Disabled Veterans
Topics:
VA Benefits for Disabled Veterans
DoD Benefits for Disabled Veterans
Receiving Both DoD and VA Benefits for Disabled Veterans
Increasing Disability Benefits for Disabled Veterans
Disabled Veterans are US Military Veterans who have at least one service-connected medical condition.
Disabled Veterans are entitled to both VA Disability and DoD Disability. The VA will give VA Disability Benefits for every service-connected condition they have, but to qualify for DoD Disability, the service-connected condition must also make them Unfit for Duty.
Both the VA and the DoD assign Military Disability Ratings to each condition that qualifies for disability. These ratings determine the exact type and amount of Military Disability Benefits the Disabled Veteran receives.
VA Benefits for Disabled Veterans
The VA provides Disabled Veterans two types of VA Disability Benefits for service-connected conditions: a monthly payment and full medical care.
The monetary amount of the monthly payment that is given to Disabled Veterans is the same across the board for everyone, but does change if the veteran has dependents, a spouse, etc. Our VA Disability Chart outlines all the current VA Disability Rates.
The VA also gives Special Monthly Compensation to seriously disabled veterans who qualify.
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DoD Benefits for Disabled Veterans
The exact type and amount of benefits Disabled Veterans receive for DoD Disability depends on whether the veterans were medically separated or medically retired.
If the veteran is given a Total Combined Rating of 0%, 10%, or 20% from the DoD, it constitutes being medically separated, and the veteran receives a single lump sum payment.
If the veteran is given a Total Combined Rating of 30% or higher, then they are medically retired and will receive monthly payments and medical care.
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Receiving Both DoD and VA Benefits
Disabled Veterans cannot receive monetary benefits from both the DoD and the VA. Instead, whatever money they receive from the VA will decrease the amount of the money they receive from the DoD (this includes both disability and retirement pay).
Here is how it works: If Barney was receiving $1,000/month from the DoD and then the VA started giving him $400/month, the DoD would decrease their payments to $600 (1,000 – 400 = 600).
While it may not seem quite fair, there is a definite benefit for Disabled Veterans: VA money is not taxable, while DoD money is. So, taxable money is being replaced by non-taxable money.
There are two programs, however, that counteract this principle. If Disabled Veterans qualify for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) or Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC), they can receive full compensation from both the DoD and the VA.
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Increasing Disability Benefits for Disabled Veterans
Disabled Veterans can increase their Military Disability Benefits if they can provide enough evidence to prove that their Military Disability Ratings should be increased.
This website is specifically designed to enable this process. Once they fully understand the DoD Disability Process and the VA Disability Process, Disabled Veterans can take control of their disability by Finding Their Conditions on our site to discover the exact information that Rating Authorities need to rate their conditions. With all this information, Disabled Veterans should then be able to compile all the evidence needed to submit a claim for new conditions, apply for an increase, or submit a DoD Appeal or VA Appeal to fix any mistakes on previously determined claims.
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FAQs
I'm a veteran. Does my medical condition qualify for VA disability?
The VA will rate all medical conditions that officially qualify as service-connected. See our Service-Connection page to see if yours qualifies.
I'm still active duty. Does my medical condition qualify for DoD Disability?
The DoD will rate all medical conditions that officially qualify as service-connected and also make you Unfit for Duty.
How do I apply to receive DoD Disability?
To receive DoD Disability, you must be referred to the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) by a military physician.
Do I have to apply to receive VA Disability?
Yes. In order to receive disability benefits from the VA, all disabled veterans must submit a VA Disability Claim.
Do my conditions qualify me for Individual Unemployability?
To qualify for Individual Unemployability, you must either have a single condition rated 60% or a single condition rated 40% with additional conditions that combine to a total 70%. Each of the conditions must directly contribute to perpetual unemployment despite repeated attempts.
I am a disabled veteran. How much money will I receive monthly?
The exact amount you will receive monthly depends on your Total Combined Rating, whether you have dependents, and whether you qualify for additional Special Monthly Compensation. See our VA Rating Chart and Special Monthly Compensation page for details on the current rates.
What do I do if my condition is service-connected, but my claim was denied?
You can appeal to have your claim reconsidered. Make sure that the VA has sufficient evidence to refute their reason for denial.
What benefits will I receive for my conditions?
The VA will award you a monthly payment and full medical coverage for all of your service-connected conditions. The exact amount of the monthly payment will depend on your combined VA rating for your conditions.
