Veterans Disability in Colorado Springs

Eligibility for Veterans Disability

If you were injured or sustained an illness in the course of your active duty military service, or if an existing condition was aggravated during your service, you may be eligible to claim compensation through the veterans disability program. Your condition must have left you at least 10% disabled, and it must be demonstrated that your disability was received in connection with your service in the Armed Forces. There are several types of compensation available to disabled veterans, including:

Disability Compensation

This type of benefit is not taxable, and the amount paid is determined according to the percentage of disability. As mentioned above, the minimum disability is 10%, and the rating is increased in increments of 10 up to 100%. The injury may have been sustained in combat, otherwise on active duty or in training. You must not have received a dishonorable discharge to be eligible for disability compensation.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

Surviving spouses, children and parents of service members who have died on active duty, in training or as a result of a service-related disability can claim dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC). Spouses of veterans must have been married prior to January 1, 1957, or must have been married within 15 years of the date of discharge. You must have been married for at least one full year or must have had a child together.

Cohabitation with the veteran is also a requirement unless you were separated through the fault of the veteran. If you have since remarried, you will not be eligible for DIC. Unmarried children under the age of 18 may claim DIC provided that they are not covered by a parent's benefits, as well as those between the ages of 18 and 23 who are currently attending school. For a parent to receive DIC, he or she must have been financially dependent on the service member.

Special Monthly Compensation

If you meet certain additional requirements, you may be eligible to receive Special Monthly Compensation, which makes it possible to increase the amount of your disability benefits. These include having lost a hand or leg, loss of an eye, complete deafness.

Wounded Warriors

In addition to claiming veterans disability benefits, an attorney from Clawson & Clawson, LLP may be able to help you claim Social Security Disability benefits, and you may not have to wait as long as most people. The Social Security Administration provides expedited processing for servicemembers through the Wounded Warriors, so that you can begin receiving the maximum available benefits with a minimum of delay.