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Brian, what service-connected Veteran benefits am I eligible for under the law?! It’s a question I hear all the time, and wanted to make you aware of some benefits that you are eligible for. According to your current VA rating, you can qualify for additional benefits, other than the monthly stipend you receive from the VA. For more information, you can visit the VA’s website.
All of the benefits available to service-connected Veterans build on each other. So, this means that what is available to those rated at 0% is also possible for those rated at 100%, plus a couple of extras.
- Non-Compensable 0% disability rating:
- Health care
- Federal jobs
- Travel reimbursement
- Mileage Rates
- Compensable 0% disability rating
- Waiver of VA finding fee for VA home loan
- Burial and plot allowance
- Service-connected disability rated at 10%
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
- Service-connected disability rated at 20%
- Service-connected disability rated 30-40%
- Additional compensation for eligible dependents
- Service-connected disability rated at 50%
- Concurrent receipt of military retired pay
- Service-connected disability rated 60-90%
- Individual employability
- Dependents Educational Assistance
- Special restorative training
- Civilian Health and Medical Program
- Dental care
- Service-connected disability rated at 100%
- Uniformed Services ID Card
- Service-connected disability rated at 100% with a separate 60% service-connected disability rating
- About the Author
Non-Compensable 0% disability rating:
Health care
No cost health care after completing financial assessment or test at the time of enrollment. This service is focused on Veterans who have financial needs and cannot afford to pay for the copay.
Federal jobs
Veterans preference for Federal jobs given to those who have served in a war declared by Congress. Preference in hiring applies to permanent and temporary positions in the competitive and excepted services of the executive branch. Preference does not apply to jobs in the Senior Executive Service or to executive branch positions for which Senate confirmation is required. To receive preference, Veterans must have discharged with honorable conditions.
Travel reimbursement
Travel reimbursement is available through the Beneficiary Travel program. This includes mileage reimbursement, plane, train, bus, taxi, light rail, or in individual cases ambulance or wheelchair van.
You qualify for travel services if:
- You have a service-connected disability of 30% or more
- You are traveling for treatment for your service-connected disability
- You currently receive a VA pension or your income does not exceed the maximum annual VA pension rate
- You are going for a scheduled C&P
You qualify for ambulance or wheelchair transportation if:
- You meet any of the eligibility above AND
- Your condition requires an ambulance or van, determined by a VA clinician
- The travel is pre-authorized
To apply, you must complete form 10-3542, Veteran/Beneficiary Claim for Reimbursement of Travel Expenses.
To request travel pay:
- Make an appointment at the Beneficiary Travel office
- Call the Beneficiary Travel office
- Send the reimbursement form through fax or max to the local Beneficiary Travel office
Applications for payment must be submitted within 30 days from the date the travel is completed.
Mileage Rates
The current rate for mileage reimbursement is $0.415 per mile. Scheduled appointments qualify for round-trip mileage. Unscheduled visits could be limited to return trip only.
The deductible is $3.00 each way. There is a monthly cap of $18 in deductibles.
Compensable 0% disability rating
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
No cost healthcare and prescription drugs for service-connected disabilities (under certain income limits)
Travel allowance for the scheduled appointment, see the above section
Waiver of VA finding fee for VA home loan
All Veterans utilizing the VA Home Loan Guaranty benefit must pay the funding fee. This is a percentage of your loan amount. The loan amount varies due to the type of loan and your military category if you are a first-time subsequent loan user and if you make a down payment. You can finance the VA funding fee or pay it in cash; regardless the fee must be paid at closing.
You qualify or a fee waiver if you are:
- Receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability
- A Veteran who would be entitled to receive compensation for a SC disability but did not receive retirement or active duty pay
- Surviving spouse of Veteran who died in service or a SC disability
To see what your funding fee percentage is, visit the VA’s chart.
Burial and plot allowance
The VA pays for burial and funeral expenses by reimbursement. A family must submit receipts, and the VA pays at the maximum amount permitted
The VA pays a flat rate. Burial and plot or interment allowances, non-service-connected death is $300, death connected to military service is $2,000
To see all of the requirements the VA has to visit the burial benefits page.
Service-connected disability rated at 10%
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
No cost healthcare and prescription drugs for service-connected disabilities (under certain income limits)
Travel allowance for a scheduled appointment, see the above section
Waiver of VA finding fee for VA home loan
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
Burial and plot allowance
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
This service is to help Veterans with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, job seeking skills and coaching. These services are also available to Veterans starting their own business, in accommodating living facilities, and those who are unable to have traditional jobs because of disability.
The VA also offers training for family members as well over education and career counseling, readjustment counseling, career assessments, benefits for children with disabilities, dependent educational assistance, and choosing a school.
Applying for these services is available through your eBenefits account, and you can view the full list of how to here.
Service-connected disability rated at 20%
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
No cost healthcare and prescription drugs for service-connected disabilities (under certain income limits)
Travel allowance for the scheduled appointment, see the above section
Waiver of VA finding fee for VA home loan
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
Burial and plot allowance
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Service-connected disability rated 30-40%
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
No cost healthcare and prescription drugs for service-connected disabilities (under certain income limits)
Travel allowance for a scheduled appointment, see the above section
Waiver of VA finding fee for VA home loan
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
Burial and plot allowance
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Additional compensation for eligible dependents
A qualifying dependent can include
- Your spouse
- Children
- Under the age of 18
- Attending school full-time between the ages of 18-23
- Those who were severely disabled before the age of 18
- Parents in your care and whose income are below the limit set by the law
If you did not add your dependents to your initial claim, the easiest way to do so is through your eBenefits account. Your request should be approved within 48 hours of completion, and you can begin qualifying for back payments.
Service-connected disability rated at 50%
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
No cost healthcare and prescription drugs for service-connected disabilities (under certain income limits)
Travel allowance for a scheduled appointment, see the above section
Waiver of VA finding fee for VA home loan
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
Burial and plot allowance
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Additional compensation for eligible dependents
Concurrent receipt of military retired pay
This program allows military retirees to receive military retired pay and Veterans Affairs compensation. Eligible retirees pay will gradually increase each year until the phase is complete. Eligible Veterans will automatically be enrolled in this program.
Service-connected disability rated 60-90%
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
No cost healthcare and prescription drugs for service-connected disabilities (under certain income limits)
Travel allowance for a scheduled appointment, see the above section
Waiver of VA finding fee for VA home loan
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
Burial and plot allowance
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Additional compensation for eligible dependents
Concurrent receipt of military retired pay
Individual employability
If you are unable to work due to a disability-related accident, you could qualify for “individual unemployability.” This means that you could be eligible for benefits available to Veterans who are at the 100% rating.
To qualify, you must have a claim for disability compensation and submit medical evidence proving your inability to hold down a job. Your work and education history will also be reviewed.
Dependents Educational Assistance
Education and training opportunities are available to dependents of Veterans who have been permanently service connected disabled. This assistance can be used for degree or certificate programs, an apprenticeship, or on the job training. Spouses are also eligible to take a correspondence course.
Special restorative training
This is used in situations where Veterans need to overcome or lessen the effects of a disability. This can be either physical or mental, and these services can help a person pursue an education or other related goals. Treatment in psychiatric care or medical care is not included.
Civilian Health and Medical Program
Health care program where the VA shares the cost of your health services when qualifying members. This program is directly managed by the VA and covers health care services that are necessary for treatment.
Dental care
This service is provided to service-connected Veterans who are rated unemployable. A different rating is eligible for certain types of Dental care, available here.
Service-connected disability rated at 100%
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
No cost healthcare and prescription drugs for service-connected disabilities (under certain income limits)
Travel allowance for a scheduled appointment, see the above section
Waiver of VA finding fee for VA home loan
10-point Veteran preference in federal hiring
Burial and plot allowance
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Additional compensation for eligible dependents
Concurrent receipt of military retired pay
Individual employability
Dependents Educational Assistance
Special restorative training
Civilian Health and Medical Program
Dental care
Uniformed Services ID Card
As 100% disabled, you will receive DD Form 2765, Department of Defense/Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card
Service-connected disability rated at 100% with a separate 60% service-connected disability rating
Under this rating, you are eligible to receive an extra benefit; the full list is available here.
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About the Author
About VA Claims Insider
VA Claims Insider is an education-based coaching/consulting company. We’re here for disabled veterans exploring eligibility for increased VA disability benefits and who wish to learn more about that process. We also connect veterans with independent medical professionals in our referral network for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible independent medical opinions and nexus statements (medical nexus letters) for a wide range of disability conditions.
