What is the interplay between Social Security and VA benefits?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) and VA pay disability benefits to eligible individuals and their dependents. However, the specific programs, processes, and criteria of benefits differ significantly between agencies. Generally speaking, VA pays disability compensation, or service-connected disability benefits, to qualifying veterans who are disabled by an injury or illness that was incurred in, or […]
Women Veterans Recognition Day
Women’s Veterans Recognition Day is celebrated annually on June 12 in recognition of the groundbreaking 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act. This legislation opened the doors for women to permanently serve in the United States military. The following month, on July 26, 1948, President Truman also signed Executive Order 9981, mandating the desegregation of the […]
Entitlement to Service Connection and Compensation for Traumatic Brain Injuries
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury? Traumatic Brain Injury, more commonly referred to as a TBI, can be caused by a forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, or from an object that pierces the skull and enters the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. […]
Proposals to Reduce
If VA grants a veteran service connection for a disability, it then must assign a rating (or a percentage) for that disability. The rating for a disability is assigned based on the evidence of record. VA reviews the evidence and interprets which rating is appropriate based on a rating schedule. The rating schedule is set […]
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC)
History of the CAVC The CAVC was established by the Veterans’ Judicial Review Act, signed into law by President Reagan in November 1988. Prior to the establishment of the CAVC, veterans did not have a court of law where they might appeal decisions made on their veteran benefits. This meant a decision from the Board […]
Month of May: National Military Appreciation Month
National Military Appreciation month, celebrated throughout the month of May, was designated as a month for U.S. citizens to honor and appreciate those who served in the Armed Forces. It was officially designated by Congress in 1999 as a way of encouraging unity throughout the nation. Within the month, there are specific days of recognition […]
The 15th Anniversary of Rice v. Shinseki
Today, May 6, 2024, marks the 15th anniversary of Rice v. Shinseki (22 Vet.App. 447 (2009)). In this landmark Court of Appeals for Veteran’s Claims case, the Court held VA has a duty to consider a Veteran’s eligibility for TDIU (a Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability) whenever evaluating the Veteran’s claim for an appropriate […]
Silver Star Service Banner Day
In 2010, the US Congress passed a resolution that officially designated May 1st as National Silver Star Service Banner Day in order to recognize and remember service members who have been wounded in combat, are sick, and those who are dying. Traditionally, military families have displayed banners in a window in their place of residence. […]
Presumptive Service Connection Benefits
3 Elements of Direct Service Connection Generally, when we talk about service connected disability compensation, we’re referring to the 3 elements of direct service connection. To establish entitlement to service connection on a direct basis (i.e., the condition is directly related to service) for a particular disability, a veteran must show (1) an in-service event […]
A Guide to VA Dependents’ Educational Assistance Benefits
VA The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes the importance of providing educational assistance not only to veterans but also to their dependents. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the VA Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) benefit, exploring its eligibility criteria, application process, and the opportunities it offers to the dependents of disabled or deceased […]