If you served in the Navy and have a mental or physical health condition as a result, you may be eligible for Navy disability pay. Navy veterans may be eligible to receive more than $3,831.30 a month from the VA to make up for any lost income due to their service-connected health issues, plus additional compensation for those with spouses or dependent children.
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In this article, we describe Navy benefits, who is eligible for Navy disability pay, and common service-related conditions among Navy veterans.
In this article about Navy disability pay:
What are Navy benefits?
Navy benefits are programs and services available to active-duty sailors and Navy veterans. In this article, we will focus on Navy veteran benefits, particularly VA disability benefits. You can learn more about active duty benefits here.
After leaving service, Navy vets may qualify for various benefits, including pensions, free or low-cost medical care, and hiring advantages for state and federal jobs. Veterans with disabilities may also be eligible for grants to make their homes more accessible.
If a veteran was injured or developed a health condition because of their service, they may also be eligible for Navy VA disability benefits.
Navy VA disability benefits
VA disability compensation is the monthly benefit paid to eligible veterans of all branches of the military who have service-connected physical or mental disabilities. A health condition is considered service-connected if it began or was made worse due to active-duty service.
Of all current veterans, 13% have mental or physical health conditions caused by their time in the service. Of those disabled veterans, 17% served in the Navy.
Navy veterans may be eligible for VA disability benefits if they:
- Served in active duty, active duty training, or inactive duty training in the military, and
- Have a health condition related to their time serving, and
- Have an other than dishonorable discharge
To apply for disability benefits, Navy veterans collect and submit evidence to prove their condition was caused or worsened by their naval service.
They may also be required to attend a compensation and pension (C&P) exam. This medical examination is used to assess their level of disability and confirm whether that disability is related to their service.
The VA will then issue a rating decision. Veterans whose claims are granted will receive VA disability payments if their condition is rated at least 10% disabling. Compensation typically ranges from $175.51 to $3,831.30, with higher rates available for special circumstances. Veterans whose claims are denied have the option to appeal.
Some service-related conditions make working enough to earn a living impossible, but don’t meet the criteria of a 100% disability rating. In these cases, the VA offers total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). TDIU provides the same monthly compensation as a 100% rating.
Navy disability pay
Regardless of which branch you served in, monthly disability payouts are the same. The standard disability pay chart for veterans without dependents is found below.
| VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|
| 100% | $3,831.30 |
| 90% | $2,2297.96 |
| 80% | $2,044.89 |
| 70% | $1,759.19 |
| 60% | $1,395.93 |
| 50% | $1,102.04 |
| 40% | $774.16 |
| 30% | $537.42 |
| 20% | $346.95 |
| 10% | $175.51 |
| 0% | None |
The amount increases for veterans with spouses or dependent children or parents. Veterans with dependents can find their monthly compensation payment rates listed on the VA’s website.
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Navy Reserve benefits
Veterans who were part of the Navy Reserve may be eligible for the same benefits as other Navy veterans, including disability pay.
The VA will provide disability benefits for Navy Reserve veterans with injuries or diseases caused or aggravated by active duty training. Navy Reservists who are federally deployed under Title 10 and develop a health issue due to active duty service can also receive disability benefits.
Individuals who were Navy Reservists may also be eligible for additional benefits including health care, home loans, and the GI Bill.
Mesothelioma and Navy veterans
Veterans are at an increased risk for mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by contact with asbestos fibers. In the U.S., 30% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma are veterans, and many of those are Navy veterans due to the use of asbestos on ships and shipyards.
Asbestos was frequently used in Navy construction, particularly between 1941 and 1961, though it was also used for decades before and after. Many service members made regular contact with the toxic material during that time, or after in roles involving demolishing or breaking apart asbestos containing materials.
The VA recommends that veterans who work in shipyards get tested to see if their lung condition was caused by contact with asbestos. Even if it’s been decades since an interaction with asbestos, lung symptoms can still be connected to service. Mesothelioma typically takes anywhere from 20 to 50 years to present symptoms.
Navy disability calculator
Veterans receiving VA disability benefits are service-connected for an average of approximately six conditions each. Unfortunately, determining the combined rating of multiple service-connected disabilities is not as easy as adding all the percentages together.
VA math can get confusing, so we developed a free Navy disability calculator to help veterans easily find their combined VA rating. This calculator can be used to estimate a disability rating for any disabled veteran.
How Woods & Woods can help
At Woods & Woods, we focus on helping non-working veterans with service-connected conditions get individual unemployability benefits and, in some cases, increased ratings. We also help survivors of veterans receive their DIC benefits. If you think we can help you with your claim, call us today for a free case evaluation. You won’t pay us unless we take and win your case.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, Navy Reserve veterans can qualify for disability benefits if their injuries or conditions are linked to active duty or active duty training.
Yes, many Navy veterans were exposed to asbestos in service and may develop mesothelioma as a result. Navy vets diagnosed with mesothelioma can file a claim regardless of how much time has passed since their service. The VA strongly encourages veterans who worked in shipyards or were exposed to asbestos to get tested and file VA disability claims if diagnosed.
Neil Woods
VA disability attorney
Woods & Woods
Neil Woods is the firm’s owner and president. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
