Disability Benefits

Overview

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers two types of disability benefits: Service Connected Compensation and Non-Service-Connected Pension.

Service-Connected Disability Compensation

This compensation program is available to all veterans who have a current diagnosed condition that is a result of his or her military service. Disability ratings are determined by the level of impairment in accordance with the Schedule for Rating Disabilities (38 CFR, Part 4). There are eleven possible levels of disability assignable for any condition, from 0% to 100%, in 10% increments.

There are four possible ways to connect a disabling condition to the veteran's service:

  • Direct: The disability is a direct result of an injury in service (e.g., a combat wound, knee injury during PT or while out in the field), or as a result of an incident in service, or a medical condition which began while on active duty (e.g., diabetes, reflux, hypertension).
  • Aggravation: A disability that existed prior to military service and becomes permanently worse during military service; not as the result of the condition's natural progression.
  • Presumption: Certain chronic and tropical diseases will be presumed to have begun during service if they become manifest to a compensable degree within a specified time. In addition, specified diseases are presumed to be the result of certain incidents of service (prisoner of war, participation in "radiation-risk" activities, herbicide exposure, toxic exposure risk activities (TERA), undiagnosed illnesses associated with service in the Persian Gulf area) if they become manifest to a compensable degree within specified time periods.
  • Secondary: This may be established for a new condition, which is directly and proximately caused by an established service-connected condition. (e.g., veteran is service-connected for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and develops Diabetic Neuropathy).

Nonservice-Connected Pension

The VA Pension program provides monthly payments to wartime veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements, and who have income and net-worth-within certain limits established by Congress. 

Visit the VA website for eligibility criteria.

Pension rates are adjusted annually with a cost of living increase. The rate tables may be accessed through the VA's website.

Call our office at 910-253-2233 to schedule an appointment for assistance in applying for a service connected disability or pension.