Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jamean Berry. The disability benefits that veterans receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs have become the subject of a growing number of policy papers and editorials that argue those benefits are too generous or too easily given out.
However, what is often missing from those arguments is the reality behind the process — the steps veterans have to go through, the evidence they have to provide to prove their injuries were a result of their service, and how those benefits are tallied up and assigned a value. Veterans health benefits, particularly disability compensation, are far from simple or easy to navigate. They revolve around disability ratings, which range from 0 to 100% and despite claims to the contrary that have cropped up on social media — and in discussions on veterans’ care — disability benefits are not equivalent to welfare and being a “disabled veteran” in the eyes of the VA, does not bar someone from full-time work.
Between combat, training, and everyday accidents, veterans can leave military service with a number of debilitating injuries and illnesses, the most severe of which may qualify for a 100% disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs. These veterans often face growing medical expenses over their lifetime and their health conditions make it difficult for them to work at the level they’d be at if they hadn’t been injured as a result of their service.
Here’s how the VA determines eligibility ratings and what they actually mean. Veterans disability benefits are not an entitlement
The first step in the process is that a veteran must submit a claim, which the VA then reviews before determining whether the veteran is eligible for benefits under the applicable federal regulation, according to the VA. After applying private medical records, military records, and other required documents, the VA determines whether a veteran’s disabilities are connected to their service.
The VA then decides if the veteran needs to undergo a VA examination, and based on the evidence presented, it assigns the veteran a rating based on the criteria found within the VA […]
What is a ‘100% disability’ rating and what does that actually mean for veterans
