FAQ

Survivors may be eligible for benefits like Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) if the veteran died from a presumptive condition.

Yes, you can receive ratings for multiple conditions, but VA will not rate the same condition more than once.

Yes. If your service-connected condition has worsened, you can file for an increase at any time.

Yes, there are generally three ways that a claim can be expedited.

1. Advanced age over 85 years old

2. If the veteran has a terminal illness

3. If the veteran is homeless

Yes, you can provide your own medical opinion. For information on what to include in a medical opinion consult your accredited representative.

Yes. If your claim is granted, the VA may pay compensation back to the effective date of the claim, minus any required offsets.

In many cases, yes—through:

• Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) if your total rating is at 50% or higher
• Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) if the condition is related to combat

Yes. You may reopen a claim by submitting new and relevant evidence through a Supplemental Claim.

In most cases yes. Unless you are receiving Individual Unemployability, or VA Non-Service Connected Pension there are no income restrictions with VA benefits.

Yes, if they meet the service and exposure criteria established by the VA.

Yes — certain radiation exposures in locations like nuclear test cleanup sites can establish presumptive service connection for related diseases.

Yes. Survivors may be eligible for:

• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
• Accrued benefits
• Burial benefits

Yes, but only under specific circumstances. The VA must show sustained improvement and follow due process, including providing advance notice and an opportunity to respond.

In many cases you need an honorable discharge to receive benefits, however there are certain benefits still available to veterans who did not receive an honorable discharge.

Yes, immediately. The veteran will be responsible for paying this money back to the VA from the date of death of a dependent.

No. If your condition is on the presumptive list and you meet service requirements, the VA assumes service connection.

Surviving dependents may still be eligible for benefits even if the veteran never filed a claim with VA.

Yes — but it depends on the type of service. VA benefits are based on federal service, not state-only duty. National Guard members may qualify if they served:

On Title 10 federal active duty (mobilizations, deployments). On Title 32 federal orders (certain federally funded For Inactive Duty Training (IDT) if an injury occurred (not disease, with limited exceptions) missions). For Active Duty for Training (ADT) if an injury or disease occurred.

Non-Qualifying Service: State Active Duty (SAD) ordered by a Governor (e.g., natural disasters, riots) Drill weekends alone (unless injured during drill)

No, VA compensation does not affect social security or medicare benefits.

Yes, the VA does offer burial benefits for veterans. These benefits may include a burial allowance, plot allowance, burial in a National Cemetery, transportation allowance, gravestone or marker, burial flag, and memorial certificates.

Every accredited representative is assigned an accreditation number by VA. Ask your representative for their accreditation number to verify if they are legitimate.

VA does not add ratings to determine an overall rating. They instead employ the whole body concept and the combined ratings table to determine a veteran's overall rating. Using this method, each disability percentage is taken away from what's left of the veteran after other disabilities are already taken away. Example: A veteran receives two 10% ratings. The veteran starts completely whole (100%) and then loses 10% because of the first disability. Now there is 90% of the veteran left. The second disability is also 10% so that is taken away from the 90% of the veteran that is left. This leaves the veteran as 81% whole, and 19% disabled; the VA will assign a 20% rating.

Most claims take 3-6 months after filing but complex cases and appeals can take longer.

With BDD claims submitted 180-90 days prior to separation, VA attempts to start compensation exams soon after receiving the claim.

Yes — hypertension is now recognized as a presumptive condition related to Agent Orange under the PACT Act.

No, there is no limit to the number of claims a veteran can file, but if they wish to reopen a claim that was previously denied they may need to provide new evidence.

No. VA disability compensation is federal and state tax-free.

Accrued benefits are benefits that were owed to the veteran at the time of death but not yet payed.

These are conditions that develop because of a service-connected disability (e.g., knee injury causing back problems).

Presumptive cancers may include brain, respiratory, gastrointestinal, head/neck, pancreatic, reproductive, and lymphatic cancers.

Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) allows veterans to receive 100% disability compensation if they cannot maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected conditions. Qualification requires a 60% rating for one condition, or a 70% combined rating (with at least one 40% rating), and evidence of unemployability.

Veterans who served in certain locations (like Iraq, Afghanistan, Persian Gulf, and related airspace) during specific periods are presumed to have exposure to burn pits if they have qualifying conditions.

Presumptive conditions include certain cancers (bladder, prostate, leukemia), diabetes type 2, Parkinson’s disease, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and other illnesses.

You can contact your BDD rep or BDD@VFW.ORG where we will continue to support you by guiding you through the appeals process.

A presumptive condition is one the VA automatically connects to service if you meet certain criteria (such as time, location, or exposure), meaning you don’t need to prove a medical nexus.

Countable income includes income from all sources, such as VA compensation or military retired pay, Social Security, retirement pensions, wages, and other sources. The VA subtracts certain unreimbursed medical expenses from the countable income to determine the veteran's or surviving spouse's adjusted income.

Helpful evidence includes but is not limited to:

• Service treatment records
• VA or private medical records
• Medical opinions linking the condition to service
• Lay statements from the veteran, family, or fellow service members

During a compensation and pension (C&P) examination, the VA examiner will look at the claimed condition to determine the severity and whether it is at least as likely as not related to military service or another service connected condition. The purpose of a C&P examination is not to offer medical treatment, rather it is to record the diagnosis, cause, and severity of your condition.

If you miss your exam, contact your accredited representative immediately. A missed exam could cause your claim to be denied.

If denied, you have the right to appeal. Options include:

• Supplemental Claim (with new evidence)
• Higher-Level Review
• Appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals

If a veteran passes away while a claim is pending, surviving dependents may be able to continue the claim or appeal the decision and receive any accrued benefits.

VA can help find your service records, but if they are unavailable, a claim can still be granted using other evidence.

If you disagree with a decision made by VA, there is an appeal process; however, most appeals must be submitted within one year of VA's decision. The VA has several appeal options including Regional Office appeals and appeals at the Board of Veterans Appeals.

If you have the symptoms of a condition that you think is related to service but no diagnosis yet, still file a claim or intent to file. VA can assist with the diagnosis at a C&P examination.

Even if a condition is diagnosed years later, it may still be related to military service or caused by a condition related to military service and may be able to be service connected.

You can file a Supplemental Claim for reevaluation under the new presumptive rules.

A Claim Shark is someone that takes advantage of veterans and their families by charging fees to “Consult” or “Assist” with their VA Claim. These Claim Sharks attempt to charge fees that are sometimes in the tens of thousands of dollars for their exploitative and unethical practices. Claim Sharks are not VA accredited, meaning they aren’t required to stick to the ethical standards that accreditation brings so their advice can often be misleading or even fraudulent.

A DD214 is a military document that proves an individual's military service. It contains information such as the dates of service, locations served, military awards, and units served with. You can request a copy of your DD214 through the national archives.

A Higher-Level Review is a re-examination of your claim by a more senior VA reviewer. No new evidence is allowed, but you may request an informal conference.

A lay statement is a written statement from the veteran or someone who knows them describing symptoms, events, or how the condition affects daily life. VA takes lay statements seriously and they can help grant a claim.

A Service Connected disability is an injury or disease that is a result of active military service, or that has been made worse because of active military service. Service connected disabilities can be directly linked to service, or they can linked to another service connected disability.

A Supplemental Claim allows you to submit new and relevant evidence after a denial or unfavorable decision.

Veterans who served in Vietnam, certain Korea locations, on ships offshore, or in newly added locations under the PACT Act are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange, and if you have a condition linked to Agent Orange Exposure, you may receive service connected benefits.

The VA Intent to File (ITF) allows veterans or dependents to notify the VA that they will file a claim for benefits. This preserves the effective date of the claim for up to one year from the submission of the ITF and allows time to gather evidence for the claim. An ITF can be filed using VA Form 21-0996 and can be submitted to the VA using eBenefits, by calling the VA at (800) 827-1000, or by contacting an accredited representative.

DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit for surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents of service members who died on active duty or veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease. Dependents of veterans who were totally disabled due to service-connected conditions for 10 years prior to their passing are also eligible for DIC.

Note on remarrying:
If a surviving spouse of a veteran remarries before age 55, all DIC benefits will be terminated. If remarried after 55, DIC remains active.

The Individual Unemployability benefit pays veterans with service connected disabilities that are preventing them from working at the 100% compensation rate for as long as they cannot maintain employment.

Non-Service Connected Pension provides financial assistance to wartime veterans and their surviving spouses who have limited income and assets. NSC pension is designed to support individuals who are in financial need and who may not be eligible for other VA programs due to a lack of service-related disabilities.

You must have qualifying military service in a listed location/time and a current diagnosis of a presumptive condition.

Survivors Pension is a needs-based benefit available to un-remarried surviving spouses and unmarried dependent children of deceased wartime veterans. Similar to Non-Service Connected Pension for veterans, the surviving dependent will qualify based on income limits, net worth limits, and the service requirements of the veteran.

It’s a voluntary VA registry where veterans can record exposures and track their health, which can help the VA understand their issues but is not required to file a claim.

The Benefits Delivered on Discharge (BDD) program allows active-duty service members (SM) to apply for VA disability compensation benefits between 90 to 180 days prior to their separation from active duty military service. If benefits are granted from a BDD claim, they will be retroactive to the day after the veteran separated from service. Eligibility: SMs may use the BDD program if they meet ALL the following criteria:

• On full-time active duty (Including members of the Guard or Reserves)
• Have a confirmed separation date
• File a claim 90-180 days prior to the actual separate date
• Attend VA exams within 45 days of the date the claim was submitted
• Provide a copy of their complete service treatment record (STR) for the current period of service
• Complete Part A of the Separation Health Assessment (SHA) BDD claims are decided in the same manner as every other VA compensation claim; the intent and benefit of this program is to give service members the ability to complete the development of their claim while still on active duty. This allows VA to provide a decision as close to their discharge date as possible.
  Any accredited representative can assist a service member with their BDD claim; however, VFW National Veterans Service (NVS) has a team of Pre-Discharge Representatives located on or near major military installations across the country to assist with BDD claims.

The BVA reviews appeals that have been forwarded from the VA Regional Office. If appealed to the BVA, a BVA Law Judge will review the appeal and issue a decision.

The effective date is the date the VA uses to start paying benefits. It is usually:

• The date VA received the claim, or
• The date of an Intent to File (if completed within one year)

The PACT Act (Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022) expanded VA benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, herbicides (like Agent Orange), radiation, and other toxic substances.

VA pre-need burial is a program that allows eligible veterans and their families to get an advance determination of their eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery. This helps simplify the process for family members after the veteran's death by pre-determining eligibility for benefits like a grave, headstone, grave liner, and burial flag.

VA compensation is a monthly tax-free payment made to veterans for service connected disabilities that are rated at 10% or more. VA compensation is based on the severity of the veteran’s service connected conditions and is assigned in increments of 10%. (i.e. there is no 95%)

Asthma (diagnosed after service), chronic bronchitis, COPD, chronic sinusitis and rhinitis, sarcoidosis, and interstitial lung disease are among the presumptive respiratory conditions.

The VA presumes more than 20 conditions including various cancers (brain, respiratory, gastrointestinal) and respiratory illnesses like asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, and pulmonary fibrosis.

You can claim:

• Physical injuries (e.g., back, knee, hearing loss)
• Mental health conditions (e.g., PTSD, depression, anxiety)
• Illnesses caused by toxic exposure (e.g., Agent Orange, burn pits)
• Conditions that worsened because of service
• Secondary conditions caused by a service-connected disability

Agent Orange was a herbicide used in the Vietnam War to defoliate jungle areas. It contained toxic dioxins linked to many serious health conditions. It is not a condition to be claimed.

If you are a service member with 180-90 days left in service you can file your claim. If you have less than 90 days left in service, you will need to wait until you separate to file your claim. If you are a veteran or suviving dependent, you can file a claim at any time.

You can start your BDD claim anytime between 180 -90 days away from your separation or retirement date.

Veterans may be able to add their spouse, children, and dependent parents to a claim. However, the veteran must be rated at 30% disabled to receive additional benefits for their dependents.

You may be eligible if you:

• Served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training
• Have a current medical condition
• Can show a connection (nexus) between the condition and your military service

No. VA will send your rating notification letter in the mail after your separation or retirement once your DD 214 is received.