterans in accordance with paragraph (2) of this section; and
(F) notwithstanding the other provisions of this paragraph, the monthly amount payable on account of each child who has attained the age of eighteen years and who is pursuing a course of instruction at an approved educational institution shall be $240 for a totally disabled veteran and proportionate amounts for partially disabled veterans in accordance with paragraph (2) of this section.
(2) If and while rated partially disabled, but not less than 30 percent, in an amount having the same ratio to the amount specified in paragraph (1) of this section as the degree of disability bears to total disability. The amounts payable under this paragraph, if not a multiple of $1, shall be rounded down to the nearest dollar.
VA Publishes Final Regulation on Clothing Allowance Eligibility - Expands Criteria for Veterans with Multiple Qualifying Prosthetic and Orthopedic Devices or Skin Condition Medications
