VA, VA disability compensation eligibility

Eligibility For VA Disability Benefits | Veterans Affairs Skip to Content An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you're connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and sent securely. Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now Disability benefits Get benefits Eligibility Exposure to hazardous materials Specific environmental hazards Agent Orange Asbestos Mustard gas or lewisite Camp Lejeune water contamination Radiation exposure Project 112/SHAD Gulf War Illnesses SW Asia Gulf War Illnesses Afghanistan Former POWs PTSD Illnesses within 1 year after discharge Special claims Auto allowance and adaptive equipment Birth defects Clothing allowance Dental care Temporary disability rating after surgery or cast Increase for time in hospital Prestabilization rating Title 38 U.S.C. 1151 claims Individual unemployability Elegibilidad Exposure to hazardous materials Former POWs PTSD Illnesses within 1 year after discharge Special claims How to file a claim When to file Pre-discharge claim Evidence needed Fully Developed Claims program Standard claims File additional forms for your disability claim Cómo presentar una reclamación When to file Evidence needed File additional forms for your disability claim File a claim online After you file your claim Después de presentar su reclamación Manage benefits Check claim, decision review, or appeal status View your disability ratings File for increased disability Request a decision review Add or remove a dependent Upload evidence to support your disability claim Verify individual unemployability status Change your address File additional forms for your disability claim Change your VA direct deposit information Review medical records online Download VA benefit letters View disability payment history More resources Disability compensation rates Veterans disability compensation rates Past rates: 2025 Past rates: 2024 Past rates: 2023 Special monthly compensation rates Past rates: 2025 Past rates: 2024 Past rates: 2023 Special benefit allowances rates Past rates: 2025 Past rates: 2024 Past rates: 2023 Birth defect compensation rates Past rates: 2025 Past rates: 2024 Past rates: 2023 About disability ratings After you get a rating Get help from an accredited representative VA claim exam (C&P exam) Effective dates Fiduciary help In this section Eligibility for VA disability benefits VA disability compensation provides tax-free monthly payments. If you have a service-connected condition, you may be eligible for compensation. A service-connected condition means an illness or injury that was caused by—or got worse because of—your active military service. Keep reading to find out if you may be eligible. The PACT Act expands benefit access for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances The PACT Act is a new law that expands access to VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve. Learn how the PACT Act may affect your VA benefits and care Am I eligible for VA disability compensation? You may be eligible for VA disability benefits or compensation if you meet both of these requirements. Both of these must be true: You have a current illness or injury (known as a condition) that affects your mind or body, and You served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training And at least one of these must be true: You got sick or injured while serving in the military—and can link this condition to your illness or injury (called an in-service disability claim), or You had an illness or injury before you joined the military—and serving made it worse (called a pre-service disability claim), or You have a disability related to your active-duty service that didn’t appear until after you ended your service (called a post-service disability claim) Presumptive conditions For some conditions, we automatically assume (or “presume”) that your service caused your condition. We call these presumptive conditions. If you have a presumptive condition, you don’t need to prove that your service caused the condition. You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption. Find out more about these categories of presumptive conditions: A chronic (long-lasting) illness that appears within 1 year after discharge An illness caused by contact with contaminants (toxic chemicals) or other hazardous materials An illness caused by your time spent as a prisoner of war (POW) What should I do if I received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge? If you’ve received one of these discharge statuses, you may not be eligible for VA disability benefits. There are 2 ways you can try to qualify: Apply for a discharge upgrade Ask for a VA Character of Discharge review Learn about applying for a discharge upgrade and requesting a Character of Discharge review How do I file a claim for compensation? You can file a claim online now. You can also file by mail, in person, or with the help of a trained professional. Learn about other ways to file a disability compensation claim What conditions are covered by these benefits? You may be able to get VA disability benefits for conditions like these: Chronic (long-lasting) back pain resulting in a current diagnosed back disability Breathing problems resulting from a current lung condition or lung disease Severe hearing loss Scar tissue Loss of range of motion (problems moving your body) Ulcers Cancers or other conditions caused by contact with toxic chemicals or other dangers You may also be able to get VA disability benefits for conditions like these: Anxiety Depression Mental or physical health conditions related to military sexual trauma (MST) Learn about MST and disability compensation Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Get more information Go to our Compensation 101 videos to learn more about how VA disability compensation works: Compensation 101: What is disability compensation? (YouTube) Compensation 101: What is service connection? (YouTube) Learn how we assign severity ratings and how they affect your disability payments. If you have signs of an illness that started within a year after you were discharged from active service, find out if you can get disability benefits. Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) If your service-connected disability limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, find out if you can get VR&E benefits and services—like help exploring employment options and getting more education or training if required. If you’ve been referred to IDES to determine if you’re medically unfit for duty due to a service-connected disability, find out how to access VR&E services as quickly as possible. Last updated: April 23, 2025