Disability Compensation

You may be eligible for VA disability benefits or compensation if you meet the requirements outlined below.

Both of these must be true:

• You have a current illness or injury (known as a condition) that affects your mind or body, and
• You served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training

And at least one of these must be true:

• You got sick or injured while serving in the military—and can link this condition to your illness or injury (called an in-service disability claim), or
• You had an illness or injury before you joined the military—and serving made it worse (called a pre-service disability claim), or
• You have a disability related to your active-duty service that didn’t appear until after you ended your service (called a post-service disability claim)

For some conditions, VA automatically assume (or “presume”) that your service caused your condition. VA call these presumptive conditions.

If you have a presumptive condition, you don’t need to prove that your service caused the condition. You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption.

Disability compensation applications may be submitted at any Los Angeles County Veterans Service Office.
Information on office locations and additional ways to connect is available by calling 877-4-LA-VETS (8387) or by visiting the Contact Us page.

The following documents are typically required or recommended when submitting an application, if available:

• Dependency records (e.g., marriage certificates, children’s birth certificates)
• Discharge or separation documents (DD Form 214 or equivalent)
• Medical evidence, including physician or hospital records

County VSOs can assist with requesting military records by helping identify and submit the required identifying information. VSOs can also provide guidance on submitting an online request through the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/.

VA disability compensation rates vary based on disability rating and dependency status. For a single veteran with no dependents, monthly compensation generally ranges from $152.64 to $3,332.86, depending on the assigned disability rating. Current rates are published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on the VA Disability Compensation webpage.

Additional monthly compensation may be payable in certain circumstances, including when:

• The veteran has severe disabilities or qualifying loss of use or amputation
• The veteran has a spouse, child(ren), or dependent parent(s)
• The veteran has a spouse with a serious disability

VSOs provide guidance throughout the application process, assist with identifying and submitting required documentation for either a first-time claim or a request for increased compensation, and help ensure the application is complete to support timely processing.

A VSO can assist with submitting an initial claim to establish an effective date and help ensure required evidence is provided within the applicable one-year timeframe to preserve benefit eligibility.

A VSO can assist with filing a Supplemental Claim and help ensure that new and relevant evidence is properly submitted for consideration as part of a new review of the decision.

For additional information on VA decision review options, including Higher-Level Review and processes that allow submission of new evidence, visit www.va.gov/decision-reviews/.

A VSO can assist with requesting a Higher-Level Review, which provides a new review of a VA decision based solely on the evidence of record at the time of the original ruling. Requests must be submitted within one year of the VA decision notice. VSOs can also explain alternative review options when new evidence is available.

For additional information on the Higher-Level Review process and other VA decision review options, including those that allow submission of new evidence, www.va.gov/decision-reviews/.

MVA VSOs can assist with submitting a Notice of Disagreement (NOD), including identifying the specific issues for review by a Veterans Law Judge and helping ensure applicable deadlines are met—generally one year from the date of the VA decision notice, or 60 days for contested claims. VSOs also provide guidance to ensure all required information is submitted correctly.

A VSO can assist with updating VA benefits to add or remove a dependent and help ensure required information is submitted so benefits are adjusted appropriately.

VSOs can assist with submitting a request for school attendance benefits and help ensure all required information and documentation are submitted accurately.