100% Disabled Veteran Benefits
Topics:
100% Benefits for Active Diseases
100% Benefits from the VA
100% Benefits from the DoD
Receiving 100% Benefits from the DoD and the VA
100% Disabled Veteran Benefits are given to veterans with medical conditions that severely impact their ability to function in daily life. They are only given in cases where the veteran is unable to satisfactorily work or perform the Activities of Daily Living.
A 100% rating is the highest Military Disability Rating possible and thus provides the highest Military Disability Benefits to Disabled Veterans.
100% Disabled Veteran Benefits entitles the veteran to the maximum amount of compensation given for all VA Disability and DoD Disability, unless they qualify for Special Monthly Compensation.
Common instances where 100% Disabled Veteran Benefits are given are cases where there is amputation or paralysis of two or more limbs, active cancer or diseases, or other life-threatening conditions.
The DoD and the VA will only give disability benefits for service-connected conditions. The DoD takes this a step further and only gives these benefits for service-connected conditions that also make a service member Unfit for Duty.
Find Your Conditions on this site to see if you qualify for 100% Disabled Veteran Benefits.
Return to Top
100% Disabled Veteran Benefits for Active Diseases
100% Disabled Veteran Benefits are always given if a veteran has an active disease like cancer or tuberculosis.
Since the DoD only rates a veteran’s condition based on its severity at the time of discharge, the DoD will only give 100% Disabled Veteran Benefits for active diseases when the disease is unlikely to improve. If the disease has the potential to improve, the DoD will instead place the service member on the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL). While the veteran is on TDRL, a 100% rating will be given until the disease is no longer active. Once it stabilizes, the DoD will re-evaluate and re-rate the condition when the veteran is officially discharged.
Since the VA will rate a veteran’s condition as it changes over time, the VA will give 100% Disabled Veteran Benefits when a veteran’s disease is active, and stop giving them whenever it is inactive. If it becomes active again at any time in the future, the veteran can apply to have the 100% rating reinstated. Similarly, the VA will give a veteran these benefits anytime he is hospitalized for a service-connected condition.
Return to Top
100% Disabled Veteran Benefits from the VA
All veterans who qualify to receive 100% Disabled Veteran Benefits from the VA will receive full medical care for all of their medical conditions and a monthly monetary payment.
This payment is the same amount for every veteran who qualifies to receive 100% Disabled Veteran Benefits and can fluctuate if they have children or other dependents. Our VA Disability Chart notes the current amounts given for 100% ratings every month.
>> Click HERE to read the “Top 100 Disabled Veteran Benefits Explained!”
In addition to this standard compensation, many veterans who qualify for 100% Disabled Veteran Benefits are also eligible to receive Special Monthly Compensation from the VA.
Return to Top
100% Disabled Veteran Benefits from the DoD
For 100% Disabled Veteran Benefits, the DoD gives the veteran full medical care and a monthly payment for the rest of their life.
Since the veteran has a 100% rating, the amount of this payment is equal to the full amount allowed by regular retirements. To determine the exact payment amount, follow the formula detailed in DoD Disability for Medical Retirements.
Return to Top
Receiving 100% Disabled Veteran Benefits from the DoD and the VA
Veterans cannot receive monetary benefits from both the DoD and the VA. This means that the amount of VA Disability a veteran receives will decrease the amount of DoD Disability they receive.
Let’s simplify. Basically, if the DoD is giving $700/month and the VA begins giving $400/month, then the DoD will decrease its amount to $300/month (700 – 400 = 300).
This may seem cruel and unusual, but the good thing about this is that money from the VA is not taxable, while money from the DoD is taxable. Taxable money is being replaced by un-taxable money. It is definitely better to receive un-taxable money if only a single total amount is allowed, so this is a beneficial system.
The only way to get around this rule is if you qualify for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) or Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC).
This practice does not apply to medical care. All veterans who qualify for 100% Disabled Veteran Benefits will still be able to receive full medical care from the DoD.
