Am I eligible for VA Disability Benefits?

Wondering “am I eligible for VA Disability Benefits?” Every day lots of veterans and their families contact Woods & Woods VA Disability Lawyers curious about their eligibility. We always help with the application and will help you figure out if you’re eligible. There is never a charge for calling to see about your eligibility for VA Benefits. To learn more, fill out the online contact form or call (866) 232-5777.

Eligibility for VA Compensation

To be eligible for VA Compensation, a veteran must have been considered active duty. You must also have a service-connected impairment. That means that your impairment was caused by your active duty service, or that it was worsened by your active duty service. You must also have separated or been discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions.

Eligibility for VA Pension

Veterans Pension for non-service connected disabilities are available to low-income veterans. Veterans must have at least 90 days of active duty, including one day during a wartime period. If the active duty occurred after September 7, 1980, you must have served at least 24 months or the full period that you were called up (with some exceptions).

Eligibility for DIC Survivor Benefits

Families that lost a veteran from a service-connected disability may be eligible for VA Disability Benefits. If the veteran died from their service-connected disability, your family could receive DIC Benefits. Many families don’t even realize their loved one had a service-connected disability.

Discharge Effect on Eligibility

If a veteran received an Honorable Discharge, General Discharge, or Other Than Honorable discharge the veteran is eligible for VA Veterans Disability Benefits. However, if a veteran served two active duty terms and received two different discharges and one is Dishonorable, the veteran may still be able to receive VA Veterans Disability Benefits.

National Guard Eligibility

As a general rule, National Guard members are only eligible if they were considered active duty. To be considered active duty the National Guard member or Armed Forces Reservist must have been activated by the federal government. A National Guard member or Armed Forces Reservist who served in Afghanistan or Iraq is considered to have been active duty and are entitled to VA Veterans Disability Benefits. If a National Guard member and Armed Forces Reservist was activated by their governor to help with a natural disaster they are unfortunately not considered active duty and are not entitled to VA Veterans Disability Benefits.