VA Disability is a type of benefit provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to American veterans who have become disabled due to an injury or illness sustained during their service in the military. These benefits are intended to provide financial assistance and other services to veterans who may be struggling due to their disabling condition, whether it be physical, psychological, or both.1,2

VA Disability covers a wide range of conditions related to service-related disability. These can include physical injuries such as amputations, burns, spinal cord injuries and musculoskeletal problems; mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and schizophrenia; and chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. In addition to these qualifying medical conditions, veterans may also receive VA Disability benefits if they were exposed to hazardous materials or chemicals while in service – this includes exposure to Agent Orange or radiation from nuclear weapons testing.2

Overall, VA Disability is an important program that provides much-needed aid and support for veterans who became disabled while serving in our nation’s armed forces. Whether it’s physical disabilities resulting from combat injuries or mental illness suffered due to trauma, these brave individuals deserve all the help the state can give them as they struggle with their daily lives after military service.2

Is Substance Abuse or Addiction Considered a VA Disability? 

Studies suggest that veterans are more likely than civilians to develop a problem with alcohol and other addictive substances due to various stressful and potentially traumatic factors encountered while serving in the armed forces.3

Substance use disorder (SUD) is considered a VA disability for veterans. SUD is defined as the excessive use of alcohol or drugs that has significant negative physical and mental health consequences, such as adverse social functioning, impaired work performance, financial difficulties, and other life problems. Substance abuse can range from mild to severe.4

The VA offers compensation to veterans who suffer from service-connected illnesses or injuries caused by active duty military service, including SUDs such as alcoholism or drug addiction. This compensation may include monthly payments that depend on the severity of their illness or injury, as well as access to medical care through the VA’s health system.5

In order to be eligible for disability benefits due to a SUD, a veteran must demonstrate that their disorder was either caused by or aggravated by their time in the military service. They also need to provide evidence showing that the SUD has resulted in “functional impairment” which includes an inability to work due to psychological symptoms associated with the disorder such as anxiety or depression, cognitive impairments due to brain damage from substance use, or other physical impairments related to the condition.5

In addition to alcohol and drug abuse, veterans may be eligible for VA disability benefits if they have a co-occurring mental disorder that they suffer from at the same time as their SUD, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. These disorders must be diagnosed according to criteria established by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).4,5

VA Disability Eligibility And Requirements

VA Disability eligibility and requirements refer to the criteria established by the VA to determine whether an individual is eligible for benefits for any physical, mental, or emotional condition that was incurred or aggravated during active duty military service.2, 5 

Generally, such conditions must be service-connected in order to qualify for VA disability benefits. In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements based on service connection, the struggling individual must meet certain other criteria as outlined below in order to become eligible for VA disability compensation.2,5

Eligibility Criteria 

In order to be eligible for VA disability compensation, an individual must generally meet some of the following criteria:2

  • Must receive a formal diagnosis; 
  • Must have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions; 
  • Must have a current medical diagnosis relatable to their time in service or a past diagnosis worsened by their time in service; 
  • Must have served in active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training; 

To illustrate, let’s look at an example. A veteran who served in Iraq may have developed PTSD after his tour of duty and is now seeking disability compensation due to this condition. He must first show that his time in Iraq was connected with his development of PTSD through a medical diagnosis and supporting evidence that can be submitted on the application form. Secondly, he meets all other criteria outlined above as he has served actively, had an honorable discharge and has submitted a fully completed application along with the required evidence.2

What Are VA Disability Benefits? 

VA disability benefits are financial aid offered to veterans struggling with a physical or mental disability. They can come in the form of medical or financial assistance or a combination of both. The most common types of disability benefits include:6

  • Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a tax-free monthly benefit given to surviving spouses, children or parents of veterans who died due to service-related disabilities or injuries.6
  • Special Monthly Compensation is an additional benefit for those who have experienced extreme losses such as the loss of hearing, sight or use of limbs due to their service-connected condition. This benefit is meant to increase monetary compensation for those with extreme losses due to injury or disease.6
  • Aid & Attendance and Housebound Benefits may be available to veterans who need help performing certain daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, etc., as well as those housebound by permanent disability caused by service-related trauma.7 
  • VA Travel Reimbursement provides reimbursement for approved medical travel expenses incurred when receiving care from a VA medical facility. This includes mileage reimbursement when traveling long distances for treatment at a VA hospital or clinic.8
  • Clothing Allowance may be provided for veterans whose clothes may get damaged and torn regularly by their orthopedic or prosthetic device, skin medication that leaves stains on their clothes, etc.9
  • Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program helps American disabled veterans reintegrate into society after they leave the military by offering job training programs and access to higher education opportunities. This program may also provide extra job placement assistance if needed once the veteran has completed their training program.10
  • Specially Adapted Housing Grants help disabled veterans modify their homes so they can live independently while still meeting safety guidelines pertaining to their specific needs. This may include wheelchair accessibility ramps, for example.11
  • Automobile Allowance helps American disabled veterans purchase specially equipped vehicles that help them remain mobile despite their handicaps. This can include adding hand controls in cases where a condition prevents traditional driving methods or creating space so struggling individuals in wheelchairs can be safely transported from place to place.12

How do you lose VA disability benefits From Substance Abuse? 

VA disability benefits are a valuable resource that many veterans rely on to maintain their quality of life. Fortunately, veterans suffering from SUD aren’t at risk of losing these benefits solely due to their SUD. The VA has established policies and procedures to protect the rights of veterans who are suffering from SUD while still protecting the integrity of the veterans’ disability program.13

The conditions are different while the struggling individual is still actively serving. While in active service, a service member may be dishonorably discharged or found guilty of willful misconduct if they abuse substances. This may prevent them from getting the right to benefits and help from the VA in the future. However, if a struggling individual develops a SUD as a result of their time in service after they’ve been honorably discharged, they will most likely have the right to treat their disorder with the VA’s help.13

What Are The Other Ways You Can Lose VA Disability Benefits? 

There are a number of other ways that struggling veterans can lose their VA disability benefits. Some of them include:14

  • Committing fraud
  • Being sentenced to prison
  • Having a disability that resulted from committing a violent crime
  • Recovering from their disability

The VA will typically notify the struggling individual that they’re at risk of losing their benefits and allow them the opportunity to prove if they’re still eligible.14

What Are VA Disability Rates? 

VA disability rates refer to the amount of money that veterans may be eligible to receive from the VA. This money is typically paid in the form of monthly compensation and is meant to help veterans who have been injured or otherwise affected due to their time in active service. The rate that a veteran is eligible for depends on their particular level of disability, as determined by the VA through an examination and evaluation process. The ratings can vary from 0% to 100%.15

What Should I Do If I Have Multiple Disability Ratings? 

If a veteran has more than one disability rating, they’ll typically receive a combined rating from the VA. This means that all of the individual ratings are added up together through the VA’s special calculation system and applied across all disabilities. This can lead to higher compensation payments for those with multiple disability ratings.16

What Is the VA Disability Rate for Substance Abuse? 

SUDs are unfortunately not considered when determining if a struggling individual qualifies for VA disability pay. Still, it’s common for veterans struggling with SUDs to suffer from another, co-occurring mental health condition such as PTSD or depression. These conditions can qualify the struggling individual for VA benefits and are calculated as part of a disability rating.15

What Is the VA Disability Rate for Other Veterans Issues? 

In general, there are two primary categories in determining eligibility for VA benefits: service-connected disabilities and pre-existing disabilities. Service-connected disabilities are defined as conditions that were caused by military service, while pre-existing disabilities are those which did not arise due to military service but were aggravated by it or as a consequence of it.17

The VA assigns a disability rating or “combined rating” based on how severely each condition affects a veteran’s ability to work and live their life normally. This rating is determined using a variety of criteria including physical examination results, lab tests, and information provided by healthcare providers about a veteran’s medical history and current functioning. The maximum combined rating allowed under VA regulations is 100%, with each individual disability rated up to 100% separately depending upon its severity level.17

Common conditions among both service-connected disabilities and pre-existing disabilities include:17

  • Physical injuries such as TBIs or amputations;
  • mental health diagnoses such as PTSD;
  • hearing loss;
  • vision impairments;
  • musculoskeletal disorders;
  • respiratory diseases;
  • skin disorders;
  • infectious diseases;
  • digestive system disorders;
  • cardiovascular system conditions;
  • neurological problems such as traumatic nerve damage;
  • metabolic issues including diabetes;
  • endocrine system conditions such as hypothyroidism;
  • reproductive system problems; 
  • immune system issues like autoimmune diseases; 
  • blood disorders including anemia and sickle cell disease; 
  • kidney disease/failure due to exposure during military service; 
  • bladder control issues related to spinal cord trauma. 

How To Claim Substance Abuse or Other VA Disability Benefits? 

To claim disability benefits, veterans must first apply to the VA. The application includes submitting medical documentation that proves they have a service-connected disability. The application process typically starts by filling out and submitting VA Form 21-526EZ, available online at www.va.gov/disabilityforms. The form requires basic personal information such as name, address, branch of service, Social Security number, date of birth and contact information.18,19

Along with this form, veterans need to submit evidence to support their claim for benefits. This may include medical records from private providers, reports from military doctors and nurses or copies of military treatment records that document exposure to hazardous materials or events during active duty service which led to the current disability claim.18

In addition to these documents, veterans filing treatment must provide confirmation from a mental health professional confirming their diagnosis and associated symptoms. Additional evaluations may also be needed depending on the type and complexity of the claim being filed.18

Once all documents are submitted along with completed forms, it is important to keep track of your receipt numbers and stay in touch with the VA throughout the claims process as it can take several months before you receive any payment or response regarding your application status.18

Frequently Asked Questions