Veterans Disability Services
What’s Veteran’s Disability?
After an active-duty soldier returns from deployment and has completed their contract, they are considered a veteran of the United States. Depending on the situation, veterans are offered compensation services in the form of veteran benefits. The only way these benefits are administered is if the veteran has been injured or left disabled during active duty. All compensation is tax-free and is supplied once a month.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is responsible for determining the severity of a veteran’s disability and subsequently how much money they will receive as part of their VA disability benefits.
Types of Disability Benefits
There are various forms of Disability benefits that range according to a veteran’s specific situation.
Some of these programs include Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Special Monthly Compensation, Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance, and Adapted Housing grants to name a few.
Common types of benefits are Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). DIC is compensation generally given to a fallen veteran’s family. This income-based benefit supports the surviving family of soldiers who lost their lives during active duty. This could have been caused by a sickness or service-related injuries.
Special Monthly Compensation or SMC is compensation that is unique to a veteran’s health situation. This is different than regular disability benefits due to the higher amount of compensation. A veteran who is allotted SMC gets more than disabled veterans who are not. These higher amounts are said to cover specialty, attended aid, for specific injuries like the loss of a limb or long-term effects on limbs or the physical body.
Eligibility & How to Apply
To be eligible for this government-funded compensation it is required that the disability or injury is service connected. You must prove that the injuries sustained happened while you were an active-duty military officer. Not only does your injury have to be service connected, the way a veteran’s military duty ended effects eligibility. If you are dishonorably discharged from service, you automatically forfeit any disability benefits.
If the above information is considered, you can apply after being separated from active duty with VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation, and Related Compensation Benefits. The most effective way to apply for benefits is by creating an eBenefits account and applying online. If you don’t have access to this method, you can print and mail the application to the VA. Veterans are can also receive benefits early if they apply before discharge.
Items to include in application:
- Military Discharge papers (DD214 or equivalent)
- Medical Evidence (Physician reports)
- Dependency Records
If a veteran is approved for VA Disability Benefits, they will start to receive their payments after about four months or on average, 142 days. The waiting period is dependent on the type of claim filed, how many and what kind of injuries you claimed, and the amount of evidence needed to prove your claim. If you feel that you were not given the disability benefits you are entitled, Contact the attorneys at Rob Levine & Associates for a free case evaluation to get the justice you deserve!
