You may be eligible for veterans’ benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA offers a wide range of health care, education, life insurance, home loan guaranty, disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits and programs. You can learn about VA benefits at a VA benefits briefing or from VA’s eBenefits website. Briefings presented by experienced and knowledgeable VA benefits counselors are held regularly on all major military installations. VA counselors can tell you about your benefits, outline eligibility criteria, answer your questions and even give you advice for completing and filing your applications.
VA Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Online Courses available on the eBenefits website enable you to learn about VA federal benefits at your convenience. You can complete benefit courses electronically to develop an understanding of all VA benefits you may be entitled to as you transition from active duty. In addition, eBenefits FAQs answer the most frequently asked benefits questions. Be sure to go to the Department of Veterans Affairs website, which contains excellent information.
Disabled Veterans Benefits
If you are leaving the Army with a service connected disability, you may be eligible for one of several federal programs designed to assist your transition and provide for your and your family's future. You do not need to be medically discharged or retired to qualify for some of these programs. Your eligibility will be determined based on the degree of disability and its cause. Your ACAP Center can help you identify sources of additional information available on the installation or you can locate information online at VA and Veteran’s Services Links.
Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP)
The Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP) is an integral component of transition assistance that involves intervention on behalf of service members who may be released because of a disability or who believe they have a disability qualifying them for VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. The goal of DTAP is to encourage and assist potentially eligible service members in making an informed decision about VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. It is also intended to expedite the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services to eligible veterans with compensable service-connected disabilities services and assistance to help them achieve maximum independence in daily living and to become employable and maintain suitable employment.
DTAP presentations are generally group sessions that include a comprehensive discussion of VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program and educational/vocational counseling available to separating service members and veterans. Usually, the VA Regional Office VR&E Officer will coordinate DTAP sessions for those service members who are hospitalized, convalescing or receiving outpatient treatment for a disability and who are unable to attend a DTAP group session. DTAP sessions may include a review of a service member's medical records.
VA Disability Benefits
Medical Care:
The VA provides medical care for disabled veterans with service-connected disabilities. The VA makes an important distinction between veterans based on the nature of their disability. This distinction, service-connected or non-service connected, determines the cost and availability of VA medical services. Any veteran who was disabled by injury or disease incurred or aggravated in the line of duty during active military service will receive VA medical care on a priority basis. Contact the VA for more information or visit their website.
CHAMPVA:
The VA's Civilian Health and Medical Program helps pay for medical services and supplies a veteran's family members and survivors obtain from civilian sources. To qualify, family members and survivors must not be eligible for TRICARE. Contact the VA for more information or read the online CHAMPVA Handbook.
Disability Compensation:
The VA pays monetary benefits to veterans who were disabled by injury or disease incurred or aggravated in the line of duty during active military service. To obtain a VA disability rating, you must file a claim with the VA using VA Form 21-526, Veterans Application for Compensation and/or Pension. This serves to notify the VA about your health problems so that service connected disabilities can be evaluated. There is no time limit to apply for VA disability compensation. However, you are encouraged to apply within one year of your release from active duty because entitlement is established retroactively to the date of separation if your claim is filed within this period. The effective date of eligibility for benefits will be based on the date of your claim if you apply after the one-year period. Contact the VA for more information or visit their website.
Vocational Rehabilitation:
The VA's Vocational Rehabilitation program provides necessary services and assistance to veterans with service connected disabilities so they may achieve independence and obtain and maintain suitable employment. Vocational Rehabilitation can include college, technical school or on-the-job training or special training at rehabilitation facilities or at home when it is necessary because of a serious disability. Vocational Rehabilitation services include, in part, assessment, counseling, training, subsistence allowances and employment assistance. VA also will assist you with job placement. While you are enrolled in a Vocational Rehabilitation program, VA pays the cost of tuition, fees, required books, supplies and equipment. VA also may pay for special supportive services such as medical and dental care, prosthetic devices, lip-reading training and signing for the deaf. For more information contact the Department of Veterans Affairs or visit their website.
Disabled Veterans Insurance:
If you are in good health, except for a service-connected disability, you may apply for up to $10,000 in life insurance coverage at standard insurance rates. You must apply within two years from the date you are notified that your disability has been rated as service connected. If you are totally disabled, you may apply for up to $20,000 in life insurance coverage. Your premiums on the first $10,000 in coverage will be waived. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs or visit their website.