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As a veteran, navigating the complex world of VA benefits can be frustrating, confusing, and overwhelming, especially when it comes to understanding the distinction between service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities.
A non-service-connected disability is a condition that the VA determines wasn’t caused or aggravated by your military service.
While it doesn’t qualify for monthly compensation, you may still be eligible for valuable VA benefits such as a pension, health care, and more.
But here’s the reality: most non-service-connected decisions happen because of insufficient medical evidence—like missing a medical diagnosis, an unfavorable VA medical opinion, a bad C&P exam, or VA errors, among others.
In this article, VA disability expert Brian Reese explains everything you need to know about non-service-connected disabilities, how they differ from service-connected conditions, and the VA benefits available to you.
Plus, if your VA claim was denied, he’ll share a proven step-by-step process to fight back and turn that denial into an approval.
Let’s begin!
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- Understanding Non-Service-Connected Disabilities: A non-service-connected disability is one the VA determines was not caused or aggravated by military service. While these conditions do not qualify for monthly disability compensation, veterans may still access valuable benefits, such as VA pensions, health care, travel reimbursements, and burial allowances.
- Common Reasons for Non-Service-Connected Decisions: Most non-service-connected classifications occur due to insufficient medical evidence, such as missing a diagnosis, lack of a nexus statement, or errors during a C&P exam. Mistakes made by the VA can also lead to improper denials.
- Key Differences Between Service-Connected and Non-Service-Connected Disabilities: Service-connected disabilities are directly related to military service and qualify for monthly tax-free compensation. Non-service-connected disabilities, while unrelated to service, may qualify veterans for pensions based on income, age, or disability criteria.
- Steps to Overcome VA Claim Denials: Veterans denied service connection should review their VA decision letter, assess their medical evidence, and choose the best appeal option, such as a Higher-Level Review or Supplemental Claim. Persistence, strong evidence, and proper documentation are critical to successfully overturning denials.
Non-Service-Connected Disability Explained
A non-service-connected disability is a condition that the VA determined was not caused or aggravated by a veteran’s military service.
The most likely reason for non-service-connected disabilities is a lack of medical evidence submitted with your VA claim—specifically—no diagnosis in medical records or a “nexus” that deemed your condition was “less likely than not” caused or made worse by your military service.
Other common reasons for non-service-connected VA disabilities include errors or mistakes by the VA and a bad C&P exam.
Non-Service-Connected Disability vs. Service-Connected Disability
Understanding the difference between these two types of disabilities is critical for accessing your rightly earned VA benefits:
| Criteria | Service-Connected Disability | Non-Service-Connected Disability |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A disability that was either caused or aggravated by a veteran’s military service or by another service-connected disability for secondary service connection. | A disability that was not caused or aggravated by a veteran’s military service or by another service-connected disability for secondary service connection. |
| Types | Five different types of VA service connection: Direct, Presumptive, Secondary, Aggravation, and 38 U.S.C. 1151, each with its unique eligibility criteria. | Only one. |
| Example | A veteran develops tinnitus (ringing in the ears) after prolonged exposure to loud noises during military service. The VA determines that the tinnitus is “at least as likely as not” connected to the veteran’s military service and grants a service-connected disability rating of 10%, which is worth $175.51 per month in 2025. | A veteran injures their knee in a car accident five years after leaving the military, with no evidence of a related injury during service or a service-connected condition causing it. Since it’s unrelated to military service, the VA classifies it as a non-service-connected disability and denies service connection. |
| Eligibility for VA Disability Benefits | A veteran with one or more service-connected disabilities is eligible for tax-free monthly compensation. | A veteran with a non-service-connected disability is ineligible to receive tax-free monthly compensation for that condition. |
| Requirements for VA Benefits | To qualify for VA disability benefits, a veteran must demonstrate that their disability is connected to their military service and have a discharge status that is not dishonorable. | To qualify for VA pension benefits, a veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a wartime period. Discharge under conditions other than dishonorable. Age 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled due to non-service-related conditions. Meet income and net worth limitations. |
| Compensation | Monthly tax-free payments based on the severity of the disability, as determined by a VA disability rating. | Needs-based pension calculated by subtracting countable income from the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR). |
| Application Process | Submit VA Form 21-526EZ, “Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits.” Multiple ways to file a disability claim. | Submit VA Form 21P-527EZ, “Application for Pension.” Multiple ways to apply. Multiple ways to file a pension claim. |
| Additional Benefits | Access to VA healthcare services. Vocational rehabilitation. Additional compensation for dependents with a VA rating of 30% or higher. Potential eligibility for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). See a list of benefits by VA rating percentage. | May qualify for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits if additional criteria are met. See a list of pension benefits. |
List of VA Benefits for Non-Service-Connected Disabilities
Veterans with non-service-connected disabilities may still be eligible for a host of VA benefits including pension benefits:
Non-Service-Connected VA Pension Benefits
10-Point Veteran Preference in Federal Hiring
- Veterans receiving a VA pension are eligible for a 10-point preference when applying for federal jobs.
- This gives them an advantage by adding extra points to their competitive examination scores, improving their chances of being hired.
Health Care Enrollment
- Veterans may qualify for VA health care benefits, which provide access to medical services.
- Eligibility Note: Enrollment is subject to income requirements and priority group criteria. Veterans with lower incomes or special circumstances are prioritized.
Travel Allowance for Medical Appointments
- Veterans can be reimbursed for travel costs to attend scheduled medical appointments at a VA medical facility or a VA-authorized health care provider.
- This includes reimbursement for mileage, tolls, and parking fees, ensuring that financial constraints don’t hinder access to care.
Burial and Plot Allowance
- The VA offers financial assistance to cover the costs of burial, funeral, and plot expenses.
- This benefit helps ease the financial burden on families and ensures veterans are honored with a dignified burial.
- Amounts vary based on whether the death was service-connected or non-service-connected.
Non-Service-Connected VA Pension with Aid and Attendance (A&A) or Housebound Benefits
10-Point Veteran Preference in Federal Hiring
- Veterans receiving this benefit qualify for a 10-point preference when applying for federal jobs.
- This provides a competitive advantage by adding 10 points to their examination scores, helping veterans secure federal employment opportunities.
Health Care Enrollment
- Veterans are eligible for VA health care services, which include comprehensive medical care.
- Eligibility Note: Enrollment is subject to income limits and priority group placement, with veterans in financial need receiving higher priority.
Travel Allowance for Medical Appointments
- Veterans can receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred when attending scheduled appointments at VA facilities or VA-authorized healthcare providers.
- Covered expenses may include mileage, tolls, and parking fees, ensuring financial constraints do not impede access to care.
Free Hearing Aids
- Eligible veterans can receive hearing aids at no cost through the VA.
- This benefit is provided to improve the veteran’s quality of life, especially for those with hearing loss impacting daily functioning.
Free Eyeglasses
- The VA provides eyeglasses at no cost for eligible veterans, helping to address vision impairments and support their overall well-being.
Burial and Plot Allowance
- The VA offers financial support to assist with burial, funeral, and plot expenses.
- This benefit ensures a dignified burial for veterans while reducing the financial burden on their families.
Aid and Attendance for Spouse (if eligible)
- An additional monetary benefit is available for the veteran’s spouse if they require assistance with daily living activities (e.g., bathing, dressing, eating).
- Eligibility Note: The spouse must meet specific criteria for medical need and financial eligibility to receive this benefit.
How to Get Service-Connected After a VA Claim Denial
If the VA denies your claim for a service-connected disability, don’t give up!
Follow these steps to strengthen your case:
4-Step Process to Follow If the VA Denied Your Claim
Step #1: Review Your VA Decision Letter
The first step after a denial or underrating is to review your VA decision letter in detail.
Pay particular attention to the “evidence reviewed” and “reasons for decision” sections.
A VA rating decision letter is a document prepared by the VA rater that formally explains the VA’s rationale for approving, denying, or deferring your VA disability claim.
Your VA disability rating decision letter includes the VA’s final rating decision and analysis as well as WHY and HOW the VA rater and C&P examiner arrived at their opinions and conclusions for your VA claim.
In my opinion, it’s the #1 most important document you’ll ever receive from the VA!
Step #2: Decide Your Best Appeal Option
The second step is to decide your best course of action to appeal the denied or underrated disability claim.
If you had all the right medical evidence, but still got denied due to an error or you want a second opinion, you should file a VA Higher-Level Review (HLR).
If you didn’t have all the right medical evidence, and want to add new and relevant evidence not previously considered, you should file a Supplemental Claim.
If your Higher-Level Review (HLR), Supplemental Claim, and HLR of your Supplemental Claim are denied, you should consider a records-only Board Appeal.
Step #3: Review Your Medical Evidence
The third step before filing an appeal on your denied VA claim, is to review the medical evidence you submitted with your original claim.
Match what you submitted with the evidence reviewed in your VA rating decision letter – make sure it’s accurate and consistent.
This is also a good time to ensure you provided the VA with a current diagnosis in a medical record, a nexus for service connection, and evidence of your severity of symptoms and negative impacts to your work, life, and social functioning.
If anything important was missing from your original claim, file a Supplemental Claim with the new and relevant evidence not previously considered.
Step #4: File Your VA Appeal Online
The final step to challenge a denied or underrated VA claim decision is to file your VA Higher Level Review (HLR) or Supplemental Claim online.
Friendly reminder that you can’t submit new and relevant evidence with a Higher-Level Review (HLR), but you can with a Supplemental Claim.
After submission, be proactive, patient, and don’t ever give up!
The VA claim process isn’t over unless you quit.
There’s always another option if you’re willing to fight back.
Conclusion & Wrap-Up
Understanding the difference between service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities is essential for navigating the VA benefits process.
While non-service-connected disabilities do not qualify for compensation, eligible veterans can still access critical benefits, such as pensions and health care.
If your service-connected claim is denied, persistence is key.
By reviewing your decision, gathering strong evidence, and exploring appeal options, you can work toward securing the benefits you’ve earned.
Don’t ever give up—you served, and you deserve!
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About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.
A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.
