Contact us | Veterans Affairs (2023)

FAQs

What are the 5 types of veterans? ›

Under VEVRAA, a veteran may be classified as a ''disabled veteran,'' ''recently separated veteran,'' ''active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran,'' or ''Armed Forces service medal veteran. ''

You can call us at 800-827-1000. We're here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.

The VA is responsible for administering benefit programs for veterans, their families, and their survivors. These benefits include pension, education, disability compensation, home loans, life insurance, vocational rehabilitation, survivor support, medical care, and burial benefits.

Key Takeaways. The Veterans Administration was established in 1930 as a federal administration that provided benefits to veterans. Elevated to a U.S. Cabinet-level department, it is now known as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the VA.

"Anyone who has reached 20 years of service, even if they were never activated on a [federal] order for more than 180 days outside of training, will now be considered a veteran," he said. The change in law, said Krenz, simply recognizes those who serve.

To be considered a veteran, any military personnel must be on active-duty service for at least 180 days. The only exception is if the member sustained a service-related injury and was discharged under honorable conditions.

Even in the private sector, your DD214 proves you are a veteran, letting you apply with companies looking to support or hire vets.

The term "veteran" means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. (E) authorized travel to or from such duty or service. 38 U.S.C.

What Veterans are not eligible for VA health care? ›

If you're a current or former member of the Reserves or National Guard, you must have been called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty. If you had or have active-duty status for training purposes only, you don't qualify for VA health care.

Even after veterans reach full retirement age, VA's disability payments continue at the same level. By contrast, the income that people receive after they retire (from Social Security or private pensions) usually is less than their earnings from wages and salary before retirement.

All Veterans receive coverage for most care and services, but only some will qualify for added benefits like dental care. The full list of your covered benefits depends on: Your priority group, and.

If you are a 50% or greater disabled veteran or a former POW, all your medical care from the VA is free. There are other groups that may get some, or all VA medical care for free, see our VA Copay page for details.

The Marine Corps is often first on the ground in combat situations.

Can I call myself a Veteran? Yes, just recently signed legislation allows you to call yourself a Veteran. During the December 2016 transition period, President Obama signed H.R. 6416, a bill that says National Guard and Reserve retirees who had zero active duty time are now eligible to be referred to as Veterans.

Under US law, a veteran is defined as a "person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.” With this definition, those who are actively serving in the military do not fall under the category of a veteran.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is an agency of the federal government that provides benefits, health care and cemetery services to military Veterans.

What is a retired soldier called? ›

In the United States, a veteran is a person who has served in the armed forces (including the United States National Guard and Reserve) and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

For a Veteran to be considered a wartime Veteran, they would have had to have served during a period of war. This is different from a combat Veteran who actively engaged in combat during their service. A wartime Veteran might not have seen any combat.

If a member of the armed forces was discharged during basic training for medical reasons, they are still considered a veteran for Federal student aid purposes so long as they served at least one day before being discharged.

No, training doesn't count as active duty. For the regular Army/Navy/Air Force/Marine Corps/Coast Guard, active duty begins when a military member reports to a duty station after completion of training (basic, officer training, tech school).

The DD Form 214 is an official document issued by the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines at the time of discharge or separation from military service. The DD214 shows your status as a separated or retired military member and the nature of your service including dates, awards and decorations and other important details.

Military retirees shall be ordered to active duty with full pay and allowances. In general, a retired member recalled to active duty will serve in the member's retired grade. Military retiree categories are defined as follows: Category I: non-disability retirees under age 60 who have been retired fewer than 5 years.

Beginning in 1950, the Department of Defense issued DD-214 forms, also called Certificates of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. As the document's longer name implies, each service member received a DD-214 upon his or her discharge from the United States Armed Forces.

(b) Post-Vietnam-era veteran means an eligible veteran who first became a member of the Armed Forces or first entered on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces after May 7, 1975. (c) Vietnam era means the period be- ginning August 5, 1964 and ending May 7, 1975.

Service-related Death

VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses for deaths on or after September 11, 2001, or up to $1,500 for deaths prior to September 11, 2001. If the Veteran is buried in a VA national cemetery, some or all of the cost of transporting the deceased may be reimbursed.

Under the bill, a “veteran” is anyone honorably discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty in the armed forces or anyone with an OTH discharge based on the following qualifying conditions: 1.

Does 6 years in the National Guard make you a veteran? ›

Does 6 years in the National Guard make you a veteran? Yes, if you spent at least 180 days of that 6 years deployed on federal active duty orders. A 2016 change to federal law expanded the definition of “veteran” for many National Guard members.

Not a Protected Veteran: A veteran who meets federal and/or state definition to qualify as a veteran but is not in the protected class of veteran for employment, reemployment or benefits.

The military discharges are recorded without charge and copies are issued without charge as a service to our veterans. Unlike all other records contained in the Register of Deeds Office military discharge documents are considered a public record with restricted access unless they have been on file for 50 years or more.

The DD214 provides proof of service and, in most cases, proof of honorable discharge from the military. Having this information in hand is essential if you want to take advantage of a range of benefits and services only available to veterans.

Request Recent Military Records (World War I - Present)

Most requests are free.

The charge ranges from $5 to $11 for each 30 day or less supply of medications provided on an outpatient basis for nonservice-connected conditions. Outpatient – The copayments will be based on primary care visits ($15) and specialty care visits ($50).

2021 yearly income limit

Your yearly income must be $17,384 or less to continue receiving this benefit. Note: The hospital reduction rate is a reduced rate of Special Aid and Attendance that we pay if you're hospitalized and meet certain requirements.

You can receive as much as a $16,728 bonus or more every year. A particular formula will determine the money you'll receive in your retirement process. You must know the hacks for generating higher future payments.

The “disability from disease is permanent in character and of such nature that there is no likelihood of improvement;” You are over 55 years of age, although some exceptions may apply; The rating you received is the prescribed minimum rating; or. If a lower rating would not affect your combined disability rating.

Do veterans get extra Social Security? ›

Under certain circumstances, special earnings can be credited to your military pay record for Social Security purposes. The extra earnings are for periods of active duty or active duty for training. These extra earnings may help you qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of your Social Security benefit.

"As long as you were deployed on active duty for at least 180 days and you didn't get a dishonorable discharge or a bad conduct discharge coming off those orders, then you could be considered a veteran," said Army Sgt.

Medicare does not pay for any care that you receive at a VA facility. In order for your VA coverage to cover your care, you must generally receive health care services at a VA facility.

Under this new expanded program, veterans are eligible to get limited urgent care from civilian doctors regardless of how close they are to a VA facility.

If you're being medically retired from active duty

You may be eligible to receive care through VA for any service-connected disabilities. You may also qualify to receive all other care through TRICARE. Your eligible family members may also qualify for care through TRICARE.

If you're a current or former member of the Reserves or National Guard, you must have been called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty. If you had or have active-duty status for training purposes only, you don't qualify for VA health care.

The Honorable Denis Richard McDonough was nominated by President Biden to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. McDonough's nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 8th, 2021, and he was sworn in the following day as the 11th Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Call the VA Insurance Center at 1-800-669-8477. Or contact us online at: Contact the Insurance Center - Life Insurance - Veterans Benefits Administration (va.gov)

If you have a problem with your care provider, VA medical facility, or any other aspect of your care, you can: Discuss the issue with your primary care provider or another member of your health care team. If that doesn't help, contact the patient advocate at your VA medical center or clinic.

Are all veterans eligible for VA benefits? ›

All enrolled Veterans receive the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA's) comprehensive Medical Benefits Package which includes preventive, primary and specialty care, diagnostic, inpatient and outpatient care services.

7 Veterans give the VA mixed reviews.

Most veterans (73%) say they have received benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is an agency of the federal government that provides benefits, health care and cemetery services to military Veterans.

When veterans reach age 67, all VA disability payments would revert to the amount associated with the rated disability level; veterans age 67 or older who are already receiving IU payments would no longer receive them after the effective date of the option.

The VA disability 5 year rule allows the VA to ex-examine your VA disability rating within 5 years of your initial examination if your condition is expected to improve over time. However, the VA may still change your disability rating past the 5-year deadline if your condition has significantly improved.

VA disability ratings generally are not permanent. Rather, they are subject to review by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at any time. If VA finds that your situation or condition has changed since you received your initial rating, it may assign you a new rating—or cease your benefits altogether.

The Veteran Affairs website reports that 75 percent of all initial applications for VA benefits are denied. These applications are often denied because they have incomplete information or lack necessary documentation. Other reasons for denial include: Not enough evidence to support your disability.

Of the veteran and active service members who reported to the annual Wounded Warrior Project Survey that they have never used VA health care services, the most common reasons given included preferring to use other health care coverage and too much trouble or red tape.

Number of veterans who had a 70 to 90 percent disability rating: 2,420. Number of veterans who had a 100 percent disability rating: 1,180.

Do veterans get free healthcare for life? ›

If you are a 50% or greater disabled veteran or a former POW, all your medical care from the VA is free. There are other groups that may get some, or all VA medical care for free, see our VA Copay page for details.

If you've received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge, you may not be eligible for VA benefits.

If you have VA benefits, you do not have to enroll in Medicare in order to keep your VA benefits. That being said, the Veterans Administration actually recommends veterans enroll in Medicare when they become eligible.