VA

The U.S. federal government’s “Department of Veterans Affairs” (VA) provides benefits to veterans and their families. After the “Department of Defense,” VA is the second largest department within the federal government. Pensions, disability benefits, schooling, housing loan, life insurance, survivor support, career restoration, health care, and “funeral expenses” are some of these benefits.

“EO 5398,” issued July 21, 1930, created the VA as an autonomous agency under the President. VA was elevated to the “rank” of 14th Department in the President’s Cabinet on March 15, 1989. The Senate advises and consents to the President’s appointment of the “Secretary” of “Veterans Affairs” (VA), a cabinet-level position. The Secretary oversees the Department’s “management, direction, and control” in addition to ensuring that the legislation it administers is properly carried out and administered.

VA has a structure made up of field offices across the country run by its three main line organizations, “the ‘National Cemetery Administration’ (NCA), the ‘Veterans Health Administration’ (VHA), and the ‘Veterans Benefits Administration’ (VBA),” with its Central Office (VACO) situated in Washington, DC.

From “54 hospitals in 1930” to 1,600 healthcare facilities in the present, the VA health care system has expanded. This includes “1,232 outpatient locations of care with varied levels of sophistication” and 144 VA Medical Centers.

VA Eligibility -

Various criteria are used, depending on the “benefit,” to assess eligibility. A person may not always be “eligible” for all benefits, at the same time. For each benefit, VA takes into account a distinct set of considerations, some of which may be your “income level, medical necessity, service history, and disability level.”

There are no two Veterans alike. Many of your significant life events can go a different way. VA can help you in a variety of ways, depending on your current “situation.”

Eligibility for VA Health Care -

If you were in the “active military, navy, or air force” and were not given a dishonorable discharge, you might be qualified for VA health benefits.

There are several criteria that determine who is “eligible” for VA health care, including whether:

You were a Prisoner of War in the past or “you have a Purple Heart.”
You have been rated by VA as having a service-connected “disability.”
You are a “combat veteran” who was released from duty on September 11, 2001, or later.
Your household’s income is not above the threshold.
You receive Medicaid benefits, or are “eligible” for the same.
You worked with “chemicals, pesticides, asbestos, lead, certain paints, nuclear weapons, X-rays, or other poisons” that exposed you to toxins or other risks. You may have been exposed to this during your training or active duty, even if you were not “deployed.”
In the “Gulf War,” you were stationed in Southwest Asia from August 2, 1990, until November 11, 1998.
Between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, you spent at least thirty days serving at “Camp Lejeune.”
Served during the Vietnam War era in “Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam, American Samoa, Johnston Atoll, or Vietnam” during specified dates.

Note: Not every veteran is qualified for VA medical benefits.

For more details, visit — “va.gov/health-care/eligibility/”.

Eligibility for VA Disability Benefits -

If VA determines that you have an “injury, disease, or condition” that emerged from your military service or worsened during your time there, you may qualify for VA disability benefits. The BDD program allows you to submit a claim for “disability benefits” 180 to 90 days prior to your departure from active duty.

Usual circumstances consist of:

Ear ringing and loss of “hearing.”
Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
Prolonged “back discomfort” that has led to a back impairment in recent diagnosis.
Scar tissue or Ulcers.
Cancer or “other illnesses” brought on by coming into contact with hazardous substances.
Breathing issues brought on by a lung “illness” or condition that is now present.
Reduction in “Range of Motion” (ROM) (i.e., difficulty moving your body).

For certain problems, VA will automatically assume — or “presume” — that the condition was brought on by your service. These are known as presumed conditions by VA.

For more information, visit — “va.gov/disability/eligibility/”.

Eligibility for VA Home Loan Programs -

Your length of service or service commitment, service character, and duty status are the only factors that VA can use to “establish your eligibility” for a VA direct or VA-backed house loan benefit. The initial step in applying for a Native American Direct Loan or a VA-backed home loan is to obtain a “Certificate of Eligibility” (COE). Your certificate will attest to your “eligibility” for the VA home loan benefit for your lender.

If you fulfilled the minimum active-duty service criteria “based on when you served” and you were not granted a dishonorable discharge, you might be eligible for a COE. Following table summarizes the main points for “home loan” eligibility.

Periods of War and Peace That Qualify		Dates of Qualifying Active Duty	Minimum Active-Duty Service Criteria
Veterans	WWII	9/16/1940 – 7/25/1947	Table Data
	Post-WWII	7/26/1947 – 6/26/1950	181 continuous days
	Korean War	6/27/1950 – 1/31/1955	90 total days
	Post-Korean War	2/1/1955 – 8/4/1964	181 total days
	Vietnam War	8/5/1964 – 5/7/1975, The start date is 2/28/1961 for veterans who served in the Vietnam Republic	90 total days
	Post-Vietnam War	5/8/1975 – 9/7/1980	181 continuous days
	Gulf War	8/2/1990 - Present	24 continuous months, OR The entire time (at least 90 days) that you were ordered or summoned to active duty.
	24-month rule	9/8/1980 – 8/1/1990, “10/17/1981” is the start date for officers	24 continuous months, OR The entire time (at least 181 days) that you were ordered or summoned to active duty.
Active-Duty Service Members	N/A	N/A	90 continuous days
National Guard & Reserve Members	Gulf War	8/2/1990 - Present	90 days of active-duty
National Guard & Reserve Members	Any other duration	“90 days of non-training active-duty” or six honorable years spent with the 'National Guard'/Selected Reserve, AND Were discharged honorably, OR Were added to the roster of retired individuals, OR Were moved to “a Ready Reserve component other than the Selected Reserve” or “the Standby Reserve” following service that was deemed honorable, OR Stay in the Selected Reserve and continue serving.

If your discharge was for one of the following reasons — hardship, government convenience, reduction-in-force, certain medical conditions, early-out, or a service-connected disability — and you do not fulfill the “minimum active-duty service criteria,” you might still be eligible.

For more information, visit — “va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/eligibility/”.

Eligibility for Veteran Readiness and Employment -

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment was the previous name for “Veteran Readiness and Employment” (VR&E). You might be eligible for employment support or services from VA if you are a “service member” or veteran with a disability that was brought on by — or made worse by — your “active-duty” service and that interferes with your ability to work.

If your VA “service-connected disability” (SCD) rating is at least 10%, and you were not discharged dishonorably, you are “qualified” to apply for VR&E services and benefits. VA will arrange for your initial evaluation with a “Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor” (VRC) after receiving your VR&E application.

Also, if you were discharged from active duty before January 1, 2013, your eligibility ends 12 years from the later date of either “your ‘separation notice date’ (from active-duty)” or your first VA disability rating date. A VRC may decide to prolong your basic eligibility period if they determine that you have a “serious employment handicap” (SEH).

Further, your 12-year basic period of eligibility is not applicable, if you were released from “active service” on or after January 1, 2013. Now, your eligibility is not time-limited.

If you satisfy at least one of following criteria and are a “service member,” you might be qualified for VR&E benefits and services:

You will shortly be leaving the service and have a “pre-discharge disability rating” (memorandum rating) of at least 20%, or
Because of a serious illness or injury that happened while you were on “active duty,” you are awaiting discharge.

Note: Prior to VA issuing a disability rating, severely injured active-duty “service members” are eligible to automatically obtain VR&E advantages.

Visit for additional details — “va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/eligibility/”.

Eligibility for Veterans Pension -

Veterans of wartime who meet specific age or disability conditions and whose income and net assets fall within “particular bounds” are eligible for monthly payments under the Veterans Pension program.

	General Requirements	Age / Disability	Service Requirements
Veterans	There was no “dishonorable discharge” given to you, AND A family’s “countable income and net worth” is less than what Congress has determined.	You’re 65 years of age or older, OR Permanently and totally “disabled” (not as a result of personal misbehavior), OR You are receiving “long-term care” due to a disability in a nursing home, OR You are receiving Supplemental Security Income or Disability Insurance from “Social Security.”	You completed at least 90 days on active duty, including at least one day during a “period of war,” and you began your active duty before September 8, 1980, OR After September 7, 1980, you were called or ordered to “active duty” (with limited exceptions), and you served for at least 24 months or the whole duration of that order, with at least one day spent in a wartime, OR You were an officer who had “not” been on active duty for at least 24 months prior to beginning your service on October 16, 1981.

Visit for more details — “va.gov/pension/eligibility/”.

Eligibility for VA Education Benefits -

The “duration and nature of your service, the type of discharge, and the amount of time following separation” are some of the variables that determine your eligibility. Since each type of “GI Bill” has different standards, it is challenging to summarize eligibility.

The GI Bill has assisted eligible Veterans and their families in receiving funding to partially or fully pay for “training or education” expenses since 1944.

	Post-9/11 GI Bill	MGIB-AD (Chapter 30)	MGIB-SR (Chapter 1606)	VEAP (Chapter 32)	DEA (Chapter 35)
Minimum Duration of Service	After 9/10/01, “30 days continuous service if released for disability,” or 90 days of active aggregate service	2 years of active duty (along with a GED or high school diploma, etc.)	Dedicated for six years to Selected Reserve (after June 30, 1985)	Completed the first period of service (between December 31, 1976–July 1, 1985)	N/A (Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance)
The maximum number of benefit months	36	36	36	36	36/45
Method of Payment	Tuition would pay to school and rest to student	To student	To student	To student	To student
Duration of Advantages	15 years from last day of active duty	10 years from last day of active duty	Expires the day you depart from Selected Reserve	10 years from last day of active duty	Spouse: 10/20 years, Child: 8/10 years

Note: If you qualify for more than one VA “education program,” you may receive benefits for a total of up to 48 months.

For more information, visit — “va.gov/education/eligibility/” and “va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/”.

The official website of “U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs”: https://www.va.gov/

That’s all friends.

VA