Understanding veteran benefits and how to get what you deserve for the service of your country
So many deserving military veterans are missing out on their veteran benefits because they don’t know about the abundance of veteran benefits that are available to them.
This article covers everything that most veterans need to understand their veteran benefits entitlement , how to apply for them, and what to do if your VA disability claim for benefits is denied.
What are veteran benefits?
Veteran benefits are a unique type of government assistance that members who have served in the military can receive. These benefits are given to members of the armed forces who have served in the military for a specified period of time.
In general the benefits are in the form of medical care and attention, educational assistance, financial assistance through a government loan (G.I. Bill) and a host of other things that provide value and support to a veteran and his or her family members.
These benefits are usually free however, they do require meeting certain eligibility requirements which are covered later in this article.
Just because a person has served in the military does not automatically make him or her eligible for veteran benefits.
Who qualifies for veteran benefits?
According to Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, a veteran is someone who has actively served in the armed forces (navy, army, marines, air force, or coast guard forces for a specified period of time and was not dishonorable discharged from the service. However, there are other factors that need to be taken into account.
Qualifying for veteran benefits depends on the type of service, the length of service and conditions under which the service was performed. In general the qualifications for veterans benefits are:
- Must have served on active duty for at least 180 days during peacetime, unless there was a serious injury or illness connected with the military service, in which case the qualification period for benefits could be as short as a few days.
- Must have served for at least 90 days if the time of service is during wartime.
- Must have served 24 months if discharged honorably.
What Are The types of benefits for veterans?
There are several types or categories of benefits for veterans. Some of these benefits are time sensitive and should be explored and applied for as soon as the need arises.
However, the most common types of benefits for veterans are:
How To Get Veteran Benefits?
The application process
There are several ways to apply for veteran benefits. One of the most common ways is to fill out an application for benefits on the Department of Veteran Affairs VA website.
A veteran using this method can fill out an application and submit it to the VA online. The VA will review the application and determine if the veteran is eligible for benefits. If the veteran is eligible for benefits, the VA will notify the veteran.
If the veteran is not eligible for benefits, the VA will notify the veteran that he or she is not eligible for benefits. The application process can take several weeks or months to complete.
Once the VA determines that the veteran is eligible for benefits, the VA will send the veteran and his or her representative a letter that explains the benefits that the veteran will receive.
If the veteran is not eligible for benefits, the VA will notify the veteran that he or she is not eligible for benefits. Once the veteran receives the letter, he or she can appeal the VA decision. The veteran can appeal the VA decision by filling out an appeal form and submitting it to the VA.
There are alternative, and perhaps better ways to make application for veteran benefits rather than trying to do it yourself. Unless, a veteran has experience with the government claims process and lots of patience, it is best to have a third party with experience handle the claim for you.
This can be done through a third party representative that is recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These representatives are called accredited representatives or veterans service organizations (VSOs).
How To Get Help From A Veterans Service Organization (VSO)
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) accredits three types of representatives—Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives, attorneys, and agents—to help ensure that claimants have access to responsible and qualified representation on their VA benefits claims.
Our law firm can assist with your veteran benefits claims.
VA-accredited representatives must have good moral character and be capable of providing competent representation, and the VA’s Office of General Counsel is responsible for making those determinations through its accreditation process.
The accreditation process differs depending of which type of accreditation is being sought. An accredited VSO representative is someone who has been recommended for accreditation by a VSO that is recognized by VA to assist on VA benefit claims.
The VSO has certified to VA that the representative possesses good character and is fit to represent Veterans and their families as an employee or member of their organization.
An attorney is someone who is a member in good standing of at least one State bar. When an attorney applies for VA accreditation, the VA typically presumes that the attorney possesses the good character and fitness necessary to represent Veterans and their family members based on the attorney’s state license to practice law.
An accredited claims agent is someone who is not an attorney but who has undergone a character review by the VAs Office of General Counsel (OGC) and has passed a written examination about VA law and procedures.
Either of these three (3) veteran assistant sources can assist you with your VA claim. The good thing about these sources is that they don’t charge you up front fees. They handle all of the paperwork, the follow up and even the appeal if your claim is denied.
The veteran’s responsibility is to cooperate and gather all the necessary documents the representative will need to review, prepare, and submit a claim.
In the case of a VSO there may not be a fee at all even if a veteran’s claim is approved and a large sum of money is paid to the veteran. Lawyers and accredited agents usually charge a percentage of the claim amount that is awarded to the veteran.
The VA presumes a twenty (20%) fee of the amount awarded to a veteran to be reasonable and fair.
Presumptive qualification for veteran benefits
There are numerous conditions suffered by veterans that are considered to be presumptive disability conditions for purposes of qualifying for veteran benefits.
The VA presumes that specific disabilities diagnosed in certain veterans were caused by their military service. VA does this because of the unique circumstances of the veteran’s military service.
If one of these conditions is diagnosed in a veteran in one of these groups, the VA presumes that the circumstances of his/her service caused the condition and disability compensation can be awarded.
The following diseases and conditions are considered to be part of this program:
- AL amyloidosis.
- B-cell leukemia.
- Bladder cancer.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
- Multiple myeloma.
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Hodgkin's disease.
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Veteran Benefits by State
The federal Veterans Administration has it’s own system for providing benefits to veterans which is separate from the various states that also have specific benefit programs for veterans who are citizens of that state.
This gives veterans who live in a state with a VA benefit program the ability to get the benefits that they are entitled to within their state as well. Some the state benefits may be more generous than the federal benefits and some may be less generous.
A complete list of state benefits can be found at the following website: https://nvf.org/state-benefits-for-veterans/. The list is broken down by state and includes information on what type of benefits are available, what the eligibility requirements are, and the amount of benefits that are available.
What To Do If Your Veteran Disability Claim is Denied
An initial claim denial is common, and you have a right to appeal the decision. Your appeal, if it's a strong one, can reverse the initial decision if you file your Notice of Disagreement (NOD), Higher-Level Review (HLR), or a Supplemental Claim to “appeal” the decision before the deadline.
The legacy VA appeals process has changed to the decision review process. If you disagree with a VA decision dated on or after February 19, 2019, you can choose from 3 decision review options (Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, or Board Appeal) to continue your case. If you aren’t satisfied with the results of the first option you choose, you can try another eligible option.
Dependents Eligibility for VA Benefits
Spouse and children eligibility for VA benefits
VA benefits for spouses, dependents, survivors, and family caregivers are available to qualifying individuals. As the spouse or dependent child of a veteran or service member, you may qualify for certain benefits, like health care, life insurance, or money to help pay for school or training.
If you're the surviving spouse or child of a veteran you may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax free monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of military servicemembers who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.
DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits may be applied for using VA form 21P-534EZ . If you're a surviving parent, fill out an Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent(s) (VA Form 21P-535)
For more detailed information on veteran benefits for family members check out the Veteran Administrations family benefit tool kit.
Widow’s qualification for Veteran benefits
A surviving widow or widower of a veteran may be eligible for veteran benefits if he or she has not remarried after the veteran's death, and if the deceased veteran didn't receive a dishonorable discharge and their service meets at least one of three (3) requirements.
- The veteran entered active duty on or before September 7, 1980, and served at least 90 days of active military service, with at least 1 day during a covered wartime period, or
- The veteran entered active duty after September 7, 1980, and served at least 24 months or the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty (with some exceptions), with at least 1 day during a covered wartime period or
- The veteran was an officer and started on active duty after October 16, 1981, and hadn’t previously served on active duty for at least 24 months.
Disability Pay Chart
Below is a sample veteran benefits disability pay chart for 2022. Click here for a more comprehensive explanation and chart.
The amount of disability compensation paid to a qualifying veteran depends on the percentage of disability awarded to the veteran by the VA. For disability purposes a rating can be from zero to 100 percent. The higher the rating, the greater the payment.
A zero percent rating is the lowest rating available which means the veteran is not eligible for any disability compensation. At least a 10 percent rating is required for a veteran to receive any disability compensation.
A 100 percent rating is the highest rating available. This means the veteran is entitled to the full amount of compensation that is payable to him by the VA.
A rating of 100 percent means the veteran is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity. However, it does not mean the veteran is totally disabled and unable to perform any type of work.
VA Disability Calculator
Veteran disability compensation can be calculated using the VA disability calculator. The VA disability calculator is a free online tool that can be used to calculate the percentage of disability and the amount of monthly compensation for a veteran with a given disability rating.
Veteran Organizations That Help Obtain Veteran Benefits
There are hundreds of organizations that help veterans obtain benefits from the VA. The following are some of the more well-known organizations that help veterans obtain benefits.
The list is not exhaustive, but it gives you a good idea of the organizations that are available. These organizations are some of the best to help veterans obtain benefits. Within these websites are links to other organizations that can help veterans obtain benefits.
- The military wallet is a non-profit organization that provides information about military benefits. This website is also a source of information about other organizations that help veterans obtain benefits.
- Liveline for Vets is a free telephone service that helps veterans obtain benefits and information about other organizations that help veterans too.
- Veteran.com is a website that provides comprehensive on a broad basis.
Veterans Discharge Upgrade
Thousands of veterans discharged with less than an honorable discharges are eligible to upgrade their discharges to an honorable discharge. The process of upgrading a discharge is the process of increasing the value of the discharge.
This is done by submitting an application to the VA and requesting a review of the discharge. The review is conducted by the VAR (Veterans Affairs Review Board) and if the discharge is upgraded, the VA notifies the veteran.
Many veterans are unaware that they are eligible to upgrade their discharges. This is one of the reasons it is important for veterans to be aware of the process for upgrading their discharges.
The process for upgrading a discharge is simple and can be completed in one of two ways. The first option is to submit an application to the VA. The second option is to request a review of the discharge through the Veterans Affairs Review Board.
The review is conducted by a veteran appointed by the VA. Once the review is completed, the VA notifies the veteran if the discharge has been upgraded.
If the discharge has been upgraded, the veteran is notified and has the opportunity to submit an application to the VA to have the discharge upgraded to an honorable discharge. The process for upgrading a discharge is simple and can be completed in one
Veteran Business Benefits
Veteran benefits are also available to veterans who have a business or want to start a business. There are many benefits available to veterans who have a business. Some of the benefits include: low-interest loans, business tax breaks, and more.
Veteran and disabled veteran business owners can also contract with the VA to perform contracts for the veteran’s administration. The VA has an annual goal to set aside 3% of its goods and services purchases each year solely for veterans. This amounts to billions of dollars.
Service connected disable veterans are given some preference in obtaining certain jobs and contracts with the VA.
There is a veteran certification process that veterans (those with and without service connected disabilities) have to obtain in order to do business directly with the VA.
Below is a list of resources veteran business owners can refer to to help them with veteran benefits for their business. The list is not a comprehensive list and is not meant to be an exhaustive list.
It is meant as a general resource to help veteran business owners find information that will help them obtain veteran benefits for their business.
https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/veteran-assistance-programs
https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/veteran-owned-business-support/
https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/Veterans-Tax-Benefits.aspx
http://newsroom.afba.com/military-life/what-benefits-are-available-to-veteran-owned-businesses/
https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/Veteran-Business-Ownership.aspx
https://www.va.gov/osdbu/verification/
https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/veterans
https://business.defense.gov/Socioeconomic-Programs/SDVOSB/
Veterans news sources
It is important for veterans to have the information they need to get the care they need and deserve. There are a number of news resources available for veterans that help them stay up to date on the latest news and events that affect them.
Below is a list of some of the best news sources for veterans. Please feel free to contact us if you need more information
- Major military publications.
- www.militarytimes.com
- www.airforcetimes.com.
- www.armytimes.com.
- www.marinecorpstimes.com.
- www.stripes.com.
- www.usveteransmagazine.com/
- Stars and Stripes
- VA News
- Minority Veterans - VA News
- Minority and Underrepresented Veterans
- Veterans and Entrepreneurship | USDA
- Veteran News Network: Television for Veterans, by Veterans - VA News.
- Veteran-owned businesses
- The National Association for Black Veterans, Inc (NABVETS) | Military Consumer
- Black Veterans Project
- Black Veterans for Social Justice
- National Association for Black Veterans
- Minority Veterans of America
- National Association for Black Veterans Inc
- NAMVETS of America
- Women Veterans of America National
- Organizations & Websites for Women Veterans | WomenVetsUSA
- Women Veterans - VFW
Free Benefits for Veterans
Veterans are valued by their country and the world. So many have made sacrifices to serve their country, including the ultimate sacrifice of death.
To show the nation’s appreciation for their services, many companies and organizations offer free benefits to veterans and their families. These benefits cover just about everything from healthcare and housing to education and child care, food, clothing, equipment, travel, business goods and services and much more.
The list of free benefits offered by various organizations is very long. The list below is only a partial list of free sources for veteran benefits. Visit the links to find out about some of the free benefits.
https://veteranlife.com/money/free-stuff-for-veterans/
https://mybaseguide.com/free-stuff-for-veterans/
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Conclusion
This article has covered the most important aspects of veteran benefits that are available to veterans and their families. It is important to realize that every veteran should be aware of the benefits they may be entitled to and to be diligent in making a claim for disability benefits and business benefits to which they may be entitled.
Military personnel that have been discharged with less than an honorable discharge are encouraged to file a request for a discharge upgrade. Often such requests are successful and the particular veteran can be upgraded to an honorable discharge and then qualify for veteran benefits.
Many states also have their own laws that govern the benefits that are available to veterans. Some of the state benefits are even more generous than the federal benefits.
It is important to check with the state benefits office where the veteran resides to see what benefits are available to the veteran and what documentation is required.
Lastly, it is very important to stay informed about the status and changes in veterans benefits. Regularly checking the resources provided in this article will ensure that you are aware of the benefits that are available to you.
Bookmark this article and come back to it whenever you need to learn more about benefits and free gifts to veterans.
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