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You must be unable to maintain substantial gainful employment as a result of your service-connected disabilities (marginal employment, such as odd jobs, is not considered substantial gainful employment for VA purposes). Before you read the examples, however, it is important to note that the VA disability rating system is not additive, which means if a veteran has two disability ratings, one at the 60% level and one at the 10% level, their combined rating is not 70%. As it confirmed the Veteran was “individually unemployable” due to her service-connected disability, entitlement to compensation at the rate payable to a 100% disabled Veteran was granted. When a veteran is service-connected for one or more conditions, but is not able to secure substantial gainful employment, he or she can seek an extra-schedular TDIU rating of 100% even if his or her ratings don’t reach the VA schedular TDIU requirements.

If you are a Veteran suffering from a service-related disability, the department of Veterans affairs (VA) recognizes you as a disabled Veteran, and you may be eligible to receive significant tax-free support from the VA. Any Veteran with a service-related disability can apply to receive benefits from the VA. Many Other Service-Related Conditions Can Make You Eligible to Receive Disability Benefits. A term used for various symptoms that many Gulf War Veterans suffer from, Gulf War Syndrome, is recognized by the VA as a service-related disability.

For example, most Veterans do not realize they may be eligible for VA disability for Bell’s Palsy if they can prove it was caused by their military service. A nexus, or link, between the in-service disease or injury and the current disability as provided by competent medical evidence Alternatively, Bell’s Palsy can be service-connected by proving it was caused by another service-connected condition, known as secondary service connection. Establishing service connection for Bell’s Palsy on a secondary basis requires evidence sufficient to show that the Bell’s Palsy was either: (a) proximately caused by, or (b) proximately aggravated by a service-connected disability. The attorneys and Veterans at Berry Law have helped thousands of Veterans in their fight for disability benefits.

Applying to Receive Benefits From the VA If you are a Veteran who has a service-related disability, you can file a claim with the department of Veterans affairs (VA for short) and start receiving monthly tax-free benefits. In some circumstances, you can still get a disability rating and receive benefits from the VA even if there is not a direct connection between your disability and your military service. Because a higher disability rating directly corresponds to higher monthly payments, getting a rating that accurately reflects your disability is a must. If the VA’s decision in an appeal on the regional level is still not the outcome you are looking for, you can appeal on an even higher level by going to the Board of Veterans