VA Disability Benefits FAQ

VA Disability Compensation is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to veterans who are disabled due to an injury or illness that occurred or was aggravated during active military service. The compensation is intended to provide financial support for veterans whose service-related disabilities impact their ability to work or perform daily activities.

A service-connected disability is any injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated by active military service. This can include physical injuries, mental health conditions (such as PTSD), and diseases that developed due to exposure to hazardous materials or combat.

The VA uses the Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) to determine a veteran’s disability rating. This rating is based on the severity of the condition and how much it impacts your ability to function in everyday life and work. Ratings are assigned in increments of 10%, ranging from 0% to 100%.

Presumptive conditions are illnesses that the VA assumes are related to a veteran’s service, even if there is no direct evidence connecting the condition to military service. These include conditions related to:

• Agent Orange exposure (e.g., certain cancers and heart conditions).
• Gulf War Syndrome (e.g., fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome).
• Burn pit exposure (e.g., respiratory issues, certain cancers).
• Radiation exposure (e.g., certain cancers).

To file a VA disability claim, you will need to gather your medical records, complete VA Form 21-526EZ, and submit the form along with evidence of your condition and service connection. You can file your claim:

• Online via the VA’s eBenefits portal.
• By mail.
• In person at a VA regional office.

A C&P exam is a medical evaluation conducted by a VA healthcare provider to assess the severity of your disability and determine how much it impacts your ability to work and perform daily activities. The results of the exam help the VA assign an appropriate disability rating.

A secondary service-connected condition is a disability that arises as a result of an already service-connected condition. For example, if you have a service-connected knee injury that causes you to develop back problems, the back condition may qualify as a secondary service-connected disability.

If you have multiple disabilities, the VA uses a combined rating system, which isn’t a simple addition of the percentages. The VA uses the whole person theory to calculate the combined rating, ensuring that a veteran cannot receive more than 100% in total disability benefits.

TDIU allows veterans who cannot maintain gainful employment due to their service-connected disabilities to receive compensation at the 100% disability rate, even if their combined disability rating is less than 100%. Veterans must have one disability rated at least 60%, or multiple disabilities combining to 70% with at least one rated at 40%.

The VA evaluates mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety based on the frequency and severity of symptoms and how they impair social and occupational functioning. Mental health conditions are rated from 0% to 100% in increments of 10%, with higher ratings indicating more severe limitations in daily life.

If your claim is denied or you receive a lower rating than expected, you can:

• File for a Higher-Level Review, where a senior VA reviewer will examine your claim.
• Submit a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence.
• Appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals for a formal hearing.

SMC provides additional compensation to veterans who have specific, severe disabilities, such as the loss of use of limbs, loss of sight, or those who need aid and attendance to perform daily tasks. This benefit is paid in addition to regular disability compensation.

The VA 5-year rule protects veterans whose disability rating has remained unchanged for five years. After this period, the VA can only reduce the rating if there is evidence of sustained improvement in the veteran’s condition.

The 10-year rule protects veterans from having their service connection severed after 10 years, except in cases of fraud. After this period, the VA cannot eliminate a veteran’s disability rating, even if the condition improves.

The 20-year rule states that after 20 years, the VA cannot reduce a disability rating below its original level, unless fraud is involved. After this period, veterans receive permanent and total disability status, ensuring lifelong benefits.

Veterans receiving VA Disability Compensation can generally work without affecting their benefits, unless they are receiving TDIU, which requires that veterans be unable to maintain gainful employment. TDIU beneficiaries must report any significant changes in their work status.

Veterans with a disability rating of 30% or higher may receive additional compensation for their dependents, including spouses, children, and dependent parents. The amount increases with each dependent and higher disability ratings.

Veterans who were exposed to burn pits during their service and later develop respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, or cancers may be eligible for disability compensation. The PACT Act expands eligibility by including certain respiratory illnesses as presumptive conditions related to burn pit exposure.

Veterans can receive both VA Disability Compensation and SSDI without one benefit affecting the other. VA benefits are not income-based and do not reduce Social Security benefits. However, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) eligibility is based on whether the veteran meets SSDI's disability criteria.

The Fully Developed Claim (FDC) Program allows veterans to expedite their claims process by submitting all required evidence up front, including medical records and service history. By ensuring all documentation is complete at the time of submission, the VA can process the claim more quickly.

A permanent and total disability rating is awarded when the VA determines that a veteran’s condition is not expected to improve and will prevent them from working for the rest of their life. Veterans with P&T status are exempt from future medical exams or rating reductions.

Veterans can reopen a claim by filing a Supplemental Claim if they have new and relevant evidence that was not part of the original decision. The new evidence must directly relate to the condition in question and support the veteran’s claim for an increased rating or service connection.