Eligibility for VA Disability Benefits

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Eligibility for VA Disability Benefits

You may be eligible for VA disability benefits or compensation if you meet both requirements:

• You have a current illness or injury (known as a condition) that affects your mind or body, and
• You served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training

And at least one of these must be true:

• You got sick or injured while serving in the military—and can link this condition to your illness or injury (called an in-service disability claim) or
• You had an illness or injury before you joined the military—and serving made it worse (called a pre-service disability claim), or
• You have a disability related to your active-duty service that didn't appear until after you ended your service (called a post-service disability claim)

Presumptive conditions

The VA will automatically assume (or "presume") that your service caused your condition for some conditions. VA calls these presumptive conditions.

If you have a presumptive condition, you don't need to prove that your service caused the condition. You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption.

Find out more about these categories of presumptive conditions:

• A chronic (long-lasting) illness that appears within one year after discharge
• An illness caused by contact with contaminants (toxic chemicals) or other hazardous materials
• An illness caused by your time spent as a prisoner of war (POW)

The PACT Act expands benefit access for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.

The PACT Act is a new law that expands access to VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law helps the VA provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they've earned and deserve. Learn how the PACT Act may affect your VA benefits and care.

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