If you’re a veteran considering applying for VA disability benefits years after service, you may be unsure of what to expect or where to start. You may have certain concerns or hang-ups holding you back from jumping in and applying for the benefits you earned. We share seven things for veterans to consider when trying to decide whether to apply for VA disability compensation.
In this article about applying for VA benefits years after service:
- 1. It’s not too late to apply.
- 2. Like any other program, VA disability has its own eligibility requirements.
- 3. Consider all your conditions, not just the ones you know are service connected.
- 4. Applying and appealing can take a long time.
- 5. If you are waiting until your condition gets worse, you could lose thousands of dollars.
- 6. Receiving other VA benefits does not mean you don’t deserve disability compensation.
- 7. The VA disability process is complicated, but you don’t have to be an expert to get the benefits you need.
1. It’s not too late to apply.
You were discharged five, ten, or even 20 years ago and now you’re concerned it’s too late to get the VA disability benefits you deserve. That’s not the case. There is no time limit for applying for VA compensation. While applying sooner rather than later can help you put more money in your pocket, you can apply at any time. The key is providing enough evidence to show you have a service-connected condition that affects your life enough to warrant a rating from the VA regardless of when you file your claim.
When and if you do apply, keep in mind there are many VA forms, and unfortunately it can be too simple to find old, outdated versions floating around on Reddit. It’s important to make sure you are using the correct form for applying, and any correct forms needed later on. Going directly to the VA’s website and downloading the latest version of a form before submitting it can save you added hassle and headaches later on.
“From the day we contacted [Woods and Woods], they made us feel so comfortable. They treated us like we mattered and we were not just clients but family.”
L.B., a Navy veteran and wife in Florida
2. Like any other program, VA disability has its own eligibility requirements.
Not all veterans qualify for VA disability compensation, but many veterans also incorrectly think they are not eligible for the benefit. You’ll want to know whether you are eligible for VA disability before applying.
To be eligible for VA disability, you must have served on active duty, active duty training, or inactive duty training. One of the following must also be true:
- You suffered an illness or injury during your service that is still affecting you.
- You entered the military with a health condition that was made worse by your service. That condition still affects you.
- You developed a health condition after separating from the military, but the condition was caused by your service.
3. Consider all your conditions, not just the ones you know are service connected.
Most veterans receiving VA disability are service connected for more than one health condition. In fact, the average number of conditions among veterans receiving VA disability is 5.7 each. While musculoskeletal and hearing conditions are the most common, the VA rates hundreds of service-connected conditions in all body systems.
However, you may not realize a condition you have could have a secondary service connection. Think of all the health conditions you’ve discussed with your doctor or are taking medication for: high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety? If you work with a VA-accredited attorney, make sure you share the complete list of conditions – physical and mental – with them. You may have never realized a condition with a clear service connection has actually caused some other health problem in the years since you served. These other conditions could help support your claim, increase your combined rating, and help you receive a larger monthly check if your claim is granted.
4. Applying and appealing can take a long time.
Applying for VA disability benefits takes time. When applying, it will likely take about three months for an initial claim decision to be made.
Current average wait time for VA claims:
If you disagree with the decision, either because you were denied or rated at a low level, you have the choice to appeal. However, appeals take even longer. Many veterans spend months or years waiting for the benefits they deserve.
5. If you are waiting until your condition gets worse, you could lose thousands of dollars.
Because so much time is spent waiting for the VA to make decisions, it’s better to apply now than wait until years after your service when your condition is worse and potentially keeps you from working. You can always file for an increased rating for a service-connected condition as needed. However, getting your condition service connected in the first place may take longer than you expect.
The date you file your claim can also be a key factor in your effective date, which directly affects the amount of back pay you can receive if your claim is granted.
6. Receiving other VA benefits does not mean you don’t deserve disability compensation.
You may be hesitating to apply for VA disability compensation because you already receive other VA benefits, like health care. You may feel because the VA is already helping you treat a condition, they don’t owe you anymore. This is not the case.
VA health care and other benefit programs were designed for entirely different reasons, and many veterans receive multiple benefits at once. Many also receive SSDI and VA disability at the same time, which is also possible without any financial offset. If you have a service-connected condition that affects your life and livelihood, you deserve disability compensation.
“The firm got me to 70%, and I was happy. Individual unemployability was awarded to me and to this day, I’m so grateful. My future is no longer bleak. These people work very hard for you.”
R.C., a Navy veteran in Hawaii
7. The VA disability process is complicated, but you don’t have to be an expert to get the benefits you need.
The VA is supposed to work for you. They have a duty to assist in your claim, and benefits like disability compensation are there for a reason. However, navigating the VA’s processes and forms can be difficult, and at times, the denials may feel endless.
If you have been denied VA disability or were rated too low for your condition, a VA-accredited lawyer or VSO has the experience to help you. You don’t have to do it all alone.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
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.
