U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA Benefits and Services For Retired Personnel

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan…” - Abraham Lincoln -

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ADOLFO PONCE MILITARY SERVICES COORDINATOR WOUNDED WARRIOR BATTALION (760) / (619) (CELL) CAMP PENDLETON VA OFFICE BLDG (760)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

DISABILITY COMPENSATION  Disability compensation is a benefit paid to a veteran because of injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty, or were aggravated by military service  Conditions must be chronic and documented in your service medical records  This monetary benefit is tax-free.  There is no time limit to apply (If already service connected and condition has gotten worst – request an increase)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs TO APPLY: Complete VA Form Include if available:  DD Form 214  Copy of Service Medical Records  Medical evidence since discharged (doctor & hospital reports)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs RatingVet OnlyVet+S Vet+S+1CVet+S+2CVet+S+3C 10%$ %$ %$ 376$ 421$ 453$ 475$ %$ 541$ 601$ 644$ 674$ %$ 770$ 845$ 899$ 936$ %$ 974$ 1,064$ 1,129$ 1,174$ 1,219 70%$ 1,228$ 1,333$ 1,409$ 1,461$ 1,513 80%$ 1,427$ 1,547$ 1,634$ 1,694$ 1,754 90%$ 1,601$ 1,739$ 1,837$ 1,904$ 1, %$ 2,673$ 2,823$ 2,932$ 3,007$ 3,082 Compensation Rates W – Spouse C = Child(ren) Rates effective Dec. 1, 2008

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay (CRDP)  DOD Program – benefits are automatically  Concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability compensation for veterans with a 50% or more disability rating from the VA  Retired pay is reduced dollar for dollar by the amount of VA compensation awarded for a disability rating of 40% or less  Military Retired Pay is taxable while VA compensation is not

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay (CRDP) 40% OR LESS Ret Pay$ Comp Pay $ DFAS pays$ VA pays $ Total$ % OR HIGHER Ret Pay$ Comp Pay$ DFAS pays$ VA pays$ Total$ DFAS amount will increase each year until 2013

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)  DOD program – must apply  For combat related disabilities compensated by the VA  Military will determine and notify DFAS which disabilities are combat related  CRSC will not be phased-in like CRDP  Eligible retirees will receive full military pay and full VA disability payments  CRSC is not taxable

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs To Apply for CRSC  Completed DD Form 2860  All DD Form 214’s verifying combat awards  Copies of all VA Rating Decisions, letters and code sheets  Medical records that verify how the injury or disability occurred  Any other evidence to verify condition is combat related  Mail to your Branch of Service

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) DIC is a monthly monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of a:  Military service member who died while on active duty, OR  Veteran whose death resulted from a service- related injury or disease  Rated totally disabled – 10 years prior to death

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs How Much Does VA Pay?  Monthly rate is $1,154 for an eligible surviving spouse. The rate is increased $ for each dependent child under 18  DIC is stopped when spouse remarries  A surviving spouse who remarries after December 16, 2003 after attaining age 57, is entitled to receive DIC

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs How to Apply for DIC? Complete VA Form and include a copy of the Death Certificate

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BURIAL REIMBURSEMENTS Service-Related Death. VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, Nonservice-Related Death. VA will pay up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses, and a $300 plot-interment allowance for deaths on or after December 1, 2001

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs WHO IS ELIGIBLE? You may be eligible for a VA burial allowance if:  You paid for a veteran's burial or funeral AND  You have not been reimbursed by another government agency or some other source, such as the deceased veteran's employer AND  The veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs IN ADDITION, AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS MUST BE MET  The veteran died because of a service- related disability or  The veteran was receiving compensation at the time of death or  The veteran died in a VA hospital, in a nursing home under VA contract, or while in an approved state nursing home.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Burial Benefits National Cemetery Burial Gravesite Opening and Closing Headstone/Marker Burial Flag Funeral Honors Presidential Memorial Certificates Burial Cost Reimbursement Perpetual Care All at No Cost to the Family

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Service Organizations DAV, AmVets, VFW, PVA, VVA, American Legion, American Red Cross, and many others

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Can: Help complete claim forms Answer questions Act as your representative Possible benefits include: Property tax exemptions Education programs Reduced fee for license s (hunting, fishing, etc State Veterans Office *** Each State Is Different ***

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ADOLFO PONCE MILITARY SERVICES COORDINATOR WOUNDED WARRIOR BATTALION (760) / (619) (CELL) CAMP PENDLETON VA OFFICE BLDG (760)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs CHAMPVA CHAMPVA is a health benefits program in which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shares the cost of certain health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Who is eligible for CHAMPVA? CHAMPVA provides coverage to the spouse and children of a veteran who: Ÿis rated permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or Ÿwas rated permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition at the time of death, or Ÿdied of a service-connected disability Beneficiary cannot be eligible for TRICARE.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs What does CHAMPVA pay? In most cases, CHAMPVA pays equivalent to medicare/TRICARE rates.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA Health Administration Center CHAMPVA PO Box Denver, CO Phone: FAX: Website: How do I get more information?

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Other Benefits and Programs Other federal and state programs may be available to you because of your service in the military.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Service Organizations DAV, AmVets, VFW, PVA, VVA, American Legion, American Red Cross, and many others