VA Disability Compensation

Veteran’s disability benefits go back to pre-Revolutionary War. In 1636, Plymouth Colony ordered that any disabled soldier wounded while defending the colony would be maintained by the Colony for life. Other colonies followed this lead. In 1776, the Continental Congress established disability pensions (now called Disability Compensation) for veterans who became disabled during military service.

Disability compensation was originally based on the military rank of the veteran. In 1862, the General Pension Act allowed disability payments to union troops be based on rank and degree of disability. In 1873, the Consolidation Act revised pension policies, paying on the degree of disability rather than the service rank. The Dependant Pension Act of 1890 expanded benefits to eligible dependants under certain conditions.

The U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) uses a rating schedule to evaluate the degree of disability. In 1917, The War Risk Insurance Act called for the first rating schedule and authorized disability compensation for veterans. The schedule was created in 1919 and it has provided the foundation for the current VA compensation and pension programs for disabled veterans. In 1945, the VA rating schedule underwent major changes allowing the VA to reevaluate a veteran and change the disability rating.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers the Disability Compensation benefits.

The VA Disability Compensation program is federally funded.

Disability Compensation provides a monthly tax free cash benefit to veterans and his/her eligible dependents. The benefit is for veterans, who are disabled by an injury or illness that happened while on active duty, was made worse by active duty, or incurred while on active duty and became disabling after leaving the service. The amount of the Disability Compensation benefit is determined by the degree of disability. Veterans receive additional compensation for dependents when the disability is rated at 30% or more. Claimants may file a claim for benefits by completing the required application at any VA regional office or via the Internet at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp.

Veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 30% or more may be reimbursed for mileage or public transportation when traveling for treatment of a service-connected injury or disease or when traveling for a scheduled VA’s medical exam. Veterans should complete VA’s Authority and Invoice for Travel by Ambulance or Other Hired Vehicle, VA form 10-2511.

Veterans who have a service-connected disability which requires the use of prosthetic appliance or if a doctor has prescribed medication for a serviced- connected skin condition, and the medication causes irreversible damages to his/her outer garments may qualify for an annual clothing allowance. The application for Annual Clothing Allowance, VA form 10-86781, must be submitted by the VA’s Prosthetic Department.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monthly tax free cash benefit paid to eligible dependents of veterans who died while on active military service, or veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected condition. Eligible dependents should complete VA’s Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child, VA Form 21-534, http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-535-ARE.pdf.

	Related Web Link: See the DIC benefit rate tables for eligible dependents at: www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/