Benefits and Disability For Veterans

We will need to determine the benefit(s) for which you are qualified:

Benefit Description

Disability Compensation: is a tax free monetary benefit paid to Veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. Compensation may also be paid for post-service disabilities that are considered related or secondary to disabilities occurring in service and for disabilities presumed to be related to circumstances of military service, even though they may arise after service. Generally, the degrees of disability specified are also designed to compensate for considerable loss of working time from exacerbations or illnesses.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax free monetary benefit generally payable to a surviving spouse, child, or parent of Service members who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training or survivors of Veterans who died from their service-connected disabilities. DIC for parents is an income based benefit.

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is an additional tax-free benefit that can be paid to Veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses and parents. For Veterans, Special Monthly Compensation is a higher rate of compensation paid due to special circumstances such as the need of aid and attendance by another person or a specific disability, such as loss of use of one hand or leg. For spouses and surviving spouses, this benefit is commonly referred to as aid and attendance and is paid based on the need of aid and attendance by another person. Learn about special monthly compensation benefit rates

Other Benefits: VA provides additional housing and insurance benefits to Veterans with disabilities, including Adapted Housing grants, Service-Disable Veterans’ Insurance, and Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance.

Disabilities that Qualify for VA Benefits

Veterans across Polk County Florida have chosen us to help them obtain their VA disability benefits, and the list of our client’s war-time injuries is extensive and varied. Some of the most common problems facing our vets that may qualify them for VA benefits include:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Radiation Poisoning
• Cognitive Disabilities
• Physical Disabilities
• Exposure to Agent Orange (Vietnam Veterans)
• Former Prisoner of War
• Traumatic Head Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
• Sexual Trauma
• Amputation of limb or other body part
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Chronic Disorders
• Eye Injuries (Visual Impairment)
• Hearing loss
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Lou Gehrig’s Disease
• Hypertension
• Cushings Syndrome

This list is not meant to be all-inclusive, so if you do not see your particular condition, it’s still possible that you may qualify for VA benefits.

The Rise in VA Disability Claims

The staggering rise in VA disability claims is happening for two reasons:

1) Today’s U.S. soldier is much more likely to survive a traumatic battlefield injury.

Advances in medical treatment and body armor have saved countless lives. However, while soldiers are more likely to survive war-time trauma, there is an increasing number of troops that are returning home with debilitating injuries that have altered their everyday living.

2) A new administration has recognized the need to re-evaluate claims that had previously been denied. Recent examples of these types of claims include Vietnam vets suffering from Agent Orange exposure, and vets suffering from Gulf War Syndrome.

For these reasons and many others, the VA faces hundreds of thousands of backlogged cases, and veterans are forced to undergo a very complicated and frustrating application process to be considered for disability benefits. Even if they are able to properly submit their application, most are denied and then forced to appeal. Worse yet, the appeals process can take years to complete, leaving a disabled veteran with no answers.

Sadly, though their injuries are real, disabled soldiers continue to be denied VA benefits. It’s an injustice and it’s certainly not the “thank you” our disabled veterans deserve. This is unacceptable; however, disabled veterans now have hope.

Free Consultation

If you are considering hiring a veterans’ disability lawyer, please contact McMann P.A. by filling out our confidential, free contact form or call us at 863-393-9010 for a free consultation with our VA disability attorney.