Your VA Benefits Questions Answered

If you served in the military and you've got a medical condition that started in service, was made worse by service, or is connected to something that happened while you were in, there's a good chance you qualify. The VA looks for three things: a diagnosis, something that happened in service, and a link between the two.

Your discharge status also matters. Most veterans with an honorable or general discharge qualify. Other discharge types can still qualify in some cases, but they may require extra steps or a discharge upgrade.

There's no strict length-of-service requirement for disability benefits. Even short periods of service (bootcamp) can qualify as long as the condition is connected to your time in uniform.

If you're not sure how that applies to you, schedule a consultation with us and we'll walk you through it.

A service-connected disability is a medical condition that was caused by your military service or made worse because of it. If something happened while you were in, and you are still dealing with the effects today, the VA may count that as service-connected.

A good rule of thumb is to assume everything was caused by the military, and then work to prove why it was NOT caused by your service.

If you want help figuring out whether your condition qualifies, schedule a consultation with us and we can take a look together.

Yes. It doesn't matter how long it's been since you left. Some veterans file right away, and others wait years or even decades. There is always hope as long as your condition connects back to your service.

The best option is to file a Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claim before leaving the military or start the process as soon as you separate, but we know life happens. If you didn't file early, you can still qualify. The important thing is to start whenever you're ready.

The VA covers a wide range of conditions outlined in the 38 CFR. This includes things like PTSD, back and knee problems, hearing loss, IBS, migraines, sleep apnea, nerve issues, and many others.

If it started in service or got worse because of service, there's a good chance it can be rated. The list is long, so don't assume your condition isn't covered.

Presumptive conditions are health issues the VA automatically assumes are connected to your service based on where you served, when you served, or what you were exposed to. Essentially, over decades of research and VA case law compounds to the point where the government HAS to assume responsibility.

This means you don't have to prove the link yourself. If you meet the service requirements and you have the condition, the VA "presumes" it's related. This makes the process much easier for certain veterans.

A secondary condition is a health issue that develops because of another service-connected condition. For example, knee problems might lead to hip pain, or PTSD might lead to sleep issues.

Even though the second condition didn't start in service, the VA can still rate it if it was caused or worsened by something they already consider service-connected.

If, after years of having a bad elbow, you have to overcompensate by using your other arm for everything, that other arm could be a "secondary" to the actual arm that was injured in the service.

You can file online through the VA's website, by mail, or in person at a VA office. You'll need to list the conditions you're claiming and include any medical records you already have. After that, the VA reviews your claim and may schedule an exam.

It's a straightforward process, but the details can get confusing, so take your time and keep your paperwork handy.

We highly recommend utilizing a Veteran Service Officer/Organization (VSO) to assist you in filing a claim. They are a free filing service that can often be found all around your state. Organizations like the DAV, AMVETS, VFW, and more have representatives who can assist you in submitting claims and navigating the VA forms/website.

You'll want anything that helps show what you're dealing with and how it ties back to your service. This includes service treatment records, medical records, NEXUS letters, test results, buddy statements, Independent Medical Opinions (IMOs), and notes from your doctors.

You don't need every piece of paper in the world, but the clearer the story, the easier it is for the VA to understand your claim.

If you're not sure what evidence is necessary for your case, schedule a consultation with us and we'll walk you through it.

Most claims take a few months, but the timeline can vary. The VA has to review your records, schedule exams if needed, and make a decision. Some claims move fast, others take longer depending on how complex they are and how busy the VA is. Just know that waiting is normal in this process.

Typically, in our experience, we see that 2-5 months is perfectly normal. However, it should NOT take the VA any longer than 6 months to make a determination on a basic claim.

Appeals, on the other hand, take on average 3-5 years to adjudicate (which is why we HIGHLY recommend exhausting other avenues before going down that road as a last-ditch effort).

An Intent to File is a simple way to lock in your effective date while you gather your paperwork. It tells the VA you plan to submit a claim, and it gives you up to a year to file the full thing.

If you're approved, your back pay can go all the way back to the date you submitted the Intent to File. It's quick, easy, and smart to do before starting any claim.

TDIU is a benefit for veterans who can't maintain steady work because of their service-connected conditions. You don't need a 100 percent rating to qualify.

If your disabilities make it hard or impossible to hold a job, the VA may pay you at the 100 percent rate through TDIU. It's the VA's way of making sure you're supported when working just isn't possible anymore.

Yes. Most veterans can work while getting VA disability. Regular disability ratings don't stop you from having a job. The only time work becomes an issue is if you're receiving TDIU, which is based on not being able to maintain full-time employment. But for standard ratings, working is completely fine.

Remember, VA disability and Social Security disability are two entirely different beasts. Social Security is for DISABILITIES, whereas VA disability is compensation you receive for the military, not returning you to the CivDiv in the same condition they found you.

Your disability benefits are meant for you, but your family can still be part of the picture. The VA may increase your monthly payment if you have a spouse, children, or dependent parents.

In some cases, certain family members may qualify for their own separate benefits, like education or survivor benefits, but those depend on your rating and situation.

One of the biggest programs is DIC, which stands for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. This is a tax-free benefit paid to surviving spouses, children, or sometimes parents if a veteran passes away from a service-connected condition or had certain high ratings for a long time. It's the VA's way of making sure your family is taken care of if the worst happens.

Concurrent Receipt (CR) means you can receive both your military retirement pay and your VA disability pay at the same time. In the past, veterans had to give up part of their retirement to get VA benefits, but CR changes that for many retirees with higher disability ratings. It helps make sure you're not losing one benefit just to receive another.

CRDP lets eligible military retirees receive both their full military retirement pay and their VA disability pay without losing money to an offset. It kicks in automatically if you qualify, usually with a VA rating of 50 percent or higher. CRDP is taxable, but it helps restore the retirement pay that used to be reduced because of disability benefits.

CRSC is a special benefit for military retirees who have combat-related disabilities. It lets you receive both your full retirement pay and extra tax-free compensation for the injuries tied to combat, training for combat, hazardous duty, or certain other qualifying events. It's meant to make sure you aren't losing part of your retirement because your disability came from serving in dangerous situations.