By Larry Dandridge
Last week I discussed the service-connected VA benefits for veterans who receive a 30% service-connected disability rating from the VA. This week’s article will provide an overview of the VA benefits for which a 40% service-connected disabled veteran is eligible.
The VA YouTube Video titled, Veterans Benefits At 40% (VA Service-Connected Disability), theSITREP, narrated by Army Veteran Michael McNamara can be found at https://bit.ly/3NsjtIz. That video has been viewed over 202,000 times. It is worth watching if you are a veteran, a family member of a veteran, or a Veterans Service Officer (VSO). The video covers 10 benefits veterans can take advantage of.
VA Healthcare for service-connected illnesses and injuries
If you are a veteran who is rated 40 percent military service-connected disabled by the VA you can take advantage of the following benefits. Perhaps the most important benefit a veteran becomes eligible for at 40% is automatic eligibility for VA healthcare. It does not matter if you are a multi-millionaire or a regular guy like me, the VA will cover all of your healthcare services, including medications and much more needed to treat your service-connected injuries, illnesses, and medical conditions.
For other services and treatment, veterans may have to pay a small copay, but there are no annual fees, premiums, or deductibles, so ask your local Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for help applying for service-connected disability compensation and other benefits – and make sure you enroll in VA healthcare if you have not already done so.
Monetary compensation, additional monetary compensation for eligible dependents
Two more important benefits veterans are eligible for at 40% are monetary compensation and additional monetary compensation for eligible dependents. A veteran rated at 40% can expect more than $670 a month, tax-free, and if the veteran has children, a spouse, or parents who qualify as dependents, the veteran may be able to add hundreds of dollars more to their VA compensation.
Other VA benefits veterans can enjoy at 40%
(1) A waiver for VA home loan funding fees, (2) direct hire into federal job positions for qualified veterans, (3) 10-point preference in federal hiring, (4) access to the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Program, (5) burial and plot allowance, (6) access to military commissaries and exchanges, (6) travel allowance for traveling to VA healthcare appointments, and more.
References
To learn more about these benefits and how to apply for these benefits read the information at:
1. How to apply for VA Disability Compensation, https://bit.ly/3wYGMRJ.
2. Veterans Disability Compensation Rates, https://bit.ly/3WQlPEm.
3. Adding dependents, https://bit.ly/43LjWuY.
4. Direct hire, https://bit.ly/3qvIppP.
5. VA health care, https://bit.ly/42skTXY.
6. VR&E, https://bit.ly/3Cl4Sbr and https://bit.ly/43r9wAJ.
7. 10-point preference, https://bit.ly/3qvIppP, https://bit.ly/43hbhjX, and https://bit.ly/3OWCzrq.
8. Travel allowance, https://bit.ly/3PdC1h0.
9. Home loan waiver, https://bit.ly/3CgHg8a and the three articles from The Island News on this subject published on May 11, 18, and 25 of 2021. See the archives at www.yourislandnews.com.
10. Burial & plot allowance, https://bit.ly/3dKZkyx.
11. Commissary and exchanges, https://bit.ly/3OY6BeA.
12. The Island News article titled, Veterans, should know their VA Priority Group, dated January 5, 2023, at
13. The series of five articles from The Island News on VA benefits for spouses, dependents, survivors, and family caregivers, beginning with the March 15, 2023 article at
https://bit.ly/3TOYiSE. Find the other four articles at www.yourislandnews.com archives.
14. The series of three articles from The Island News on, How to get VA Housing Assistance, beginning on May 11, 2022. Part 1 of 3 is found at
https://bit.ly/3MXCwcc and the other two articles are found at www.yourislandnews.com archives.
15. The Island News articles on employment, dated Oct. 7 and 27, 2021, found at https://bit.ly/3OXWFBD and https://bit.ly/3qjsH0D.
16. The Island News article dated Oct. 6, 2021, titled “What are veterans and military service members’ VR&E benefits?” at https://bit.ly/43r9wAJ.
Do your homework
Veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors should do their homework and read the information at www.va.gov, watch the over 80 VA SITREP YouTube videos at http://www.newengland.va.gov/sitrep, and, most importantly ask a VSO or a VA-accredited Attorney or Claims Agent to help you understand what your VA (federal) and state veterans’ benefits are and how to apply for those benefits.
VA-recognized VSOs and their VA-accredited representatives
Most of the representation that is provided to claimants on initial benefit claims is performed by VSOs. VSOs can help veterans and their family members gather evidence needed and submit a Fully Developed Claim (see https://bit.ly/3CTtFV0) on the veteran’s behalf. A VSO can also correspond with the VA about the veteran’s or family member’s claim on their behalf. VSOs always provide their representation on VA claims free of charge. In addition to assisting with VA claims, many VSOs also sponsor a range of Veteran-programs such as providing transportation (DAV provides vans and volunteer drivers serving VA Medical Centers/Clinics) to and from VA medical center appointments, funds and volunteers for disaster relief, and grants. VSOs also lobby Congress on behalf of issues facing veterans and their families.
VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents
Typically, VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents perform most of their representation after the VA has issued an initial decision on a claim, which is when attorneys and claims agents are permitted to charge fees for their representation. At this stage of the adjudication process, an attorney or claims agent may be helpful to veterans and their family members in further developing the evidence in support of their claim and crafting persuasive and legal arguments on their behalf to submit to the VA.
Find a VA-Accredited Accredited-Representative (VSO, Attorney, or Claims Agent) Online
Go to https://bit.ly/3QnCk5M. See The Island News article at https://bit.ly/3TahNn1.
Find an Accredited Representative at a VA Regional Office
Use the Directory of VA-recognized VSOs that are co-located with the VA at https://bit.ly/3TahNn1.
Find a Veterans Service Officer in S.C. and Ga.
Find SC County VSOs at https://bit.ly/3qbLVSL. Find GA VSOs at https://bit.ly/44KMVA7.
The bottom line
No one wants to be disabled but if you are a veteran and are suffering from service-connected injuries, illnesses, wounds, scars, or conditions, you should ask your local Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to help you apply for all of the service-connected disability compensation to which you are entitled. Veterans and their family members should also file for all of the healthcare, disability, education, training, employment, housing assistance, life insurance, pension, family member, and other VA and state benefits they are entitled to.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing free-lance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
