If you served in the military and suffered a disability, you may be able to obtain veterans disability benefits. These benefits are available to those who were injured and disabled but were not dishonorably discharged from the military.
The amount of money you can receive for VA disability compensation depends on:
- If you lost a limb or have a catastrophic injury
- If you have children, dependent parents or a spouse
- If you cannot work because of your disability
- If you have spouse who is also seriously disabled
Qualifying for disability benefits can take time, but it is worth the effort. If you qualify, you could obtain anywhere from $133 to $3,400 each month (tax free).
How can you seek veterans disability benefits?
If you want to seek VA benefits, VA.GOV has an application that is available now. This application needs to come along with medical evidence of your disability. This includes evidence from civilian and military sources.
It’s a smart idea to work with an attorney on this initial application, because you will want to include every piece of information you can to make sure that your application is accepted. You can never provide the VA with too much information about your injury. Whether you include pictures, scans, X-rays, test results, letters from your medical providers or other evidence, the VA will always want to see more.
Can you seek VA benefits before you are discharged from the service?
Sometimes, yes. There is a Pre-Discharge Program that helps people who have become disabled in the military but who aren’t yet discharged. The paperwork for this program allows you to claim for compensation up to 180 days before your discharge or retirement from active duty. Normally, people who complete the Pre-Discharge program see a decision on the claim within a day of their separation. It’s at that point that you may receive a denial or approval letter.
If you are denied the benefits you need, your attorney can help you appeal that decision, so you can get the appropriate benefits as soon as possible and be financially stable as you work through living with this new disability.