Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Benefits
Service-Connected Disability Compensation Claims
VA Compensation is a monetary compensation for Service-Connected Disabilities through the VA. Service-Connected disabilities are VA ratings by the Veterans Benefits Administration relating diagnosed disabilities to service.
VA disability compensation
VA Service-Connected Disability Fact Sheet:
https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/Compensation.pdf
Veterans and Survivors Pension Claims
VA Pension is a program that provides aid for veterans and dependents of veterans that served during a wartime period. If eligible, the VA will look at income, net worth, and medical expenses.
VA pension benefits
VA Pension Fact Sheet:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/limitedincome/livepension.pdf
Aid, Attendance and Housebound is a determination made by a doctor based off the need of activities of daily living support. It is a monetary increase to VA pension benefit through the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). Information can be found at: https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/
**It is not the VA caring for veterans at home, that is a benefit through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) called Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care and information on this can be found at: https://www.va.gov/geriatrics/pages/Homemaker_and_Home_Health_Aide_Care.asp
Homebound/Aid and Attendance Fact Sheet:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/limitedincome/EnhancedorSpecialPension.pdf
Special Monthly Compensation
VA special monthly compensation (SMC) is a higher rate of compensation that is paid to Veterans as well as their spouses, surviving spouses, and parents with certain needs or disabilities.
2020 VA special monthly compensation rates
VA SMC Fact Sheet:
https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/smc.pdf
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
DIC is compensation for surviving dependents who meet VA criteria of veterans that died while serving or due to a service-connected disability.
DIC for spouses, dependents, and parents
VA DIC Fact Sheet:
https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/survivors/dic.pdf
VA Home Loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
VA Home Loan COE is a certificate that states the VA is guaranteeing a veteran's loan which allows for Veterans to have a more favorable debt to income ratio, borrow up to 100% of the home value, not have Primary Mortgage Insurance (PMI), as well as other benefits.
VA Home Loans
VA Home Loan Guarantee Fact Sheet:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/homeloans/VA_Guaranteed_Home_Loans.pdf
Burial Benefits
The VA has a suite of burial and or death benefits depending on certain criteria. Some of these benefits are Burial and Plot allowances, funeral honors, burial flag, and more.
VA burial benefits and memorial items
Burial and Plot Allowance Fact Sheet:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/burials/Burial.pdf
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (Formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) provides services to help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching.
VR&E
VR&E Fact Sheet:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/serviceconnected/Ch31FactSheet.pdf
Life Insurance
VA has some life insurance options that are especially valuable if you have service-connected disabilities that limit you from attaining private life insurance.
VA Life Insurance options
SDV-I Fact Sheet:
https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/insurance/SDVI.pdf
Veterans ID Card
Types of Veteran ID cards
There are 5 different ID Cards that are related to Veterans, most veterans are not eligible for all of them and they are issued by 5 different entities.
Veterans Health Administration ID Card
This ID Card is for Veterans that are currently enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration Healthcare or VA Medical Centers.
Veterans Health ID Card
Department of Defense ID Card
Only for currently serving members of the armed forces or retirees.
CAC ID Card
State Drivers License Identifier
This is an identifier on your state drivers license stating you are a veteran
Veteran Designation on California Driver License and ID Card
Santa Clara County Veterans ID
This is an ID issued by the Santa Clara County Veterans Office stating you are a veteran.
VA Education Benefits
The VA has a suite of education benefits that are earned through service in the Department of Defense (DOD) or National Guard Bureau (NGB) or by being the dependent of a veteran. Each of these benefits has its own criteria for eligibility. Keep in mind that there are also State education benefits and if you are currently serving, possible Education benefits from your branch of service.
VA education and training benefits
Appeals
If you disagree with a decision made by the VA, this is an avenue to appeal that decision. It is very important to work with a Veteran Service Representative (VSR) when looking at appeals as there is a lot of things to consider when looking into the appeal process.
Decision Reviews