Merrillville Veterans Disability Attorney

Eligibility for VA Disability Compensation 

The VA offers disability compensation payments to veterans who serve in active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training capacity and were issued a disability rating for a service-connected condition. However, even if these requirements are met, veterans will only be able to begin receiving a monthly disability compensation payment if they can also prove that they:

• Became sick or were injured during their time in service and can link the condition to their initial illness or injury; or
• Suffered from an injury or illness before joining the military, although the condition was worsened by their service; or
• Have been diagnosed with a disability that was related to their active duty service, but that did not appear until after they were discharged. 

Both physical and mental health conditions can qualify as disabilities, which means that eligible veterans can begin collecting payments not only for physical conditions, such as a traumatic brain injury or a chronic respiratory problem, but also for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This is only possible; however, if veterans can prove that they do have an injury or illness that was diagnosed by a doctor and was related to their military service because of a specific aspect of that service. 

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

Aside from disability compensation payments, the VA also offers vocational rehabilitation and employment services to veterans who suffer from a disability that limits their ability to work and who:

• Were not dishonorably discharged; and
• Have a service-connected VA disability rating of at least ten percent. 

Qualifying applicants who meet these requirements are given access to a number of different services, including:

• An occupational evaluation to determine a person’s employment abilities, interests, and skills;
• Job training, resume development, and work-readiness support;
• Vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning;
• On-the-job training, unpaid internships, and apprenticeships;
• Case management, counseling, and medical referrals; and
• Vocational, technical, and post-secondary training. 

To find out more about the vocational rehabilitation and employment services offered by the VA to qualifying veterans, please contact our veterans disability legal team today. 

Disability Housing Grants

Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities may also qualify for grants to help modify their homes to account for their condition. Specially Adapted Housing grants, for instance, can be used to buy, build, or change a veteran’s home as long as the residence is the veteran’s permanent home, he or she owns it, and the individual suffers from a service-connected disability. Those who do not qualify for this grant could also be eligible for the Special Housing Adaptation grant, which can be used to install wheelchair ramps, handrails, grab bars, and widened doorways. 

Call Our Merrillville Veterans Disability Legal Team

To schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Merrillville veterans disability attorney who will evaluate your case and explain your legal options, please call us at The Comerford Law Office, LLC today.