What are the Eligibility Criteria for Disability Claims?

The US VA Department provides several benefits and compensation to veterans who have faced disabilities during their service. Depending upon the disability rating, the veteran is eligible for a set compensation. Also, the authorities will either approve or reject the claim application based on the veteran’s eligibility for the claim.

On common grounds, to avail VA disability claims, the veteran must have a disability that was caused during military service. The applicant can also be eligible for the claim if the illness or disability has a secondary service connection. Another major point here is that the applicant should have been released from his services under honorable conditions.

Eligibility Criteria for VA Disability Claims

The VA authorities consider several factors based on which the veterans are marked eligible for the claim.

Existing Illness or Disability:

You will be eligible for a claim if you are currently suffering from a disability due to an accident that occurred during your military service period. You will also be eligible for the claim if your service-time injury has deteriorated, leading to current-day disability.

Service Connection:

The illness or disability should have a relation to military service in either of the cases:

• Direct Connection: The health condition has a direct connection, as the injury took place during the service.
• Secondary Service Connection: It may happen that the current illness took place as a result of the disability caused during the service.
• Aggravation of an Earlier Condition: If you already have an illness or disability before joining the military, and the service has aggravated the condition, then you are also eligible for a claim.

Honorable Discharge:

Even when the earlier eligibility criteria are met, your claim will get approved only when you have been discharged from your service on honorable grounds.

So, if you are about to apply for a discharge claim, do check whether you meet all the eligibility boxes as mentioned above or not to avoid rejection.

Examples of Service-Connected Illness

If you are confused about which health conditions are considered for the claim, you can take a hint from a few of the common examples. Injuries during service or even training are the most common health conditions. Apart from that, there are some more examples that you can check out.

Mental Health:

Veterans who have served the nation on the warfront may suffer from poor mental health conditions such as PTSD. Such conditions are eligible for the claim if you have proper documents.

Sleep Apnea:

Sleep apnea is another health concern covered under the claim that may have developed post-service period. This may cause difficulty in current employment or maintaining a lifestyle.

Hearing Conditions:

The veterans have to deal with heavy weapon noise or even bomb blasts. It is quite natural to come up with issues like tinnitus or other conditions leading to hearing loss. So, the disability claim provides support for this condition too.

Post-Service Conditions:

Certain health conditions may arise after the service. For example, an illness that may have happened due to exposure to burn pits or herbicides. If you have evidence that the illness is a result of the exposure during the service period, you are eligible for the claim.

Health conditions during and post-service can make life extremely difficult for the veterans as well as their family members. Disability claims provide the rightful support to make life a bit easier. However, you must know the eligibility criteria well to avail the claim and gain benefits out of it.