Celebrating Veterans by Supporting Their Future: Key Disability Benefits You Shouldn’t Miss

As a community, it is important that we celebrate those who have served outside of dedicated holidays like Veterans Day. After all, their service provided us with rights we enjoy year-round. This includes ensuring that veterans get the most from their hard-earned VA disability benefits. While these benefits are primarily designed to cover your wages when a service-connected condition prevents you from working, there are other important factors to keep in mind as well. Keep reading to learn about the key disability benefits every veteran should know about.

The Basis for VA Disability Compensation

First and foremost, it is important to understand how the VA system works and what it means for those with service-related conditions. These benefits are not available to everyone, as they are earmarked for veterans who are living with disabilities that can be directly linked to their time in the military.

The Rating System

The VA disability rating system assigns a percentage value to each service-connected condition based on its severity. In general, adjudicators at the VA are looking at how your condition limits your ability to earn a living or function on a daily basis. Ratings are issued in ten percent increments, ranging from zero to one hundred percent, with 100 representing a complete and total disability.

Veterans with multiple conditions receive a combined rating through a complex formula that accounts for the cumulative impact of all their conditions instead of simply adding up all of their individual ratings. Because small differences in medical documentation can change the final outcome of your claim, it’s vital to ensure you provide documentation of all of your symptoms to the VA.

Evidence For Your Claim

Decision-makers at the VA will take into account a wide range of evidence when they consider your disability claim. It is not enough to file a claim and tell the VA you believe you are disabled due to your time in the military. You will need evidence that proves three important things:

• You are living with a diagnosed disability
• There was an event that occurred during your service
• You can link your disability to a service-connected event

There are different types of evidence you can use to build your claim. Medical records are arguably the most important part, as they provide proof that you have a disability in the first place. Your military records can also back up your story regarding the cause of your illness or injury. You might even be able to rely on statements from people you served with that corroborate the cause of your condition.

What are COLA Adjustments?

VA disability benefits are not something that you simply receive and then forget about. To ensure you are treated fairly, it is vital that you understand how your benefits could be automatically adjusted each year. This is done through something known as a Cost-of-Living Adjustment, or COLA.

Every year, the VA adjusts the compensation rates for each disability rating in order to account for inflation. The benefits you receive cannot remain static, given that inflation drives up the cost of everything year after year. For that reason, the VA makes annual adjustments to these awards based on the cost of living. These changes go into effect on December 1 of each year and are reflected in the payments veterans receive each January.

These adjustments happen without your input, but that does not mean you can always assume you are getting what you deserve. The VA is operated by humans, and humans make mistakes. It is a good idea to carefully review your annual benefits letter to ensure everything has been properly taken into account.

Review these letters for mistakes regarding your ratings, and look to see if the VA accounted for things like dependents or special allowances. If you qualified for TDIU compensation, be sure that you are getting the maximum payments each month, regardless of your overall rating.

Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability

One of the most important things every veteran should be aware of is that you could be entitled to compensation at the 100% rate even if you have less than a rating of 100%. This is only possible through a system known as Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). Under TDIU, the VA will rate a veteran as totally disabled, even if their combined rating is less than 100%, if their service-connected conditions prevent them from finding and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

TDIU is not for every veteran, however. To qualify for schedular TDIU, you must have a combined VA disability of at least 70%, with one of your conditions rated at least at 40% or greater. If you do not meet this criteria, you may be eligible for what’s known as extra-schedular TDIU if you can still demonstrate that your service-connected condition(s) prevent you from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

Of course, there are many challenges in TDIU cases. The VA will not always take your word for it that your condition prevents you from earning a living. This can be especially difficult when it comes to mental health conditions that do not include visible symptoms. It can be difficult to understand the eligibility requirements for TDIU or to obtain all of the appropriate forms. Thankfully, you have the right to hire an attorney to help you with the process.

Special Monthly Compensation Benefits

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is an additional benefit paid to veterans with certain serious disabilities that go beyond what is compensated under the standard VA disability rating schedule. While the basic compensation system provides monthly payments based on your disability rating, SMC is for circumstances where your condition results in exceptional limitations. This can include anything from the loss of a limb to severe sensory impairment. In these cases, the VA provides extra monthly compensation on top of the regular disability payments to address those extraordinary needs.

SMC is structured into categories that correspond to a specific type of loss or impairment. For example, one category offers a small monthly increase for the loss of use of a single hand or foot, while another is reserved for veterans who require daily aid from another person for the most basic of daily tasks.

These benefits can significantly increase a veteran’s income and improve their quality of life. They can also help cover out-of-pocket costs for services that a veteran can no longer provide for themselves. Veterans who qualify for Special Monthly Compensation often face some of the most difficult challenges in daily living, making this additional layer of support essential.

Because the criteria for SMC can be complex and often require extensive medical documentation, it’s wise to work with a qualified VA claims lawyer. These professionals can ensure that the appropriate SMC category is applied and help you appeal if your claim is initially denied.

Education, Retraining, and Employment Support

For veterans living with service-connected disabilities, education and vocational support can be life-changing. These programs offer veterans the chance to rebuild their confidence and gain skills following their military service. The VA provides a host of programs specifically designed to meet the needs of disabled veterans and their families and help them better reintegrate into society.

One of the most impactful offerings is the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program. Formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, VR&E assists veterans with service-connected disabilities in finding meaningful employment in the civilian world.

In addition to VR&E, disabled veterans may also qualify for the education benefits that cover everything from tuition to the cost of school supplies. If you cannot return to work due to the severity of your condition, these programs offer alternatives for living and working in a way that meets your needs.

Retraining support isn’t limited to veterans alone. Some benefits extend to spouses and dependents, opening the door to family-wide stability. These programs serve as long-term investments in the veteran’s future, helping ensure that disability does not mean the end of professional growth.

Healthcare Access

Access to comprehensive healthcare is one of the most important benefits available to veterans with disabilities. The VA health system offers a wide range of services, including primary care, specialty treatment, surgical care, rehabilitation, prosthetics, and prescription coverage. Veterans with service-connected disabilities receive priority enrollment, and many receive care at no cost. Depending on their rating and income level, veterans may also qualify for travel reimbursements, dental care, and extended home health services.

Mental health support is especially vital for veterans managing conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, or traumatic brain injury (TBI). The VA provides evidence-based therapies, including individual counseling, group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication management. In recent years, the expansion of telehealth options has made it easier for veterans in rural or underserved areas to access care from home. Community Care programs also allow eligible veterans to seek treatment from non-VA providers when needed.

Crisis intervention services, such as the Veterans Crisis Line, offer 24/7 support to veterans experiencing emotional distress. Additionally, inpatient and residential mental health programs are available for those requiring more intensive care. For many veterans, emotional healing is just as important as physical recovery, and having access to consistent, judgment-free support is a lifeline.

Understanding the Appeals Process

The reality of the VA disability claims process is that the initial decisions do not always go your way. There is no reason to despair, however, as you have the right to appeal. Not only is there an appellate procedure for denied claims, but you can also dispute an unreasonably low award as well.

Many veterans receive initial disability ratings that underestimate the severity of their conditions—or are denied outright despite valid claims. Fortunately, the VA system allows for appeals, supplemental claims, and requests for increases when circumstances change. Understanding these processes empowers veterans to seek the benefits they truly deserve.

The appeals system offers three main paths: Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, and Board Appeal. A Higher-Level Review involves a senior VA adjudicator re-evaluating the case based on existing evidence. A Supplemental Claim allows the veteran to submit new and relevant evidence. A Board Appeal sends the case to a Veterans Law Judge, where the veteran may request a hearing. Each option has its own timeline and strategic advantages, depending on the strength and type of available evidence.

In addition to formal appeals, veterans can request an increase in their rating if their condition has worsened or if new symptoms have developed. This includes secondary service-connected conditions that may arise over time, such as depression related to chronic pain or arthritis that results from altered mobility. Veterans should keep detailed medical records, attend all VA exams, and seek statements from private doctors when possible.

Filing an appeal or increase request can be stressful and technical, especially if you’re unsure which approach is best. A skilled VA claims lawyer can review your decision letter, analyze your medical records, and develop a strategy to maximize your benefits. Appealing or increasing a claim is not about asking for more—it’s about ensuring that your compensation reflects your true condition and sacrifice.

Talk to Gang & Associates Today

At Gang & Associates, we believe that your service entitles you to a wide range of benefits provided by the VA. In addition to disability compensation, you might be eligible for programs that connect you with viable employment opportunities or help you manage your mental health as you integrate into civilian life.

Our attorneys are focused on supporting veterans who have received disappointing results from the VA disability claim. If you are considering an appeal, our team can handle it from start to finish. Reach out as soon as possible for a private consultation with our firm.