What Is Veterans Disability Compensation?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awards compensation based on the severity of your service-connected impairment or disabilities. VA Regional Offices look at a combination of records from treatment for service, private medical records, and other relevant information.
Certain serious injuries, such as loss of a leg, blindness both eyes or being bedridden are able to receive higher compensation. These are known as Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).
Eligibility
VA disability compensation is a tax-free financial benefit given to eligible Veterans and their spouses or children. The amount of this benefit is determined by the medical condition of the veteran, and their degree of disability according to the schedule established by Congress.
An individual can be eligible for benefits when they have suffered an illness, injury or event that has aggravated or caused the medical condition that is service-connected. It is possible to receive disability compensation for conditions that predated your service, but you must show that there is a direct link between them and the accident, illness or other event.
The degree of the condition is rated by a percentage which is used to calculate the amount they could receive in monthly benefits. The rating is based on an internal review of service treatment records and VA records and private medical records that pertain to the condition.
The rating system will also consider whether or not a person is unable to perform “substantially gainful” employment. It is important to keep in contact with the VA regarding any examinations they request, and to attend the exam on time, since the absence of doing so could have a negative impact on your case.
Benefits
Typically, veterans who are service-connected to conditions that impact their daily functioning are eligible for compensation payments to compensate for their losses. These are tax-free monetary benefits.
The amount you receive will be based on your disability. You can receive compensation for only one or more disabilities. If you have multiple disabilities and you have multiple disabilities, your rates will be combined according to a formula which is based on each disability.
You could be eligible for additional benefits, including Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) or Special Monthly Compensation. DIC is given to children, spouses or parents of deceased veterans disability attorney who passed away on active duty or in training, or as a result of an injury that was caused by service. SMC is paid to disabled veterans, their spouses and children dependent on the need for assistance and attendance.
The SHA grant program offers financial assistance to disabled veterans who want to modify their homes in order to continue treatment and provide accessibility. Modifying their current residence, or buying a house that is specially designed to accommodate disabilities, are all possibilities. This is a federally supported program that does not require the approval of a VA or SSI/SSDI determination.
Rates
The VA may pay you between zero to 100% of your disability compensation depending on the severity and length of your illness or accident. This compensation is designed to compensate you for the time that your disability hinders you from working. It does not include benefits like dependent’s allowance, that are available separately.
To determine your disability rating to determine your disability rating, the VA examines your current diagnosis and evidence of a connection between your illness in the workplace or injury and your current health condition. They employ a scale to evaluate disabilities. Each one is assigned a percentage of how well you would be if not for the handicapping condition. If your medical condition was classified as a 10% disability, the total score will be 10 percent of 100%.
Compensation rates are reviewed annually. The VA increases its payouts each year to reflect the increase in Social Security cost of living adjustments. These annual adjustments are correlated to the amount of compensation veterans receive for a specific service-connected disability. These adjustments are tax-free. The 2023 Disability Rate Chart displays the monthly payments based on your disability and the size of your household. It also contains the breakdown of dependents.
Requirements
If you’ve suffered injuries or became sick during active duty, you may be eligible for disability benefits. This can include conditions such as tinnitus which develops following exposure to gunfire, or a loss of limb as a result of an IED explosion. If a veteran dies due to military-related causes, their spouses and children could be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
To qualify for these benefits, you must satisfy the medical nexus requirement. If you’ve been affected by a twisted ankle since boot camp, say you may be eligible as being disabled.
You must be a veteran who has a valid discharge. It cannot be unhonorable. A discharge that included willful misconduct will bar you from getting benefits, however most other types of discharges will still allow you to receive veterans compensation. You must also suffer from a disability that affects your ability to keep a job that is substantial and lucrative.
Timeframe
The VA must determine whether a claimant’s medical condition meets the criteria of disability benefits that are connected to service before it can award compensation. The process takes time as the VA reviews and compiles evidence from various sources. This includes statements from relatives and friends regarding the impact disability has on the claimant’s ability to work and live as well as opinions from medical experts.
In the event of how severe a medical condition is, it could take VA months to prove that there is a link between the disability and military service. If the claim is more complicated it may take longer to schedule physical examinations, also known as the Compensation and Pension Exam (C&P).
It is crucial that claimants provide all requested evidence as soon as they can. This aids in speeding the process of deciding. If the VA decides that a claimant is eligible for disability benefits then they will receive an Assessment Decision that lists their service-connected disability, a rating and an effective date. Veterans may not receive monthly disability checks for a period of months.