Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Disabled Veterans Benefits

By Paul Bright

Some military service members will be injured in the line of duty, be it peacetime or during war. Although these veterans receive medical treatment during their service, they do not receive workman's compensation or special pay while still serving. However, these veterans can be considered disabled after their discharge and are eligible for financial, state and federal benefits.

Veterans qualify for many benefits according to their Veterans Administration rating. Each claimed injury receives a benefit percentage, if the VA determines the claim is valid. The ratings are cumulative. For example, a veteran receiving 10 percent for a broken knee and 20 percent for a head injury would count as a 30 percent-rated veteran. These percentages are equal to the financial compensation based upon the rate and dependents as shown in the additional resources below.

Veterans are eligible to receive medical treatment at any Veterans Administration Hospital in the world. Treatment for rated disabilities is often free; however, treatment preferences are dependent upon the veteran's disability rating. Veterans with at least 10 percent disability are not subject to co-pays for 30-day refills on medications. Veterans receiving treatment for service-connected disabilities can be reimbursed for travel expenses.

Disabled veterans are given priority in federal employment. Veterans with a 10 percent to 30 percent service-connected disability have 5 to 10 points added to their passing examination score for certain job applications, depending on when they served or what war campaigns they served under. Ten points also are added to the score of veterans with 30 percent or more disability, no matter when they served.

Each state determines its own benefits for disabled veterans. Some states, like California, give employment preference points to disabled veterans applying for state jobs. California also provides free passes to any national or state park in California for veterans with at least a 50 percent service-connected disability. In Montana, 100 percent disabled veterans are exempt from state property taxes, while in North Carolina veterans with a 50 percent disability are exempt from hunting and fishing license fees.

The VA's Vocational Rehabilitation Program helps disabled veterans retrain for new jobs if their disabilities prevent them from doing jobs related to their original service training. For example, a veteran who receives disability for lower back injuries as a jet engine mechanic may not be able to do maintenance work after his service. However, the Vocational Rehabilitation Program could pay for his re-training into an administrative job. The program may also pay for special equipment, such as ergonomically-designed office equipment to help the disabled veteran perform his duties.


http://www.lenderva.com

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