VETERANS BENEFITS MICHAEL L. KILLEN SENIOR NATIONAL SERVICE OFFICER PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA

TABLE OF CONTENTS Veteran Service Organizations Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation Disability Pension Survivor’s Benefits Health Care Benefits Burial Benefits State/Local Veteran Benefits

VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION Congressionally chartered Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) are recognized or approved to represent veterans and their dependents for the purpose of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims under the laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs National Veterans Service Organizations (e.g. AL, DAV, MOPH, PVA, VFW, VVA) www.va.gov/vso State Veterans Service Officers www.va.gov/statedva or www.nasdva.us County Veterans Service Officers www.nacvso.org

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Administers a variety of benefits and services for veterans, their dependents and survivors Regional Benefits Offices Veterans Health Administration (VHA) VA Medical Centers (VAMC) VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics (VA CBOCs) Vet Centers National Cemetery Administration

DISABILITY COMPENSATION Is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to Veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service, related or secondary to disabilities occurring in service and for disabilities presumed to be related to circumstances of military service, even though they may arise after service Certain veterans disabled from treatment in the VA Health Care Eligibility: Must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable The benefit amount is graduated depending on the severity of the disability. Ranging from 0% to 100% in increments of 10% Dependents may affect the amount of compensation (30% or higher)

DISABILITY COMPENSATION Different ways to be granted service connection: Direct Aggravation Secondary Presumptive 1151

DISABILITY COMPENSATION Presumptive Service Connection VA presumes that specific disabilities diagnosed in certain veterans were caused by their service based on the unique circumstances of their military service Within one year from date of discharge are diagnosed with chronic disease (such as arthritis, diabetes, hypertension) Veterans with 90 days of continuous active service or more who are diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Diseases specific to former Prisoners of War (POW) Diseases specific to radiation exposed veterans Veterans exposed to Agent Orange Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam between 1/9/1962 and 5/7/1975 (Boots on the ground) Veterans who served between 4/1/1968 and 8/31/1971 in a unit that operated in or near the Korean DMZ

DISABILITY PENSION Income-based benefit or needs-based benefit who meet certain age or non-service connected disability requirements Eligibility: Discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions Served 90 days of more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war Countable income is below the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) Meet the net worth limitations Age 65 or older or have a permanent and total non-service connected disability that prevents you from working or are a patient in a nursing home or receiving Social Security disability benefits

DISABILITY PENSION Different level of Pension Basic Housebound Aid and Attendance Unreimbursed medical expenses

PERIODS OF WARTIME SERVICE World War II: December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946 Korean War: June 27, 1950 through January 31, 1955 Vietnam War: August 5, 1964 through May 7, 1975 For Veterans who served in-Country before August 5, 1964: February 28, 1961 Gulf War: August 2, 1990 through a date to be set

SURVIVOR’S BENEFITS Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Service connected cause of death Continuously rated totally disabled for a period of 10 years immediately preceding death Continuously rated totally disabled from the date of discharge and for at least 5 years immediately preceding death A former POW who was continuously rated totally disabled for a period of at least year immediately preceding death Death Pension Benefit Survivors’ and Dependents Educational Assistance Accrued Benefits Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA)

HEALTH CARE BENEFITS Basic Eligibility: A person who served in the active military, naval or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable may qualify for VA health care benefits including qualifying Reserve and National Guard members Minimum duty requirements: veterans who enlisted after 9/7/1980 or who entered active duty after 10/16/1981 must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty The minimum duty requirement may not apply to Veterans discharged for hardship, early out, a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty

HEALTH CARE BENEFITS Priority Groups: Group 1: Veterans who are service connected rated 50% or more Group 2: Veterans who are service connected rated 30% or 40% Group 3: Veterans who are former POWs; Purple Heart recipients; Medal of Honor recipients; discharged for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty: Veterans who are service connected rated as 10% or 20%; Veterans receiving 1151 benefits Group 4: veterans receiving pension based on aid & attendance; veterans determined to be Catastrophic Disabled Group 5: Veterans who have a non-compensable service connected (0%) rating; Veterans receiving NSC Pension; and Veterans eligible for Medicaid benefits

HEALTH CARE BENEFITS Priorities Groups continued: Group 6: Veterans receiving compensable 0% service connected disabilities; Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation; Veterans who have environmental exposures; Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after 11/11/1998: Veterans discharged after 1/28/2003 for 5 years post discharge; Camp Lejeune veterans who served no fewer than 30 days beginning 1/1/1957 and ending 12/31/1987. Group 7: Veterans with incomes below the geographic means test income thresholds and who agree to pay the applicable copayments. Group 8: Veterans with gross household incomes above the VA national income threshold and the geographically-adjusted income threshold for their residential location and who agree to pay co- payments. 6 different Subpriority Groups

HEALTH CARE BENEFITS Veterans Choice Program Medical Services and Medication Co-payments Prosthetics Durable Medical Equipment Long-term Care Services Mental Health Treatment Caregiver Programs and Services

BURIAL BENEFITS Eligibility: Veterans discharged from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable; Service members who die while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training; and spouses and depen­ dent children of Veterans and active duty service members, may be eligible for VA burial and memorial benefits. Burial in VA National Cemeteries Headstone, Markers, and Medallions Presidential Memorial Certificates Burial Flags Reimbursement of Burial Expenses Service connected cause of death Non-service connected cause of death

STATE/LOCAL VETERAN BENEFITS Property tax relief Free or Reduced Rate Passes Motor Vehicles Licenses Reduced Fishing/Hunting License State Park Pass Reduced Public Transportation Fees Sales Tax Exemption / Adapted Housing for Disabled Veterans Tuition Waiver or Reduced Tuition Employment Preference and Re-employment Rights www.nasdva.us

TOLL FREE NUMBERS Health Care Benefits Life Insurance Benefits VBA National Call Center 1-800-827-1000 Educational Benefits 1-888-442-4551 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 Health Care Benefits 1-877-222-8387 Life Insurance Benefits 1-800-669-8477 Headstones and Markers 1-800-697-6947 Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) 1-800-829-4833

RESOURCES Department of Veterans Affairs Find a VA Facility www.va.gov Veterans Health Administration www.va.gov/health VA Health Care Eligibility www.va.gov/healtheligibility Veterans Benefits Administration www.vba.va.gov VA Cemetery Administration www.cem.va.gov CHAMPVA www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/champva VHA Forms and Publications www.va.gov/vhapublications Veteran Data www.va.gov/vetdata National Center for PTSD www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/index.jsp VA Hospice and Palliative Care www.va.gov/GeriatricsSHG/page.cfm?pg=65

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