The United States Department of Veterans Affairs, also known as the VA and the Veterans Administration, is a government-operated veteran benefit agency. The Veterans Administration is the agency in charge of providing medical care and disability benefits to military veterans who are wounded or disabled.
When a veteran is disabled while in the military service, he or she is entitled to an expedited processing of their Social Security Disability claims. The Social Security Administration (SSA) and the VA work together to ensure that the Social Security Disability claims that are filed by disabled military veterans are handled in a timely manner, regardless of whether or not the disability was the result of military activities or other circumstances.
Disabled veterans may be entitled to both military disability compensation and Social Security Disability benefits. A Social Security Disability applicant who qualifies for veteran disability benefits may not qualify for Social Security Disability benefits due to the fact that the criteria for the two programs are very different. The VA offers disability benefits to individuals who suffer from partial disabilities, while the SSA only provides benefits to those who are suffering from long-term or permanent disabilities that completely prevent an individual from being able to work.
In addition to disability benefits, the Veterans Administration also provides veterans with other services such as home loans, educational financial assistance such as grants and loans and other veteran benefits. When a veteran is discharged from the military, they are usually referred to a VA representative so that they can discuss and apply for the benefits they may be entitled to. If you are a military veteran and have not yet discussed your benefit eligibility with a Veterans Administration representative, you should contact the VA to set up an appointment as soon as possible. You will be informed of the benefits you may be able to obtain at this appointment and can begin the application process for benefits that you may be entitled to.
