Veteran Benefits Questions & Answers

You may qualify if you have a current illness or injury and served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, and the condition was caused or made worse by your service. For some conditions established in law, called presumptive conditions, VA automatically assumes your service caused it, so you only need to meet the service requirements rather than separately proving the connection.

You can file online, by mail using VA Form 21-526EZ, in person at a VA regional office, by fax, or with help from an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative. Sending in supporting evidence, such as medical records or buddy statements, with your claim can help it move faster, and filing an intent to file first can help protect your effective date.

VA rates each service-connected condition as a percentage based on its severity, using your medical evidence, exam results, and service records. If you have more than one rated condition, VA combines them using a whole person formula rather than simple addition, so your combined rating is usually lower than the sum of the individual ratings, then rounds to the nearest 10%.

You have three main options: file a Supplemental Claim if you have new and relevant evidence, request a Higher-Level Review where a senior reviewer looks at your case again without new evidence, or appeal directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals for review by a Veterans Law Judge. An accredited representative can help you decide which option fits your situation.

Yes. You can file a claim for an increased rating at any time a service-connected condition worsens, as long as you provide updated medical evidence showing the change.

Individual Unemployability (TDIU) lets veterans who can't maintain steady, gainful employment because of a service-connected condition get compensation at the same rate as a 100% rating, even if their combined rating is lower. Generally you'll need one condition rated at 60% or more, or two or more conditions with at least one rated 40% or more that combine to 70% or more. Your disability rating itself doesn't change, only your monthly compensation amount.

Veterans Pension is available to wartime veterans who weren't dishonorably discharged, who are 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled, and whose income and net worth fall under limits set by Congress. You'll need at least one day of service during a VA-recognized wartime period.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monthly benefit for the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a service member who died in the line of duty, or of a veteran whose death was related to a service-connected condition. Which application form you use depends on your relationship to the veteran or service member.

The PACT Act expanded VA health care and disability benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. It added more than 20 new presumptive conditions and expanded the service eras and exposure locations that can qualify, covering Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 veterans.

For presumptive conditions, VA automatically assumes your military service caused the condition, so you don't have to separately prove the connection. You still need to show that you meet the service and exposure requirements tied to that presumption.

Most veterans who served on active duty and didn't receive a dishonorable discharge qualify, though those who enlisted after September 1980 generally need to meet a minimum length-of-service requirement. Combat veterans, those exposed to toxins, Purple Heart and Medal of Honor recipients, and former prisoners of war may qualify for enhanced priority status.

GI Bill programs, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill, can help cover tuition, housing costs, and training expenses for qualifying veterans. Some veterans can also transfer unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse or dependent child.

You'll generally need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), which is based on meeting minimum active-duty, National Guard, or Reserve service requirements, or a qualifying discharge exception. Certain surviving spouses may also qualify. You can request a COE online yourself, or your lender can request it for you.

An other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge can affect your eligibility for VA benefits, but it doesn't automatically rule you out. You can apply for a discharge upgrade through your service branch, or ask VA for a Character of Discharge review, either of which may open the door to benefits.