Cook County VA Benefits Attorney

Update:

This post describes the VA disability appeals process for decisions issued prior to February 19, 2019. Decisions received after that date are subject to the new VA appeals process.

Cook County VA Benefits Attorney

To learn more about filing your own claim for benefits, please contact a Cook County VA benefits attorney who has the experience and resources to help you through the application process.

VA Pensions

While some VA benefits help cover the cost of medical bills and treatment, others are specifically aimed at supplementing the income of qualifying veterans and their families. VA pensions, for example, are available to veterans who served in wartime, have limited or no income, and:

• Are 65 years of age or older; or
• Have a permanent and total disability.

Veterans who qualify for this pension will receive a monthly payment that can be increased for those who become housebound or who require the aid and attendance of a nurse or family member.

Disability Benefits

Veterans with medical conditions, injuries, illnesses, or disabilities that were incurred or aggravated while actively serving in the military are eligible to receive additional tax-free monthly benefits. The amount that a veteran can receive depends on the level of severity of his or her injury, each of which is rated on a scale of ten to 100 percent disabling. While federal disability benefits only cover veterans who were injured while on active duty, veterans who don’t meet this standard are not out of luck, as Illinois law provides disability benefits to a wider range of veterans, including those who were injured while on active duty for training or even inactive duty training. In these situations, veterans can begin collecting disability benefits if they can prove that their disability is service-related and that they were not dishonorably discharged.

Burial Benefits

In recognition of the sacrifices made by service members, the federal government also provides burial benefits to qualifying veterans. These benefits include a gravesite in one of the country’s 135 national cemeteries, perpetual care of the grave, a government headstone, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Some of these benefits are also made available to spouses and dependents of veterans.

VA burial allowances are available to the families of some deceased veterans. These allowances are flat rate monetary benefits that are paid to eligible survivors automatically upon notification of the veteran’s death. To qualify for this payment, a veteran’s surviving relatives must be able to prove that the veteran was not dishonorably discharged and that:

• He or she passed away as a result of a service-connected disability;
• He or she was receiving a VA pension or compensation at the time of death;
• He or she was entitled to receive a VA pension, but opted instead to receive disability pay or full military retirement;
• He or she died while in or under the care of a VA hospital;
• He or she died while traveling for the purpose of treatment, care, or examination at the VA’s expense;
• He or she passed away on or after October 9, 1996 while a resident at a VA state nursing home; or
• He or she had a pending VA claim at the time of death.

For more information on burial benefits, please contact our legal team for help.

Get Legal Advice Today

Please contact us at The Comerford Law Office, LLC by calling 312-863-8572 to speak with an experienced Cook County VA benefits attorney who can evaluate your case.