VA offers benefits that can help Veterans buy, retain, or modify a home; earn a degree; start a career; stay healthy; and do much more in life after the military. Use our fact and resource sheet to discover the services and assistance outlets to get the most out of your service benefits.
Did you know?
- Veterans who have served in combat zones -- and their family members- may access counseling free of charge at Vet Centers.
- Veterans with a disability rating of 30% or more who are caring for children may receive higher VA compensation payments.
- More than 8.3 million Veterans choose VA health care and many more may be eligible.
- VA offers women Veterans primary care, cancer screenings, maternity care coverage and many other services.
Eligibility for VA disability benefits
You may be eligible for VA disability benefits or compensation if you meet both of the requirements listed here.
Both of these must be true:
- You have a current illness or injury (known as a condition) that affects your mind or body, and
- You served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training
And at least one of these must be true:
- You got sick or injured while serving in the military—and can link this condition to your illness or injury (called an inservice disability claim), or
- You had an illness or injury before you joined the military—and serving made it worse (called a preservice disability claim), or
- You have a disability related to your active-duty service that didn’t appear until after you ended your service (called a postservice disability claim)
Presumed Disabilities
- A chronic (long-lasting) illness that appears within one year after discharge, or
- An illness caused by contact with contaminants (toxic chemicals) or other hazardous materials, or
- An illness caused by your time spent as a prisoner of war (POW)
Who’s covered?
- Veterans
- Qualified dependents
How to apply
File for disability compensation with VA Form 21-526EZ.
Visit: https://www.va.gov/disability/file-disability-claim-form-21-526ez/introduction to get started.
*Note: Once you click to start the disability application, you’ll declare your intent to file. This will reserve a potential effective date for when you could start getting benefits. You have 1 year from the day you submit your intent to file to complete your application.
Helpful programs and services (click text to open a new tab)
-VA Fully Developed Claims program
-Current VA Disability Compensation Rates
-File Your Claim Online
-Disability Housing Grants for Veterans
-VA Home Loan Types
-VA Health Benefits
-Health Care for Souses, Dependents, and Family Caregivers
-Find a VA Location
-VA Adaptive Sports & Therapeutic Arts
The content provided in this article is from the VA.Gov website