Get the benefits you earned!
McNairy County Veterans Services is here to assist veterans and their family members in filing applications with Veterans Affairs and provide guidance within the VA.
COMPENSATION
Compensation is sometimes referred to as VA disability or service connected. It is a payment available to veterans with qualifying service and service connected medical conditions.
In order to "service connect" a medical condition, it must have began or been aggravated during active duty service. In some cases, the condition may have a delayed direct service connection as well.
In addition to the onset cause of the condition, there must be a NEXUS. There must be a link between the claimed condition and the present. Examples of this are continuous care for the condition, lay statements from friends and family members, and statements from medical providers.
Lastly, there must a current diagnosis. The claimed condition must be a current problem. It is helpful to have your medical provider document these before filing a claim.
Some conditions are considered presumptive. That means the VA presumes your circumstances and location during service can cause certain disabilities.
For more information go to:
PENSION
Pension is a supplemental or income based payment available to eligible wartime veterans. The amount of the payment depends on income vs medical expenses. To see more information on eligibility for veterans pension, please see
https://www.va.gov/pension/eligibility/
SURVIVOR'S BENEFITS
When a veteran passes away, his or her VA benefit check stops. There is sometimes a delay in the payment ceasing, so it is important to leave that money in an account for recoupment when the VA reconciles.
A man or woman married to the veteran at the time or his/her death may be eligible to apply for a new benefit. The type of benefit will be based on the cause of death and qualifying service. Other qualifying dependents may be eligible as well.
Survivor's pension is a benefit much like veterans pension. It is supplemental or income based. The veteran must have qualifying service during a wartime period. Seeing combat is not required, only qualifying service on active duty during that period. For more information, go to:
https://www.va.gov/pension/survivors-pension/
DIC is VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. This is a payment for surviving spouses, children or parents of veterans who died from a service connected condition or service members who died in the line of duty. This benefit is not income dependent. This benefit may also qualify you for CHAMPVA health insurance as well as benefits that come with a military ID card. For more information, go to: https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/