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

2. 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

3. 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)
State Veterans Service Officers or
County Veterans Service Officers

4. 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

5. 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)

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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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)

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. TOLL FREE NUMBERS Health Care Benefits Life Insurance Benefits
VBA National Call Center
Educational Benefits
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Health Care Benefits
Life Insurance Benefits
Headstones and Markers
Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD)

19. RESOURCES Department of Veterans Affairs Find a VA Facility
Veterans Health Administration
VA Health Care Eligibility
Veterans Benefits Administration
VA Cemetery Administration
CHAMPVA
VHA Forms and Publications
Veteran Data
National Center for PTSD
VA Hospice and Palliative Care

20. QUESTIONS??????

21. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE