The Veteran's Disability Benefits Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates a major program for Veteran's Disability Benefits. It is known as the disability compensation program. The benefit is admissible to military veterans for disabilities sustained by them as a result of their honorable services to the US Army, Navy, or Air Force.
The program is the US military's version of the Social Security Administration's twin disability benefit programs, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the Social Security disability insurance, for civilian employees.
The VA program towards veteran disabilities compensation provides for a monthly benefit of over $3,000 to a military veteran who has been disabled because of injuries or diseases that occurred while he/she was on active duty. Alternatively, the provision is also admissible to a military veteran whose existing injuries or diseases are aggravated as a result of active duty. Moreover, the compensation is also available to certain military veterans disabled from VA health care. These benefits are tax-free.
The eligibility for veteran disabilities compensation is active service related disability and associated discharge from service. The only condition is that you must have been discharged for other than dishonorable reasons. The basic monthly benefit amount ranges from $117 to over $3,000. The actual amount depends on factors such as the number of dependents and the level of disability. An additional amount may be paid to you in case of severe disability. VA rates disability on the basis of percentage points. Veterans with 10% disability, with or without dependents are paid $117. Those with 20% disability are paid $230. As the disability percentage goes on increasing, the compensation rate goes on increasing. More number of dependents in the disabled veteran's family means more compensation. VA also pays Travel Reimbursement separately to veterans using public transportation (or on mileage basis) with at least service connected 30% disabilities. Such travel may be necessitated for treatment, for scheduled compensation or a pension examination. Such reimbursement is also admissible to veterans in receipt of VA pensions or to veterans whose income does not exceed the maximum admissible pension rate. Application for disability compensation is to be made on VA Form 21-526, which is titled Veteran Application for Compensation or Pension. It will be helpful if you attach dependency records (marriage and children's birth certificates) and medical records (doctor and medical records) with the completed form. You can also apply online. Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is also provided by VA to those disabled veterans who have had the loss of use of specific organs or extremities during active service. Such loss of use may be due to an amputation or due to effectively no function remaining in the leftover organ or extremity. The SMC depends on the extent of the loss of use. Besides veteran's disability benefits, VA also provides other programs for veterans' benefits. These additional programs include veteran's pension, low cost medical care, and education benefits.
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