Departments | Veterans Affairs | Federal Benefits - Compensation
Service Connection Disability Compensation
- DISABILITY
COMPENSATION
A monthly monetary benefit payable for service-connected disabilities.
Compensation rates are not income-based, but are determined
by the level of impairment in accordance with the Schedule
for Rating Disabilities (38 CFR, Part 4)
- SERVICE
CONNECTION
Disabilities resulting from diseases or injuries incurred or
aggravated while on active duty which were not caused due to
misconduct. Ways to become service connected:
A. DIRECT - An incurred
disability may have been directly caused by service such as
an injury due to an accident or hearing loss due to loud noise,
or it may be the result of some incident of service such as
cancer caused by exposure to asbestos or it may have simply
begun while on active duty such as diabetes.
B. AGGRAVATION - A pre-existing
disability which becomes permanently worse during service.
C. PRESUMPTION - Certain
chronic and tropical diseases will be presumed to have begun
during service if they become manifest to a compensable degree
within a specified time. (Only
diseases specifically listed.) (pdf)
Examples are diseases caused by Agent Orange for Vietnam Veterans
such as Diabetes Type II, and certain cancers or specific disabilities
for prisoners of war or participation in radiation-risk activities.
D. SECONDARY - A new
condition which is directly and proximately caused by an established
service-connected condition. Example would be gunshot wound
to knee caused one leg to be an inch shorter than the other.
Through the years the back becomes disabled due to the off balance
gait.
- APPLICATION
An original
claim is submitted on a VA Form 21-526. It is suggested that
the veteran contact their county VA office for assistance in
the completion of this form. Supporting documentation required
for submission is a certified copy of discharge, copy of medical
records proving disability, a copy of marriage license, and
birth certificates for any minor children.
- RE-EVALUATION
Frequently disabilities will get worse as the veteran ages.
An example might be that the site of injury becomes arthritic.
When a disability becomes worse, contact your county VA office
to request said disability be re-evaluated.
- INDIVIDUAL UNEMPLOYABILITY
Total disability ratings (100%) for compensation may be assigned
where the scheduler rating is less than total, when the disabled
person is, in the judgment of the rating agency, unable to secure
or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of
service-connected disability. (One disability rated at 60% or
higher or a combined rating of 70% with one disability rated
at 40% or more.)
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220 North Washington Avenue
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Mason City, IA 50401
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Phone:(641)421-3085 or (641)421-3086
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Fax:(641)421-3092
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Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm Monday through Friday
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Located in the basement of the courthouse
