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Federal Benefits List by Combined Ratings

Everything you need to get the Veteran's Benefits you earned and are entitled to. We're here to help. Let's get started!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Federal Benefits List by Combined Ratings

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This page is focused on Federal benefits granted to Veterans based on their Combined total rating.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

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  • For the purposes of ease, only new/changed benefits are listed as you scroll down the page. In other words, a Veteran who is rated 50% combined gets all the previous benefits of the lower percentages.

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  • For specific State benefits click HERE.

0%

  • Other

  • Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) with "service connected" written on it. This grants the Veteran access to military installations, commissary, exchange and MWR retail privileges.$

@This DOES include appointments made via the Community care program.

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@@Veterans who are low-income may qualify for travel pay even for appointments for non service connected disabilities.

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@@@Must be younger than 81, unless you are within 2 years of a grant of a NEW service connected disability, that was applied for before turning 81.

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*Non-compensable service connected Veterans rated 0 percent, whose annual income and/ or net worth are NOT greater than VA financial thresholds.

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**If the Veteran is rated at the non-compensable 0% service-connected level and whose annual income and/ or net worth are IS greater than VA financial thresholds.

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***Veterans without a service connected disability may access National Parks for Free - but they do NOT get the aforementioned discounts.

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$The Veteran MUST get a visitor pass to gain base accessat certain bases!

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Note About Commissary Access:

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  • The DoD is required to charge Veterans a small fee to make purchases with a commercial credit or debit card. Veterans who use the military star card will NOT be charged this fee.

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MWR facilities

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This is not an exhaustive list, only the most frequently asked about activities.

Use of MWR activities primarily funded by appropriations are NOT authorized.

Place

PLACE

Armed Forces Resorts

Boating programs

Bowling

Cabins/Cottages

Camping (Tent sites & RV parks)

Child care/development

Class six

Clubs

Equipment rentals

Fishing

Golf

Gym/Fitness center

Kennels

Libraries

Lodging

MAC flights

Marinas

Movies

Pharmacy

Pools

Rec center

Recreational lodging/Resorts

Restaurants

USO

Vehicle storage

ACTIVITY

  • Only the Hale Koa Hotel (Hawaii) and the Shades of Green Resort (Disney, Florida)

  • Yes

  • Yes

  • Yes

  • Yes

  • No

  • Yes

  • Yes

  • Yes

  • Varies*

  • Yes

  • No

  • Yes

  • No

  • Yes**

  • No

  • Yes

  • Yes

  • No

  • Varies***

  • Yes

  • Yes

  • Yes

  • No

  • Yes

@All Veterans can now use this website.

*It depends. If lakes are operated as part of the installation park and picnic areas, no. If lakes are operated as part of the installation outdoor recreation activity, then it is at the discretion of the military department, subject to capacity and funding considerations.

**Official temporary duty and permanent change of station lodging will be on a space-available basis.

***At the discretion of the military department, subject to capacity and funding consid

0%

Category
Employment
Health Care
Hearing
Housing
Vision

Description

10-Point Compensable Disability Preference (CP) Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating.

Free hearing aids and associated components.

Exemption from paying the funding fee for VA loans.

Free basic eyeglasses from the VA.

  • In some instances there are individuals who have separate and more than two zero percent service connected disabilities who are paid at the minimum 10 percent. (38 CFR 3.324).

10%

  • *Non service connected medications and residential forms of Long term care are NOT free! You'll owe a Small copay. Additionally, dental is unavailable for those without a dental service connected disability or meet other Eligibility factors.

  • Notes For Veterans with Private Insurance:

  • By law the VA is supposed to bill your insurance for any treatment that is NOT service connected. However, you the Veteran being 10% owe nothing to EITHER your insurance or the VA!

  • The benefit of giving the VA your private insurance information is that anything the VA bills them will go towards lowering your yearly out of pocket limit on your insurance!

  • If you are being billed by either the VA or your private insurance you need to contact them directly.

20%

30%

  • Employment

  • 10-Point 30 Percent Compensable Disability Preference (CPS) Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating.

  • Financial

  • Can add Eligible dependents to their compensation benefits to get a higher payment, also known as a “benefit rate.”

  • Financial

  • Health care

  • Priority group 2 for VA health care.

50%

  • Financial

  • Priority group 1 for VA health care.

  • Health care

  • Free medications for non service connected disabilities.

60%

  • Financial

  • VA Individual Unemployability* - Veteran must be have at least one SINGLE service-connected disability rated at 60% and be unable to hold down a steady job that supports you financially (known as substantially gainful employment) because of your service-connected disability. Odd jobs (marginal employment) don’t count.

*Note:

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  • In certain cases— for example, if you need to be in the hospital often. The Veteran may qualify at a lower disability rating.

70%

  • Financial

VA Individual Unemployability - 2 or more service-connected disabilities with at least 1 rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more and be unable to hold down a steady job that supports you financially (known as substantially gainful employment) because of your service-connected disability. Odd jobs (marginal employment) don’t count.​

  • Housing

  • Basic eligibility for VA nursing homes.*

*Each of the VA nursing home programs has admission and eligibility criteria specific to the separate program. Nursing home care is available for Veterans who are enrolled in the VA health system who need nursing home care for service-connected disability, and Veterans who have a 70 percent or greater service-connected disability.

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VA-provided nursing home care for all other honorably discharged Veterans is based on available resources. Eligibility for Veterans without service connected disabilities is highly dependent upon their household income, i.e. countable income after medical expenses can generally not exceed the maximum annual rate of a Veteran's Pension payable to a Veteran in need of regular aid and attendance ($22,939 for a Veteran without dependents and $27,195 for a Veteran with one dependent).

100%

  • Death

  • Dependency indemnity compensation (DIC). Death need not be related to a service connected disability if additional conditions are met*.

  • Education

  • Nomination of children to a Service Academy: Air Force, Army (West Point), Navy.

  • Health care

  • Free dental care through the VA (within the USA and its territories).

  • Other

  • Additional MWR Access: Fitness, aquatics, and sports program, as well as libraries

  • Other

  • Disabled American Veteran 100% ID (DAV ID)***.

*a) receiving 100% or TDIU for at least 10 years prior to death.

b) discharged with a rating of 100% or TDIU and held that rating for at least five years prior to death.

c) receiving 100% or TDIU for at least one year prior to death if Veteran was a former POW.

**The Department of Education has a different definitions of what P&T is than the VA. 34 CFR § 685.213 - Total and permanent disability discharge.

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Old DAV ID

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New DAV ID

**Benefits of the DAV ID:

  • Easier access to military bases.

  • The commissary credit/debit card user fee is NOT charged.

  • A Veteran who is eligible for the DAV ID can have ID cards made for their dependents.

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IMPORTANT NOTE:

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  • If the Veteran wants to bring a guest/someone without a DoD ID onto base, they MUST get them a visitors pass at certain bases!

100%

100% P&T or TDIU P&T

  • Education

Entitlement to Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA).

Eligibility for Veteran's dependents to enroll in CHAMPVA.

  • Housing

During a medical emergency Veteran may freely use non-VA emergency rooms for any condition. Veteran does needs to submit a claim within 2 years of the event to the VA for reimbursement.

  • Housing

During a medical emergency Veteran may freely use non-VA emergency rooms for any condition. Veteran does needs to submit a claim within 2 years of the event to the VA for reimbursement.

States Offering Free Tuition to Veterans and their Dependents

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Some States have been gracious enough to grant Veterans either a partial or full exemption from their property taxes. This can end up saving Veterans thousands of dollars a year!

 

Click HERE to see the list.

Miscellaneous - Benefits based on having certain service connected disabilities (not necessarily a percentage)

  • Automobile

VA automobile allowance and adaptive equipment A one time lump sum of over $21,000 to help you buy a specially equipped vehicle.

Home Improvement and Structural Alterations Program (HISA) - Up to $6,800 to make medically necessary improvements and structural alterations to Veterans primary residence.

  • Housing

Specially Adapted Housing grant (SAH) - Up to $~90,000 to buy, build, or change your permanent home (a home you plan to live in for a long time). Grant may be used up to 3 times.

  • Housing

Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant - ~$18,000 to buy, build, or change your permanent home (a home you plan to live in for a long time). Grant may be used up to 3 times.

  • Housing

Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant - Are living temporarily in a family member’s home that needs changes to meet your needs. (To use a TRA grant, you don't have to own the house).

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