If you’re wondering whether you qualify for certain VA benefits, you’re certainly not alone. Don’t feel bad, though—understanding the VA rating system can get confusing and downright frustrating. We hope the checklist below helps keep you ahead of the learning curve on a variety of VA benefits and their eligibility requirements.

When the Department of Veterans Affairs issues a rating decision, it is made up of two main factors. First, the VA establishes whether the claimed condition is related to military service (service connection). Second, it assigns a percentage evaluation to reflect the severity of the condition. This percentage determines how much monthly monetary compensation a veteran will receive.

In addition to monthly compensation, certain rating percentages unlock various ancillary benefits. The outline below serves as a basic reference checklist of additional benefits potentially available to veterans across different rating tiers—from general service connection (0%) up to a 100 percent “total” rating.

General & Financial Benefits

  • VA Home Loan Guaranty Veterans who meet established active-duty service requirements during wartime or peacetime periods and received an honorable discharge may be entitled to a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for a VA-backed home loan. No minimum service-connection rating is required, though veterans with a service-connected disability rating are exempt from paying the VA funding fee.

  • Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) This specialized benefit is available to veterans with severe service-connected disabilities who have been approved for a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant. VMLI provides mortgage life insurance that pays off the remaining balance of a veteran’s home mortgage (up to $200,000) upon their death.

  • Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) Veterans age 80 or younger who are granted service connection for any disability (0% to 100%) are eligible for guaranteed-acceptance whole life insurance coverage through VALife (up to $40,000). Unlike the legacy S-DVI program it replaced, there is no two-year deadline to apply after receiving a rating decision. (Note: Veterans who still hold legacy VA life insurance policies such as S-DVI and become totally disabled before age 65 may be eligible for a waiver of premiums; VALife does not offer premium waivers.)

  • Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) Military retirees who are entitled to retired pay and have a VA service-connected disability rating of 50 percent or higher (and meet other eligibility criteria) can receive both their full military retired pay and their VA disability compensation without offset, effective back to the date of their qualifying rating.

  • Additional Allowance for Dependents Veterans with a combined service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or higher may receive an additional monthly allowance for eligible dependents. This includes a spouse, dependent children (under age 18, unmarried children between 18 and 23 attending school, or a child deemed permanently incapable of self-support due to a disability), and dependent parents in certain circumstances.

  • Additional Aid and Attendance Allowance for a Disabled Spouse Veterans rated 30 percent or higher whose spouse lives with a disability and requires regular aid and attendance with activities of daily living may apply for an additional monthly allowance.

  • Health Care Coverage for Dependents (CHAMPVA) If a veteran has been rated Permanent and Total (P&T) due to service-connected disabilities (or died from a service-connected condition), their eligible spouse and dependent children may qualify for health care coverage through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), provided they are not eligible for TRICARE.

  • Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA / Chapter 35) If a veteran has been rated Permanent and Total (P&T) due to service-connected disabilities (or died from a service-connected condition), their eligible spouse and dependent children may be entitled to education and training benefits under Chapter 35.

  • Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E / Chapter 31) Veterans rated at least 20 percent for a service-connected disability with an employment handicap—or 10 percent with a serious employment handicap—may be entitled to career counseling, job training, education, and employment accommodations through the VA’s VR&E program.

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Benefits

Certain disability ratings also affect your priority level and out-of-pocket costs for Veterans Health Administration benefits:

  • VHA Medical Treatment & Priority Groups An enrolled veteran may receive medical treatment for any service-connected disability regardless of the rating percentage assigned (including 0%). Veterans with a service-connected rating of 50 percent or more—or those determined to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU)—qualify for enrollment in VHA Priority Group 1, receiving care and prescriptions for any condition (service-connected or not) with no co-payments. A detailed breakdown of VHA Priority Groups is available at https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/.

  • VA Community Care (Non-VA Outpatient Treatment) When a local VA Medical Center (VAMC) cannot provide necessary care, or when a veteran faces excessive drive times or appointment wait times, the VA may authorize treatment at an in-network private health care facility through the VA Community Care Network. Non-VA care must be authorized by the VA in advance—speak with your primary VA care team first to check eligibility.

  • Dental Care Outpatient dental treatment is available for service-connected dental conditions at any rating. Veterans who are rated at 100 percent (or receiving the 100% rate due to Individual Unemployability) are eligible to receive comprehensive dental care at a VA Medical Center regardless of whether their dental condition is service-connected.

  • Sensorineural Aids (Eyeglasses & Hearing Aids) Enrolled veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10 percent or higher (for any condition), Purple Heart recipients, former POWs, and veterans with specific vision or hearing conditions linked to their VA medical care are eligible to receive hearing aids, eyeglasses, and medically necessary contact lenses at no cost.

  • Long-Term VA Nursing Home Care Long-term care in a VA Community Living Center (nursing home) is available to enrolled veterans based on clinical need and space availability. The VA is required by law to provide nursing home care to veterans who have a 70 percent or higher service-connected rating, or who require nursing home care specifically for a service-connected disability. Co-payments and coverage levels vary by rating percentage. Learn more at https://www.va.gov/geriatrics/.

  • Prosthetic Appliances, Durable Medical Equipment, and Devices Any veteran enrolled in VA health care is eligible for medically necessary prosthetic appliances and durable medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, walkers, ramps, and CPAP machines) prescribed by their VA physician and ordered through the VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service—no minimum disability rating is required.

  • Annual Clothing Allowance The VA provides an annual monetary benefit to veterans with a service-connected condition that requires the use of a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance (such as a brace or wheelchair) or a prescribed topical skin medication that causes permanent staining or damage to clothing. There is no minimum service-connection percentage required.

  • Beneficiary Travel Reimbursement The VA reimburses eligible veterans at a designated mileage rate for travel to and from VA or VA-authorized medical appointments. Veterans qualify if they are traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition, have a service-connected rating of 30 percent or higher (for any VA care), or meet VA low-income thresholds.

  • Home Improvement and Structural Alteration (HISA) Grant Issued through your local VA Medical Center, HISA grants help pay for medically necessary home modifications—such as widening doorways, building entrance ramps, or modifying bathrooms—required to access the home or continue medical treatment. A veteran may receive a HISA grant concurrently with a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) or Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant. Lifetime maximum grant amounts are up to $6,800 for veterans with a service-connected disability (0% or higher) and up to $2,000 for enrolled veterans whose disability is non-service-connected.

You may be entitled to additional programs depending on your service history and medical needs. For personalized assistance with filing claims or verifying eligibility, consult an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) or accredited claims representative through the VA’s directory at https://www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/.

In addition to federal VA benefits, most states offer their own benefits for disabled veterans—such as property tax exemptions, reduced vehicle registration fees, free state park passes, and discounted hunting or fishing licenses. Because eligibility rules vary widely by state, check with your state’s Department of Veterans Affairs for local details.