VA Disability Compensation is a tax-exempt benefit for individuals who became ill or injured during military service or whose service aggravated a preexisting condition.
The benefit is paid for physical or mental health conditions.
Depending on the circumstances, the benefit can be extended to surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents of disabled veterans.
Disability Requirements
The basic requirements for VA disability are:
- The veteran has a current illness or injury that affects their body or mind
- The veterans served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training
At least one of the following additional requirements must also be true:
- The veteran got sick or injured while serving in the military—and this condition can be linked to their current illness or injury or
- The veteran had an illness or injury before joining the military—and military service made it worse, or
- The veteran had a disability related to their active-duty service that didn’t appear until after they completed their service.
Presumptive conditions
A presumptive condition is a condition the VA assumes was caused by military service. When filing a claim for VA disability, the veteran does not need to prove a presumptive condition.
There are many different presumptive health conditions for military personnel exposed to Agent Orange, asbestos, burn pits, contaminated water, and other types of toxins, chemicals and harmful substances.
For example, presumptive health conditions for Agent Orange exposure include:
- Bladder cancer
- Chronic B-cell leukemia
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Prostate cancer
- Respiratory cancers
- Some soft tissue sarcomas
- AL amyloidosis
- Chloracne (or other types of acneiform disease like it)
- Diabetes mellitus type 2
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Hypothyroidism
- Ischemic heart disease
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
- Parkinsonism
- Parkinson’s disease
- Peripheral neuropathy, early onset
- Porphyria cutanea tarda
To qualify for Agent Orange disability compensation, you must not only have an Agent Orange presumptive condition but also have served in a location that resulted in Agent Orange exposure.
The PACT Act
The PACT Act of 2022 is the largest expansion of VA health care and benefits in the agency’s history.
It includes:
- Increased VA health care eligibility for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras
- Over 20 new presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures
- Increased presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation
- VA toxic exposure screening for every Veteran enrolled in VA health care
Presumptive-Exposure Service Locations Summary
Between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, the veteran must have served for any length of time in at least one of these locations:
- In the Republic of Vietnam, or
- Aboard a U.S. military vessel that operated in the inland waterways of Vietnam, or
- On a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia
Or the veteran must have served in at least one of these PACT Act locations:
- Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976, orÂ
- Laos from December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969, or
- Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969, or
- Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 31, 1980, or
- Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977
Or at least one of these must be true:
- The veteran served in or near the Korean DMZ for any length of time between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971, or
- The veteran served on active duty in a regular Air Force unit location where a C-123 aircraft with traces of Agent Orange was assigned, and had repeated contact with this aircraft due to your flight, ground, or medical duties, or
- The veteran was involved in transporting, testing, storing, or other uses of Agent Orange during your military service, or
- The veteran was assigned as a Reservist to certain flight, ground, or medical crew duties at one of the locations listed here
If you served in the Reserves, eligible time periods and locations include:
- Lockbourne/Rickenbacker Air Force Basein Ohio, 1969 to 1986 (906th and 907th Tactical Air Groups or 355th and 356th Tactical Airlift Squadrons)
- Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts, 1972 to 1982 (731st Tactical Air Squadron and 74th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, or 901st Organizational Maintenance Squadron)
- Pittsburgh International Airport in Pennsylvania, 1972 to 1982 (758th Airlift Squadron)
Applying for VA Disability
The application process for disability compensation involves a comprehensive medical evaluation to assess the impact of the veteran’s condition on their life and ability to work.
This evaluation is used to determine the veteran’s disability rating (0% to 100%) and the amount of monetary compensation the person will receive.
Special Monthly Compensation
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is a tax-free benefit paid to veterans in addition to their disability compensation.
Types of SMC disabilities include:
- Loss of hands and/or feet
- Paralysis of limbs or unable to move a joint
- Cannot see in at least one eye
- Loss of hearing in both ears
- Unable to talk
Veterans can also receive SMC for service-connected disabilities that cause the person to be housebound, bedridden or needing help with daily living activities.
To learn more about VA disability and how obtain veteran and spouse benefits, click here.
