Transitioning to post-military life can be difficult for servicemen and women, especially those who are suffering from a service-connected injury or illness. In an effort to ensure that veterans have the best possible chance of making a successful transition to civilian life, the Veterans Administration (VA) offers disability benefits to qualifying veterans.
Unfortunately, applying for these benefits can be a challenging process, so if you believe that you are eligible for VA disability benefits, it is important to speak with an experienced LaSalle County veterans disability attorney who can walk you through the application process.
The VA offers monthly tax-free payments to veterans who suffer from service-connected illnesses or injuries. This includes both physical and mental conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries and PTSD or emotional distress. In addition to suffering from a service-connected medical condition, applicants must also be able to prove that they served in active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training capacity and have received a disability rating for their condition. Finally, veterans applying for disability compensation must also be able to prove that they:
A wide range of conditions are covered by disability compensation payments, but the most common include severe hearing loss, loss of range of motion, cancers, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, and PTSD.
In addition to providing monthly disability payments to injured veterans, the VA also offers housing grants to former service members with certain disabilities. These benefits can be used to pay for a new or modified home that meets their specific physical needs. For example, many disabled veterans use these grants to widen doorways and add wheelchairs ramps, or to install grab bars and railings in the shower. Only veterans who suffer from a qualifying illness can collect these types of benefits, which includes the loss of more than one limb, blindness in both eyes, severe burns, and the loss of one or both lower extremities.
Some disabled veterans also qualify for long-term services, such as:
This care is made available through a number of different programs and settings, including nursing homes, private homes with caregiver support, adult day health centers, and assisted living centers. However, disabled veterans can only begin receiving this care if:
Veterans who satisfy these requirements will have some of these services covered by their standard health benefits, while others will be reimbursed through Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance.
If you live in Illinois or Indiana and previously served in the U.S. military, you could be eligible for disability benefits. To learn more about applying for these benefits, please contact the dedicated Indianapolis veterans disability lawyers at The Comerford Law Office, LLC today.