This page was created by Texas Legal Services Center [1] and provides additional information and resources on the issues discussed in the VA Disability Benefits video produced by the Texas Veterans Legal Aid Coalition [2].
Watch this VA Disability Benefits video produced by the Texas Veterans Legal Aid Coalition [2]. It briefly summarizes VA disability benefits and under what conditions you might qualify for benefits.
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:
You will receive a 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:
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:
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 is awarded. An example of this is a veteran who served in Vietnam is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange [14]. To learn more about presumptive conditions review the following:
Request your military service [18] records through the milConnect [19] website. You can also request records by faxing a Standard Form SF180 [20] to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). To learn more about requesting your records review the following:
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 is 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) [23] 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 an additional compensation that is paid to veterans with certain needs and disabilities. This is in addition to any disability compensation the veteran is receiving. An example of a SMC is Aid & Attendance [24]. Review the following articles to learn more about SMC:
Yes. You can 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 who are paid, at the minimum, 10%. This is referred to as a compensable 0% disability rating. Additionally, a 0% disability rating might qualify you for other veteran benefits. Learn more about the benefits you may qualify for with a 0% disability rating in the following article:
Pension is a needs-based benefit program for veterans with war-time service who are permanently and totally disabled or over the age of 65 and are in need of financial support. To learn more about VA pension review the following:
The pension program provides monthly payments to wartime veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements, and who have income and net worth within certain limits. To determine if you are eligible review the following:
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:
Please visit the Texas Veterans Videos [37] page. Click here [37].
The Texas Veterans Legal Aid Coalition [2] is comprised of thirteen legal aid organizations who provide a variety of legal services to veterans in Texas. For help, contact the organizations who serve your county. Click here [2] for a complete list of the organizations and the counties they serve.
© TexasLawHelp.org - Source URL: https://texaslawhelp.org/article/va-disability-benefits-video
Links
[1] https://www.tlsc.org/
[2] https://texaslawhelp.org/texas-veterans-legal-aid-coalition
[3] https://www.va.gov/disability/
[4] https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/veterans-service-connected-disability-compensation.html
[5] https://texaslawhelp.org/article/veterans%E2%80%99-service-connected-disability-compensation
[6] https://www.va.gov/disability/about-disability-ratings/
[7] https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/
[8] https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-does-the-va-rate-pay-veterans-disabilities.html
[9] https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-the-va-rates-service-connected-mental-disability.html
[10] https://texaslawhelp.org/article/veterans%E2%80%99-service-connected-disability-compensation#toc-10
[11] https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/evidence-needed/
[12] https://www.benefits.va.gov/FDC/checklist.asp
[13] https://www.veteransdisabilityinfo.com/how-collect-evidence-support-your-claim.php
[14] https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/agent-orange/
[15] https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/presumption.pdf
[16] https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/
[17] https://www.military.com/benefits/veterans-health-care/disability-compensation-for-presumptive-conditions.html
[18] https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/
[19] https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/
[20] https://www.archives.gov/files/sf180-request-pertaining-to-military-records-exp-april2018-1.pdf
[21] https://www.va.gov/records/
[22] https://www.usa.gov/military-records
[23] https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-understand-the-basic-documents-your-va-claims-file-c-file.html
[24] https://texaslawhelp.org/article/veterans-benefits-video#toc-9
[25] https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/smc.pdf
[26] https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/special-monthly-compensation-rates/
[27] https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/special-monthly-compensation-smc-explained.html
[28] https://benefits.va.gov/benefits/derivative_sc.asp
[29] https://www.va.gov/pension/
[30] https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/limitedincome/livepension.pdf
[31] https://texaslawhelp.org/article/veterans-non-service-connected-disability-pension-benefits#toc-1
[32] https://www.va.gov/pension/eligibility/
[33] https://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/
[34] https://texaslawhelp.org/article/veterans-non-service-connected-disability-pension-benefits
[35] https://www.va.gov/pension/veterans-pension-rates/
[36] https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/veterans-pensions.html
[37] https://texaslawhelp.org/veterans-videos