VA Disability Benefits Video

VA disability compensation is paid to veterans who are determined to be disabled. To receive disability compensation from the VA, the veteran's disability must be service connected. This means the disability either developed or was aggravated during active military service. To learn more about VA disability compensation, review the following:

• VA disability compensation
• Types of VA Disability claims and when to file
• Veterans Service-Connected Disability Compensation
• Veterans' Service-Connected Disability Compensation

You will receive monthly compensation based on your disability ratings. A disability rating is based on the severity of your disability. You can find more information about disability ratings and compensation in the following:

• About VA disability ratings
• 2020 Veterans disability compensation rates
• How Does the VA Rate and Pay Veteran's Disabilities?
• How the VA Rates a Service-Connected Mental Disability
• Veterans' Service-Connected Disability Compensation

You need to provide evidence to corroborate the claim. The type of evidence you need depends on the type of claim. To learn more about claims and evidence, review the following:

• Evidence required for your disability claim
• Claims and Evidence
• How to Collect Evidence to Support Your Claim

This is when the VA presumes that certain disabilities were caused by military service. There is a presumption that the circumstance of the veteran's service caused the condition, and disability benefits are awarded. An example is a veteran who served in Vietnam and is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. To learn more about presumptive conditions, review the following:

• VA Presumptive Disability Benefits Fact Sheet
• What is a "Presumptive" Service Connection?
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials
• Disability Compensation for Presumptive conditions?

Request your military service records through the milConnect website. You can also request records by faxing a Standard Form SF180 to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). To learn more about requesting your records, review the following:

• VA records
• Military Records and Identification
   

A C-File is a VA claims file that contains all relevant information on a veteran. When you apply for disability benefits, the VA creates a claims file. All of the documents regarding your claim are in this file. It is important to know what is in your C-File, and you should review this information to ensure it is accurate. Typically, you can request a copy from your local VA regional office. Review this article on How to Understand the Basic Documents in Your VA Claims File (C-File) to learn more about C-Files.

Yes. The VA assigns a disability rating ranging from 0-100%. You can have different ratings for different disabilities, and you can add up the rating percentages, but the VA does not award compensation for a combined disability rating higher than 100%.

Special monthly compensation (SMC) is additional compensation paid to veterans with specific needs and disabilities. This is in addition to any disability compensation the veteran is receiving. An example of an SMC is Aid & Attendance. Review the following articles to learn more about SMC:

• VA Special Monthly Compensation Fact Sheet
• 2020 VA special monthly compensation rates
• Special Monthly Compensation

Yes. You c n receive a 0% disability rating, which will not result in any monthly compensation from the VA. This is referred to as a noncompensable rating. Some veterans have more than two 0% disability ratings for different conditions and are paid, at the minimum, 10%. This is referred to as a compensable 0% disability rating. A 0% disability rating might qualify you for other veteran benefits.  Learn more about the benefits you may be eligible for with a 0% disability rating in the following article:

• VA Benefits Eligibility Matrix

Pension is a needs-based benefit program for veterans with wartime service who are permanently and totally disabled or over the age of 65 and need financial support. To learn more the about VA p,ension review the following:

• VA pension benefits
• VA Pension Fact Sheet
• Veterans Non-Service Connected Disability Pension Benefits

The pension program provides monthly payments to wartime veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements and have income and net worth within certain limits. To determine if you are eligible, review the following:

• Eligibility for Veterans Pension
• Pension
• Veterans Non-Service Connected Disability Pension Benefits

If you qualify, your payment amount is based on the difference between your countable income and a limit that Congress sets called the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR). To learn more about VA pension rates, review the following:

• VA Pension rates for veterans
• 2020 Veterans Pension Rates

See the entire video series on our Texas Veterans Videos page. 

The Texas Veterans Legal Aid Coalition is comprised of thirteen legal aid organizations that provide a variety of legal services to veterans in Texas. For help, contact the organizations that serve your county. Find a legal aid organization serving your county in the Legal Help Directory.