LGBTQ+ Veterans Benefits Explained

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The VA is steadfast in its commitment to serving all eligible service members, Veterans, and their families.

Recognizing the diversity of this community, the VA ensures fair and equitable access to benefits and services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Veterans.

This article highlights the key VA benefits available to LGBTQ+ Veterans and their families and the steps taken by the VA to promote inclusivity.

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Summary of Key Points

• The VA’s Commitment to LGBTQ+ Veterans: The VA is dedicated to providing fair and equitable access to benefits for all Veterans, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. This includes recognizing the diversity of service members and their families.

• VA Recognition of Same-Sex Marriages: Following the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision in 2015, the VA now recognizes same-sex marriages nationwide. Benefits for same-sex spouses include Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), VA Home Loan Guaranty, and burial rights.

• VA Benefits for LGBTQ+ Veterans: LGBTQ+ Veterans have access to key VA benefits including VA disability compensation, VA health care services (including gender-affirming care), dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for spouses, VA home loan guaranty, burial rights, and flexible beneficiary designations for programs like Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), among many others.

• Access to VA Benefits with an OTH Discharge: Veterans discharged due to sexual orientation under discriminatory policies like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” can access VA benefits without a formal discharge upgrade. The Character of Discharge Determination process evaluates whether their service was “honorable for VA purposes.”

Recognizing Same-Sex Marriages for VA Benefits

A landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (June 26, 2015) by the Supreme Court ensured that same-sex marriages are recognized nationwide under the Fourteenth Amendment.

As a result, the VA now recognizes all same-sex marriages, regardless of the Veteran’s state of residence, enabling equal access to spousal benefits such as:

• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses.

• VA Home Loan Guaranty benefits.

• Burial Rights in national cemeteries.

Veterans in same-sex marriages who believe they qualify for benefits are strongly encouraged to apply, and those previously denied based on outdated policies should reapply.

LGBTQ+ Service Members and Beneficiary Designation

The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” expanded rights for LGBTQ+ service members, allowing them to designate beneficiaries for specific VA benefits without restrictions based on sexual orientation.

Key benefits include:

• Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI)

• Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI)

• Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Assistance Program (VEAP)

• Montgomery GI Bill

• Presentation of the Flag of the United States

Additionally, the Department of Defense (DoD) provides other benefits for which LGBTQ+ service members can designate beneficiaries.

Click here for more details on military, state, and federal benefits for the LGBTQ+ community.

List of VA Benefits for LGBTQ+ Veterans by Disability Rating Percentage

LGBTQ+ Veterans are eligible for VA disability compensation benefits.

Your VA rating percentage from 0% to 100% unlocks various VA benefits as follows:

VA Rating	List of Benefits
Non-compensable 0% VA disability rating	Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) 10 point Veteran preference in federal hiring No cost health care and prescription drugs for service-connected disabilities (income limits must be met) Travel allowance for scheduled appointments for care at a VA medical facility or VA-authorized health care facility Commissary and Exchange Privileges Use of commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) retail facilities, in-person and online
Compensable 0% VA disability rating Note: According to 38 CFR § 3.324, veterans who have two or more separate, non-compensable (0%) service-connected disabilities that interfere with normal employability can be granted a 10% disability rating. This rule allows veterans with multiple minor disabilities to receive some level of compensation, even if each individual disability is rated at 0%.	Disability compensation (if granted a 10% rating, the compensation is $175.51 per month) Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) 10 point Veteran preference in federal hiring No cost healthcare and prescription drugs for service-connected disabilities (income limits must be met) Travel allowance for scheduled appointments for care at a VA medical facility or VA-authorized health care facility Waiver of VA funding fee for VA home loan Burial and plot allowance Commissary and Exchange Privileges Use of commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) retail facilities, in-person and online
10% VA disability rating	Disability compensation (a 10% rating has compensation of $175.51 per month) Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) No-cost healthcare Prescription medications for service-connected disabilities Travel allowance for scheduled appointments for care at a VA medical facility or VA-authorized health care facility Waiver of VA funding fee for home loan 10 point Veteran preference in federal hiring Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (with a serious employment handicap) Burial and plot allowance Commissary and Exchange Privileges Use of commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) retail facilities, in-person and online
20% VA disability rating	Disability compensation (a 20% rating has compensation of $346.95 per month) Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) No-cost healthcare Prescription medications for service-connected disabilities Travel allowance for scheduled appointments for care at a VA medical facility or VA-authorized health care facility Waiver of VA funding fee for home loan 10 point Veteran preference in federal hiring Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Burial and plot allowance Commissary and Exchange Privileges Use of commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) retail facilities, in-person and online
30% – 40% VA disability rating	Disability compensation (a 30% rating is worth a minimum of $537.42 per month while a 40% rating is worth a minimum of $774.16 per month) Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) No-cost healthcare Prescription medications for service-connected disabilities Travel allowance for scheduled appointments for care at a VA medical facility or VA-authorized health care facility Waiver of VA funding fee for home loan 10 point Veteran preference in federal hiring Direct hire authority Additional compensation for eligible dependents Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Burial and plot allowance Commissary and Exchange Privileges Use of commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) retail facilities, in-person and online
50% VA disability rating	Disability compensation (a 50% rating is worth a minimum of $1,102.04 per month) Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) No-cost health care and prescription medications Travel allowance for scheduled appointments for care at a VA medical facility or VA-authorized health care facility Waiver of VA funding fee for home loan 10 point Veteran preference in federal hiring Direct hire authority Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Additional compensation for eligible dependents Concurrent receipt of military retired pay Burial and plot allowance Commissary and Exchange Privileges Use of commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) retail facilities, in-person and online
60% – 90% VA disability rating	Disability compensation (a 60% rating is worth a minimum of $1,395.93 per month; a 70% rating is worth a minimum of $1,759.19 per month; an 80% rating is worth a minimum of $2,044.89 per month; a 90% rating is worth a minimum of $2,297.96) Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) No-cost health care and prescription medications Travel allowance for scheduled appointments for care at a VA medical facility or VA-authorized health care facility Waiver of VA funding fee for home loan 10 point Veteran preference in federal hiring Direct hire authority Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Additional compensation for eligible dependents Concurrent receipt of military retired pay Individual Unemployability (must be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities) Dependents Educational Assistance (unemployability must be considered permanent) Special restorative training CHAMPVA–Civilian Health and Medical Program (unemployability must be considered permanent) Dental care (if rated under individual unemployability) Burial and plot allowance Commissary and Exchange Privileges Use of commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) retail facilities, in-person and online
100% VA disability rating	Disability compensation (a 100% rating is worth a minimum of $3,831.30 per month) Access to 50 top federal and state benefits for 100 percent disabled veterans Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) No-cost health care and prescription medications Travel allowance for scheduled appointments for care at a VA medical facility or VA-authorized health care facility No-cost dental care Waiver of VA funding fee for home loan 10 point Veteran preference in federal hiring Direct hire authority Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Additional compensation for eligible dependents  Concurrent receipt of military retired pay Dependents Education Assistance (must be rated 100% permanent and total) Special restorative training Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Discharge for Federal Student Loans Aid and Attendance or Housebound Benefits Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Space-Available (Space-A) Travel CHAMPVA–Civilian Health and Medical Program (must be rated 100% permanent and total) Burial and plot allowance
100% VA disability rating with an additional separate 60% service-connected disability rating	Everything in the 100% rating category to include Statutory Housebound (eligible veterans will receive a minimum of an additional $457.15 per month on top of 100% VA disability pay for Statutory Housebound benefits, with the amount increasing if the veteran has dependents)

Inclusive Health Care Services for LGBTQ+ Veterans

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) ensures that LGBTQ+ Veterans receive patient-centered care tailored to their unique needs.

This includes:

• Gender-affirming care: Access to hormone therapy and mental health counseling.

• Specialized mental health services: Support for issues like minority stress, trauma, and post-military transition challenges.

• Family planning: Services for LGBTQ+ couples and individuals, including reproductive health care.

How to Access LGBTQ+ VA Benefits

To take full advantage of available VA benefits, LGBTQ+ Veterans should:

• Apply or Reapply: Submit applications for benefits through the VA’s website or local VA offices.

• Connect with an LGBTQ+ Coordinator: Many VA facilities have designated coordinators to assist LGBTQ+ Veterans.

• Consult VA-Accredited Representatives: Work with VA-accredited representatives who can help navigate the claims process.

Were You Discharged From the Military Because of Your Sexual Orientation?

If you were discharged from military service due to your sexual orientation and received an other than honorable (OTH) discharge, there’s good news: the rules have changed, and you may now qualify for VA benefits—even without a formal discharge upgrade.

What’s Changed?

In the past, Veterans discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) or similar discriminatory policies faced significant barriers to accessing VA benefits.

Today, the VA recognizes the injustice of these discharges and offers an alternative pathway for eligibility through a Character of Discharge Determination (COD).

This determination allows the VA to review your service record and assess whether your time in the military was “honorable for VA purposes.”

If your service meets this standard, you may become eligible for a range of VA benefits, including health care, education assistance, and more.

Do You Need a Discharge Upgrade?

For many Veterans discharged due to sexual orientation, applying for a military discharge upgrade isn’t necessary to access VA benefits.

The Character of Discharge Determination process may allow you to qualify for benefits without the lengthy upgrade process.

How to Apply for VA Benefits

Getting started is simple.

You can apply for VA benefits through one of the following methods:

• Online: Visit the VA’s Other Than Honorable Enrollment page at https://choose.va.gov/health/oth-enrollment

• In Person: Visit your nearest VA office or medical center.

• By Mail: Complete the required forms and send them to your local VA office.

• By Phone: Call 1-877-222-8387, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.

Conclusion & Wrap-Up

The VA’s ongoing commitment to diversity ensures that LGBTQ+ Veterans and their families are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

By recognizing same-sex marriages, allowing flexible beneficiary designations, and providing inclusive health care, the VA is creating a system that serves all who have served.

If you’re an LGBTQ+ Veteran or a family member, don’t hesitate to explore your veteran benefits—because you’ve earned them!

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