Filing for Veterans Disability Benefits

Veterans of the United States Armed Forces who were injured during service or who have a condition that got worse as a result of their time on active duty may be eligible for disability compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These benefits aren’t automatically granted, however. You’ll first need to file a claim for benefits and provide the VA with enough evidence to establish a service-connected compensable disability rating.

Because the amount of benefits you’ll receive is directly related to your disability percentage rating, you’ll want to submit comprehensive medical records from both VA and non-VA doctors in order to get the highest possible rating. Navigating the VA benefits system can be frustrating and time-consuming, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the basic rules before you apply in order to make the process go more smoothly.

What Benefits Are Available for Disabled Veterans?

The main VA disability benefits program consists of monthly, untaxable cash payments from the U.S. government to veterans, usually paid for life. The exact amount depends on your disability rating (a higher rating means a larger monthly payment). Additional benefits may include reimbursement of travel expenses for rehabilitation or treatment. Disabled, low-income veterans older than 65 may also be eligible for a military pension.

To be eligible for VA disability compensation, you must be either a veteran of the U.S. military or an active service member with an upcoming separation date between 180 and 90 days away through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge program. You’ll also need to have “good paper” (honorable or general discharge) and a diagnosed, service-connected medical condition.

How to Apply for VA Disability Compensation

In order to begin your claim for VA disability, you'll need to complete Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits, which you can do in a few ways:

• Apply online using the electronic version of Form 21-526.
• Fax Form 21-526EZ to 844-531-7818 (from inside the United States) or 248-524-4260 (from outside the U.S.).
• Bring your application to your local VA office.
• Mail the form to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444.

When you apply, you’ll want to provide military records (DD214) for your period of service, including treatment notes from doctors both in and out of the VA system. You can also submit personal statements from family, friends, or other service members who served with you to explain how your condition affects you and when it happened. If you’re applying through the BDD program, you’ll have to attend a medical separation examination 45 days after you submit your claim.

Establishing Service Connection for Your VA Disability Claim

In order to get VA disability benefits, your medical condition must be linked to your time on active duty (“service-connected”). Service connection means that an incident happened while you were on active duty that caused or contributed to your disability. There are five types of service connection: direct, presumed, secondary, aggravated, and caused by treatment in the VA Health Care System.

Direct Service Connection

Direct service connection is found when a veteran’s medical condition is caused by something that happened during military service, like vision loss as the result of an in-combat injury. Veterans seeking to establish a direct service connection will need to provide medical evidence establishing a causal link (“nexus”) and the incident that happened on active duty.

Presumed Service Connection

Service connection can be presumed for certain medical conditions that are unlikely to arise outside of a military context. Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, for example, can have presumed service connection for respiratory disorders and cancers related to Agent Orange exposure. The VA maintains a list of presumptive conditions that is regularly updated, so check the list to see if your impairment corresponds to the nature and location of your service.

Pre-Existing Condition Aggravated by Military Service

Veterans who enter service with a pre-existing condition that is worsened by their time in active duty can establish an aggravated service connection, provided the pre-existing impairment is noted in their entrance medical exam. For example, if you have very mild degenerative disc disease that becomes severe after you fall on a rock, you may establish service connection by aggravation of the pre-existing disorder.

Secondary Service Connection

Secondary service connection happens when one service-connected condition is the cause of another. The second impairment doesn't need to be directly related to military service but wouldn't have occurred without the first impairment, which did happen during military service. For example, a veteran who was diagnosed with depression after sustaining nerve damage due to neurotoxin exposure would have a secondary service connection for depression.

Injury Caused by Treatment in the VA Health Care System

An injury is automatically treated as service-connected if it happens while receiving care at a VA hospital or VA treatment center. (This is sometimes also known as a “Section 1151” claim.)

Veterans who are filing a claim for VA benefits due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) no longer have to provide evidence of a specific event that caused the PTSD. Instead, they can provide more general evidence to support their claim and still be awarded benefits. For more information, see our article on how to get VA benefits for PTSD.

What Happens After I File a VA Disability Claim?

Once you submit your application, the VA will gather any information needed in order to make a decision about service-connection and what disability rating should be assigned. You may have to attend a compensation and pension (C&P) exam as well. After the VA has reviewed all the medical evidence, you’ll receive a decision letter in the mail explaining what your benefit amount will be (if you’re approved) or how to appeal (if you disagree with the decision).

In May 2026, initial VA claims took on average 69.8 days to decide (a little over two months). Your claim may take longer or shorter depending on how complex your case is and how solid your medical records are.

How Much Will I Get in VA Disability Compensation?

Your monthly compensation amount is determined by a combination of your VA disability rating and your living situation. For example, in 2026, an individual veteran with a 30% rating can receive $552.47 every month while an individual veteran with a 60% rating can receive $1,435.02. Veterans with the same disability rating (30% and 60%) but who are married with one dependent child will receive higher payments, at $666.47 and $1,663.02 respectively. You can estimate your benefits by reviewing the current VA disability compensation tables.

For especially severe injuries or disabilities, such as blindness or loss of a limb, disabled veterans may be entitled to receive additional monthly compensation through Aid and Attendance benefits or the Housebound Allowance. Veterans with combat-related disabilities may also be eligible for combat-related special compensation (CRSC).

Why Was My VA Disability Claim Denied?

In certain circumstances, veterans aren’t eligible to receive disability benefits. You may be disqualified from receiving benefits if the disability was caused by your own misconduct; the disability occurred while deserting, absent without leave (AWOL), or otherwise avoiding duty; the disability occurred while you were incarcerated or detained for a court martial or civil felony; or you were dishonorably discharged.

However, the more common reason for a denial is due to a lack of evidence establishing either service-connection or a medical diagnosis. You can have the opportunity to present new evidence on appeal depending on the type of decision review you choose.

Getting Help With Your VA Disability Claim

You can apply for disability benefits and even file an appeal by yourself if you’d prefer to do so. But if you’d like more support, a veterans service organization (VSO) can provide you with a representative. Some veterans chose to hire a lawyer to represent them during the application process. For more information, see our article about the benefits, costs, and tips on getting a VA disability attorney.