Disability Compensation

Disability compensation is available to Veterans injured during active duty military service or who have a pre-existing disability that worsened during their active duty service.

Common examples include:

• Hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing or buzzing sounds in your ears) after exposure to loud noises without adequate hearing protection
• Chronic pain and/or loss of range of motion in your back, shoulders, hips, arms, legs, feet or hands because of marching long distances while carrying heavy packs or weighted items
• Nightmares, flashbacks to your time in service, challenges in crowded places or frequent fears from exposure to stressful environments or situations

For those eligible and approved, you receive a tax-free monthly disability compensation payment from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

There is no time limit to file a claim for disability compensation. It does not matter how many years have passed since your date of discharge from the military.

If you already have a disability compensation rating from the VA, but your medical condition has worsened, you may file another claim for a higher monthly payout based on the worsening of your medical condition.

Special rules apply for certain medical conditions for

• Veterans who served in the Gulf War
• Veterans who were exposed to toxic fumes from burn pits
• Veterans who served in Vietnam and certain other areas of Southeast Asia
• Veterans who were exposed to ionizing radiation
• Veterans who served at Camp Lejeune
• Veterans who now suffer from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (“Lou Gehrig’s Disease”)