How to Maximize Your VA Disability Benefits: The Ultimate Guide for 80% Rated Veterans!
If you re a veteran and have an VA disability rating this means the VA recognizes that your service-connected condition has a serious impact on your everyday life You re not just getting a rating for your physical condition issues you re being acknowledged for how much your disability affects your ability to function day to day How Does the VA Figure Out Your Rating The VA doesn t just add up percentages for each of your healthcare issues Instead they have a combined ratings system This means they look at your overall ability to function not just each individual disability So for example if you have two rated conditions they don t just add them together to make It s a bit more complicated but it ultimately gives you a fair overall rating that takes into account your total impact Who s Eligible for VA Disability Benefits So you might be asking Do I even qualify for VA disability benefits To qualify you need to meet a scarce vital requirements Your condition has to be service-connected This means your condition was caused or worsened by your time in the military it could be a physical injury illness or mental wellbeing condition like PTSD You ve served in the military You must have been honorably discharged or discharged under conditions other than dishonorable You need diagnostic evidence You ll need to show that your condition is linked to your military amenity This could be a evaluation from your specialist diagnostic records or something that clearly ties your condition to your facility Still Unsure You re Not Alone If you re not sure if your condition qualifies or you re struggling to gather all the evidence you need you re not the only one Lots of veterans face the same hurdles and that s where Veterans Organization Organizations VSOs come in These groups can help you gather everything you need walk you through the contends process and make sure your claim is as strong as practicable How Much Will You Receive for an Disability Rating Here s a key part of your claim the money As of veterans with an disability rating can expect monthly payments Here s a quick breakdown Single veteran per month Veteran with a spouse and one child This can go up to per month or more depending on your exact situation and how a multitude of dependents you have This isn t meant to replace an income but it s designed to help with the extra costs that come with living with a disability Every bit helps right How to File a VA Disability Claim Filing a claim for disability benefits can feel overwhelming but it s really just about following the right initiatives Here s what you need to do Step Gather Your Physiological Records You ll need to gather all your healthcare records both from your time in utility and any ongoing treatments you ve had This is a really significant step because your health records are the proof that your condition is connected to your arrangement Step Fill Out the VA Claim Form To officially apply you ll need to fill out Form - EZ You can do this online through the VA s website If you d prefer you can also mail it in or visit a local VA office for help Step Submit Your Claim Once you ve filled out the form and gathered everything you need you can submit your claim After that the VA will send you a confirmation and they ll start processing your application It can take time but they ll get back to you as soon as attainable Other Benefits for Veterans with an Disability Rating Being rated at doesn t just mean you get a monthly check there are lots of other benefits that can really make a difference in your life Here are several of the key ones Wellbeing Care With an disability rating you re eligible for VA physical condition care which can cover everything from specialist s visits to hospital stays to prescriptions Special Monthly Compensation SMC If your disability requires special care like needing assistance with daily living programs you might qualify for Special Monthly Compensation which gives you additional financial help VA Home Loan If you re looking to buy a home the VA offers home loans that can be very helpful They typically come with low or no down payment requirements and competitive interest rates Property Tax Exemptions Selected states offer property tax exemptions for veterans with disabilities which can ease the burden of owning a home Tuition Benefits If you have kids they might qualify for schooling benefits which can help with the cost of tuition and other school-related expenses What About TDIU Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability If your disability is so severe that it prevents you from working you may be eligible for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability TDIU This means you could receive compensation at the disability rate even if your combined rating is lower To qualify for TDIU you must meet one of these conditions One disability rated at or higher Multiple disabilities with a combined rating of and at least one condition rated If your disabilities prevent you from working it s definitely worth checking out What if Your Disability Rating Doesn t Feel Right If you feel that your disability rating isn t fair or doesn t reflect the severity of your condition you can appeal the decision The process is called a Notice of Disagreement NOD and it allows the VA to review your claim again It may take various time but it s a way to make sure you get the correct rating You don t have to go through this process alone Veterans Amenity Organizations VSOs can help you with the appeal making sure everything is in order