You waited.
You checked VA.gov, let’s see……. 847 times.
You deciphered phrases like “service connection,” “combined evaluation,” and “effective date” as if you were trying to crack a military version of the Da Vinci Code.
And then it happened.
Your VA disability rating came back.
Congratulations! 🎉🇺🇸
The federal government has officially acknowledged that your time in the military left you with some…souvenirs.
Now what?
Because here’s the part I don’t think we talk about enough:
Getting your VA rating may be the END of your disability claim, but it can be the BEGINNING of an entirely different benefits scavenger hunt.
And nobody necessarily shows up with a clipboard and says:
“Hello, Veteran! Welcome to your new rating. Please follow me while I explain all the other crap you may qualify for.”
Rude.
So, your Fairy Groundmother has entered the chat.
FIRST: Actually Read Your Decision Letter
I know.
Nobody wants to do this.
It’s approximately 63 pages of government language explaining something that could probably have been communicated in six paragraphs and a Post-it note.
But read it.
Look at:
Your combined disability rating.
This is the percentage you’ll usually hear people referring to when they say they’re “70%,” “90%,” etc.
Your individual conditions and ratings.
Your effective date.
Whether your disabilities are considered permanent and total (P&T), if applicable.
And check whether the VA has the correct dependents listed.
Because that little percentage number can open doors to other benefits — and some of them aren’t automatically handed to you.
THEN: Check Your STATE Benefits
This is a big one.
Veterans sometimes focus entirely on federal VA benefits and forget that states have their own veteran benefits.
Depending on your state, disability rating, residency, and other eligibility requirements, there may be benefits involving things like:
Property taxes.
Vehicle registration.
Hunting and fishing licenses.
State parks.
Education.
Employment preferences.
License plates.
And other programs that vary wildly from state to state.
Which means if you move?
CHECK AGAIN.
Your veteran benefits don’t necessarily pack themselves neatly into the moving truck with your couch.
HAVE DEPENDENTS? CHECK THEIR BENEFITS TOO.
This one gets confusing FAST.
Depending on your status and eligibility, your spouse or children may qualify for certain benefits.
That can include programs such as CHAMPVA healthcare coverage or Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35).
And no, those are not automatically the same thing.
Because why would we make this easy?
Different programs.
Different eligibility requirements.
Different applications.
Same veteran sitting at the computer wondering why they need 14 browser tabs open.
WHAT ABOUT AN ID CARD?
Ahhhh yes.
The ID card.
Because apparently there can never just be one card.
There’s the Veteran Health Identification Card.
There’s the Veteran ID Card.
There’s the Department of Defense Uniformed Services Identification Card for eligible veterans and family members.
There’s a veteran designation available on many state driver’s licenses.
And depending on your status, they do different things.
So when someone tells you:
“You need to go get your veteran ID card.”
My immediate follow-up question is:
WHICH ONE, LINDA?
Because walking into the wrong office asking for “the veteran card” is how government versions of Who’s on First? begin.
CHECK YOUR HEALTHCARE BENEFITS
Your disability rating can affect your VA healthcare priority group and what you may owe for certain types of care.
Some veterans may also qualify for additional benefits such as dental care depending on their individual eligibility.
Don’t assume.
Check.
Because “my buddy at the Legion said…” is not technically an eligibility category.
I checked.
100% P&T? KEEP READING.
If you’ve been rated 100% Permanent and Total, there may be additional benefits available to you and your eligible dependents.
This is where I REALLY want veterans to stop after getting their decision letter and investigate.
Depending on your circumstances, that could potentially affect things like:
CHAMPVA eligibility for qualifying dependents.
Chapter 35 education benefits.
Certain DoD privileges and identification cards.
State benefits.
And other programs with their own eligibility rules.
100% and 100% P&T aren’t always interchangeable when you’re talking about benefits.
Those two little letters can matter.
AND PLEASE DON’T ASSUME SOMEONE WILL CONTACT YOU.
This might be the biggest takeaway.
You can qualify for something and still have to apply for it yourself.
The VA may not call. (More than likely not)
Your state may not call. (Again, more than likely not)
No magical government owl 🦉 is arriving with a packet tied to its ankle.
Sometimes you have to know the benefit exists before you even know to ask about it.
And THAT is why veterans need to talk to each other.
Not to spread “my cousin’s buddy was rated 80% and he said…” information.
But to say:
“Hey. Did you know this program exists? Go see if you qualify.”
There’s a difference.
YOUR FAIRY GROUNDMOTHER’S ASSIGNMENT 🪄
If you’ve recently received a VA disability rating — or you’ve had one for YEARS — take an hour and do a benefits checkup.
Look at your federal benefits.
Look at your state benefits.
Look at benefits for your dependents.
And if your rating changed recently, look again.
You served.
You earned the right to apply for the benefits available to you.
Not knowing they exist shouldn’t be the reason you don’t use them.
And for the love of all things DD-214…
Read the damn letter.
Until next time…xoxo
Tracy
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