50 Percent Va Disability Benefits

Increase Your Va Disability Rating

Your VA disability rating is importantit determines the benefits you get for your service. When youre looking for a new rating or want to upgrade your current one, you deserve an advocate who can help you get what you need.

Thats where Veteran Ratings can help. They have the experience and resources to help you get the ratings and benefits you deserve. Theyre experts at getting veterans the rating they deserve, and we have helped hundreds of veterans increase their VA Disability Rating.

Get in touch with them today to learn more!

Who Is Entitled To Va Compensation For Medical Issues

Veterans who apply for VA disability compensation must have medical conditions that are the result of an injury or disease that was incurred or aggravated while on active duty or active duty for training or from injury, heart attack or stroke that occurred during inactive duty training, according to the VA.

Such disabilities may apply to medical conditions such as Lou Gherigs Disease, mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder , and more, according to the VAs guidelines.

Va Health Care Benefits For 70% Disabled Veterans

VA uses priority groups to categorize veterans and the different types of health care benefits they receive. Each priority group has a different copay.

In order to be placed in VA Health Care Priority Group 1, the highest priority group, veterans need to be service connected at 50 percent or more or be receiving total disability based on individual unemployability . Based on this criteria, veterans with a 70 percent VA disability rating are eligible for enrollment in Priority Group 1.

Veterans in Priority Group 1 are eligible to receive all their health care services through VA with no copays. Some of these services include:

• Preventive care
• Medical equipment/prosthetic items and aids
• Medication/supplies
• Clothing allowance benefits
• Dependents health care
• Emergency care at a non-VA facility
• Foreign medical care

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Va Health Benefits For Veterans With A 10% Va Disability Rating

Veterans with a 10% disability rating are generally assigned to Priority Group 3. This group has the benefit of no copay for outpatient careor free primary care, specialty care, and specialty testing. Priority Group 3 also offers 10% disabled veterans free urgent care visits for the first three visits per calendar year. Your healthcare benefits also include:

• Free inpatient VA care
• Prescription medications

We Wouldnt Miss Your Retirement Party

When most people think of Social Security, they think of retirement benefits with good reason. But we are more than retirement benefits we offer many online tools to help you plan for your future.

to verify your earnings and see an estimate of future benefits throughout your career and into retirement.

With a mySocial Security account, you can estimate your future benefits at different ages when you may want to start receiving benefits.

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We Are With Those Who Need A Helping Hand

The Supplemental Security Income program is a program that provides income support to people with disabilities, people age 65 or older, or blind, who have low income and resources. U.S. Treasury general funds, not the Social Security trust funds, pay for SSI.

If you or someone you know may be eligible for SSI, visit to learn more and apply.

How Ssdi And Va Compensation Can Work Together

Fast-track applications

If you have a 100 percent P& T rating from the VA, Social Security will speed up processing of your SSDI claim. To get expedited handling, enter Veteran 100% P& T in the Remarks section of your online application and provide Social Security with the notification letter the VA sent you about your rating.

Regardless of your P& T rating, you may qualify for expedited processing under Social Security’s Wounded Warrior program, which prioritizes claims for veterans who became disabled while on active duty on or after Oct. 1, 2001.

No ‘offset’

Workers compensation and some other types of public disability benefits can trigger what the SSA calls an offset that reduces your Social Security payments. VA disability benefits don’t affect your SSDI or vice versa if you qualify for both programs, each will pay the full amount to which you are entitled.

Health care coverage

If you get SSDI and VA disability benefits, you can receive medical coverage through both.

SSDI recipients are eligible for Medicare, although in most cases there is a two-year waiting period for coverage to begin. Veterans are eligible for coverage under the military’s Tricare program.

If you’re getting both benefits, Medicare becomes your primary payer and Tricare serves as a supplement, covering some cost-sharing, such as copayments and deductibles.

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Veterans County Service Offices

All counties with a population of 200,000 or more have a veterans county service office that is:

• staffed by at least one full-time employee and
• report directly to the commissioners court.

In a county with a population of less than 200,000, the commissioners court may maintain and operate a veterans county service office if the commissioners court determines that the office is a public necessity to enable county residents who are veterans to promptly, properly, and rightfully obtain benefits to which they are entitled.

Find a list of veteran service offices.

Services Exempt From Inpatient And Outpatient Copayments

All of the following services do not require inpatient and outpatient copays, regardless of the veterans Priority Group:

• Care related to a VA-related-service-connected condition
• Specialty registry examinations offered by VA to evaluate possible health risks associated with military service
• Counseling and care for military sexual trauma
• Compensation & Pension examinations
• Care that is part of a VA research project
• Readjustment counseling
• Care for cancer of the head or neck caused by nose or throat radium treatments received while in the military
• Individual or group smoking cessation or weight reduction services

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Are There Any Disadvantages

While many veterans enjoy the benefits of a 50% or higher VA disability rating, there are some disadvantages you should know.

• You may have to regularly visit a VA hospital or clinic to retain your benefits. This can be inconvenient, particularly if you live far from the nearest facility.
• To keep receiving benefits, you will have to prove that your condition has not improved over time and that you still need treatment.
• If your disability rating is 70% or higher, you may be required to participate in vocational rehabilitation programs to earn back the skills lost due to injury. While this is beneficial for some veterans and can help them find new jobs after leaving service, its stressful for those who simply want their peace and quiet after leaving active duty.
• You will still be required to pay copayments for medical care at VA hospitals or clinics following a 20% VA disability rating increase.

Disabled Veterans Life Insurance Program

The Disabled Veterans Life Insurance program is a VA program that provides insurance for disabled veterans who have a service-connected disability rating from 0% to 100%. The basic program, commonly referred to as RH Insurance, insures eligible Veterans for up to $10,000 of coverage. Totally disabled veterans who are unable to work may apply for additional coverage of up to $30,000. Click HERE to review eligibility and application requirements.

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How To Calculate Your Combined Va Disability Rating

The VA uses the combined ratings table to determine a final disability rating for a veteran with multiple disabilities.

To use this table, you must first list each of your disability ratings in order of severity . Find the first one in the left column, and then find where it intersects with the top column number representing your second highest disability rating. Round to the nearest 10 if those are your only two ratings. If not, put the number from the intersection point in the left column, then find where it intersects with the top row number representing your third-highest percentage.

Repeat this process until you have run the numbers for all disability ratings, then round to the nearest 10.

For example, a veteran rated for a 50% disability and a 30% disability, would receive a combined rating of 65%, which the VA rounds to the nearest 10, so 70%.

In a different example on the VA official site, a veteran rated with two disabilities at 40% and 20% has a combined value of 52%. The VA rounds that number down to 50%.

How To Use The Va Disability Pay Calculator

To calculate your disability rating, take a look at your VA disability compensation award letter and select your official rating.

Next, select the number of dependents in each applicable category.

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Then, select the appropriate box for your marital status, and whether or not your spouse needs Aid and Attendance benefits.

Once youve filled out everything, toggle the switch for monthly or annual compensation and hit calculate. .

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What Are The Special Requirements For Ptsd Stressors Based On Areas Of Potential Hostile Military Or Terrorist Activity

• Concede a stressor when the Veterans DD Form 214 or other service records show service in an area of potential hostile military or terrorist activity.

• Service personnel records must be requested prior to or concurrently with any necessary examination being ordered to avoid unnecessary delays in claims processing.

• The receipt of military awards such as, but not limited to, the Vietnam Service or Campaign Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal is generally considered evidence of service in an area of potential hostile military or terrorist activity.

• The receipt of military awards such as the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal generally does not indicate service in locations that involve exposure to hostile military or terrorist activity because these are general medals that do not denote service in a particular area or campaign. If the Veteran served in an area of potential hostile military or terrorist activity, he/she/they likely would have received a more specific medal for such service.

• The GWOT Expeditionary Medal also does not necessarily indicate service in an area that would involve exposure to hostile military or terrorist activity. Consider that award and the other evidence of record to determine if there was service in an area of potential hostile military or terrorist activity before scheduling an examination.

References:

How Long Does It Take For Signs And Symptoms Of Combat Ptsd To Appear

The timing of combat PTSD varies from veteran to veteran. Many veterans start dealing with signs of combat PTSD within three months of the event, but sometimes PTSD takes longer to show up. Some veterans dont experience signs until after returning home from deployment. Sometimes symptoms take months or even years to develop. Other veterans may have signs and symptoms within hours of the traumatic event.

If you or someone you love is dealing with suicidal ideations, dont wait. Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 and press option 1.

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% Disability Rating: Va Compensation

As of December 1, 2021, veterans with a 50 percent VA disability rating receive $958.44 per month in tax-free compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The exact amount of compensation may increase or decrease each year depending on the cost-of-living adjustment .

For reference, the other disability benefit amounts as of December 2021 are as follows:

• 0 percent disability rating: $0.00 per month
• 10 percent disability rating: $152.64 per month
• 20 percent disability rating: $301.74 per month
• 30 percent disability rating: $467.39 per month
• 40 percent disability rating: $673.28 per month
• 50 percent disability rating: $958.44 per month
• 60 percent disability rating: $1,214.03 per month
• 70 percent disability rating: $1,529.95 per month
• 80 percent disability rating: $1,778.43 per month
• 90 percent disability rating: $1,998.52 per month
• 100 percent disability rating: $3,332.06 per month

Va Benefits For Vision Care And Hearing Aids

VA healthcare covers routine vision and hearing exams and preventative tests, but generally does not cover eyeglasses or hearing aids. However, VA will provide you with eyeglasses and/or hearing aids if you:

• Receive compensation for a service-connected condition
• Receive increased pension for regular aid and attendance or for being permanently housebound
• Are receiving VA benefits under 38 USC § 1151
• Are a former POW or
• Received a Purple Heart medal

There are a few other scenarios in which veterans may obtain eyeglasses or hearing aids from VA. More information about VAs eyeglasses and hearing aid policy is available at this VA website.

Importantly, if a veterans hearing aids are recommended by the Audiology and Speech Pathology Clinic, the hearing aids themselves, the repairs, and future batteries will be at no cost to the veteran as long as they maintain eligibility. Veterans can request new batteries via the mail, over the phone, or via their eBenefits page.

Again, in order to receive hearing aids through VA, veterans will have to register at the health administration enrollment section of a VA Medical Center , which can be done either in person or by filling out VA Form 10-10EZ and mailing it directly to a local VAMC.

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Property Tax Exemption For 100 Percent Disabled Veterans

One of the top 100 percent VA disability benefits available is PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS! While many states offer property tax exemptions for disabled veterans, did you know there are 18 states with full property tax exemptions for 100 percent disabled veterans? While not all 50 states offer the same tax breaks for disabled veterans, and the criteria to qualify for a waiver differs from state to state, its in your best interest to check with your state county tax assessors office to see if you qualify. You may be eligible to save thousands of dollars each year with this incredible state benefit due to reduced or no property taxes owed on your primary residence.

How Does The Va Rate Disabilities

When it comes to service connected compensation claims, the VA takes the view that it should not add whole numbers together to get your rating but, instead, the VA takes percentages of percentages. It is as if the VA says if you are 10% disabled then you are 90% healthy. Therefore, the next rating is not added but is used to take a percentage of the healthy 90%. So for a veteran with two 10 ratings the first ten percent rating would be 10% of 100, which is 10%. The second ten percent rating would be 10% of the 90% , which is 9%. So the combined rating would be 19%. The percentages are all rounded up or down to the nearest ten percent. Here, the rating would be rounded to 20%.

The combined rating system starts to work against a veteran when he gets closer to 100%. It gets harder and harder to get that higher rating, especially once a veteran is over 50%. For instance, if a veteran has a ratings of 50% for PTSD, 50% for Sleep Apnea, a rating of 20% for diabetes and 20% for a back problem the combined rating is 80%. So even though 50+50+20+20 equals 140 in real math it is only 80 in VA math.

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Free Tax Preparation For Disabled Veterans

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program offers FREE tax help to disabled veterans who generally make $56,000 per year or less. IRS-certified volunteers provide FREE basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. Intuit Turbo Tax offers its online IRS Free File Program if youre a disabled veteran with an Adjusted Gross Income of $36,000 or less OR you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit . Click HERE to learn more about this free tax filing software for disabled veterans.

What If I Have More Questions About My Va Claim

I understand you want your VA claim to be done as quickly as possible. But remember the ultimate goal to win your VA disability compensation claim.

You may eventually get there on your own, but it may be after a series of decisions by the Regional Office and Board of Veterans Appeals. Sometimes claims are appealed and remanded several times, which can cause a claim to drag on for years. If you are interested in avoiding unnecessary delay in your claim and want to do everything you can to maximize your chances of success, it is probably a good idea for you to consult with an accredited veterans disability attorney.

We would be happy to talk to you. If you would like a free consultation with our Perkins Studdard veterans disability attorneys just click here or give us a call to begin the process.

Travis Studdard

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How To Appeal To The Va For Ptsd

Dealing with the VA for a disability compensation claim can be frustrating and overwhelming. Being granted service connection for PTSD often requires detailed knowledge of the process and what adjudicators want to see. Gregory M. Rada, Attorney at Law, knows the battle you are facing to get the benefits you deserve and will use this knowledge to your advantage. Working with disabled veterans nationwide,me today at for a free phone consultation.

Gregory Rada is an Air Force veteran that helps veterans nationwide receive the benefits to which they are entitled. He works with all his clients one-on-one from the start of their case to the end and never hands them off to case managers or paralegals. Learn more about his experience by clicking here.