“For every day you delay, is another day without pay (if you qualify)”

It is most important that every veteran file a disability claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish service connection for those disabilities, diseases, or injuries or residuals thereof, which were incurred in or aggravated by military service. Compensation is payable to any veteran with a service connected disability rated ten (10) percent or more, provided his/her character of discharge was issued under conditions other than dishonorable. Although there is no time limit for filing a claim, it should be done at the time of separation or as soon thereafter.

1. Compensation from $112 to $2,393 per month is payable to a veteran for service connected disabilities rated from 10% to 100%, with additional amounts for statutory awards or certain multiple disabilities plus additional amounts for dependents when a veteran is rated 30% or more. (Rates increase each year based upon COLA)
2. VA Compensation is not subject to Federal or Sate Taxes
3. Filing a disability claim establishes a VA file, which will help expedite other claims and application, which may be filed in the future
4. VA will consider a rating for all disabilities diagnosed and treated during military service, when such disabilities are included within the claim
5. If a service-connected disability worsens, VA will reconsider the rating upon receipt of medical evidence showing an increase in severity
6. Certain chronic and tropical diseases have presumptive periods ranging from 1 year to death. Service connection may be granted if diagnosed within the proper period and rated to a compensable degree of at least 10%
7. If service-connected disabilities are rated at 60% or above and the veteran is unable to work in his/her occupation due to the service-connected disabilities, the veteran may be rated 100% by VA due to unemployability
8. If a veteran is hospitalized for 21 consecutive days or more or undergoes major surgery for service- connected disabilities, he/she may be entitled to a temporary 100% rating during the period of hospitalization and/or convalescence
9. Certain severely disabling conditions, e.g., blindness, paraplegia, loss of limbs, carry special VA ratings and allowances
10. A service-connected disability rating provides preference points for State and Federal employment under certain conditions

STATE BENEFITS ADVISOR
PO Box 8111
Madison, Wisconsin 53708-8111
fedhrfeedback@ng.army.mil
DSN 724-3727
Comm (608) 242-3727