Posted on Jul 5, 2023
Why isn't my wife eligible for VA Benefits, even though she served 1979-1985?
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My wife decided after 40 years to apply to VA for some benefits. She says she was told that since she was not a "Combat Veteran" (she served from 1979 to 1985 – 3 years active and 3 years individual reserve) she could not receive benefits through VA. It wasn’t a military person speaking to her, but was one of their many contract telephone responders.
I have never heard of such a thing ever before and if I remember correctly (I retired after 20 so the question never came up for me) when she enlisted the VA would have given her % benefits for any service related issues.
It doesn’t seem right that now that she needs them (eyesight, hearing, and arthritis meds) and would like to receive them someone is saying she is “not eligible”.
UPDATE: My wife got fed up and has involved our US Representative. It appears that she is 'suddenly' able to get care. She has several VA appointments lined up for treatment and medical determination - which is much farther along than she was 'allowed' before their intervention.
I have never heard of such a thing ever before and if I remember correctly (I retired after 20 so the question never came up for me) when she enlisted the VA would have given her % benefits for any service related issues.
It doesn’t seem right that now that she needs them (eyesight, hearing, and arthritis meds) and would like to receive them someone is saying she is “not eligible”.
UPDATE: My wife got fed up and has involved our US Representative. It appears that she is 'suddenly' able to get care. She has several VA appointments lined up for treatment and medical determination - which is much farther along than she was 'allowed' before their intervention.
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Veterans Choice
Veterans Advocate
Health
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 85
The VA has a number of benefits and the eligibility can be different for each of them. She's not a "Veteran who served during a wartime period" because she was between when the period for Vietnam ended (May 7, 1975) and the start of the next one (Gulf War - August 2, 1990), so that would exclude her from things like a Veterans Pension (served during a wartime period and meet income requirements),
For disability compensation, it is pretty cut and dried - you have a service connected illness/injury and you were discharged honorably (Honorable or General under Honorable conditions).
Now to your overall question - will the VA help out with medical care and prescriptions for your wife. The answer is "it depends". From what you described, it sounds like she should be eligible* for VA Healthcare (she entered active duty prior to 7 September, 1980 and/or she spent two years on active duty).
However, there is a difference between being eligible for VA healthcare and being eligible for FREE VA healthcare. There are no premiums for VA Healthcare, but there may be co-pays depending on which priority group you are in. If she has NO service connected disabilities (even one rated as 0% which is what the VA deems a service-connected condition, but is a non-compensable disability), then she would be in priority groups 7 or 8 most likely - and they have a co-pay for treatment*.
** UPDATE **
Based on some of the comments below, it's clear I should have discussed the subgroups of those placed in Priority Group 8, specifically subgroups 'e' and 'g'.
If you're are assigned to priority group 8 because you don't fit into any of the other priority groups*, you're assigned to different 'subgroups' depending if you have a non-compensable service-connected disability rated at 0% and your income.
If your income is above 10% of the VA's geographical income limits* you're placed in subgroup 'e' or 'g' and won't be eligible for health care for any non-service-connected conditions.
So, bottom line - if you new to VA health care, aren't in one of the other priority groups because of your situation (served in certain combat theaters, eligible for certain programs, etc.), don't have a compensable service-connected condition, and are more than 10% above the geographical income limits, then you aren't currently eligible for treatment of non-service-connected conditions.
--------------------------------------------------
* Eligibility - https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/
* Apply for VA Health Care - https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/
* Co-pay rates - https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/
* Priority Groups - https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/
* Check VA income limits - https://www.va.gov/health-care/income-limits/introduction
For disability compensation, it is pretty cut and dried - you have a service connected illness/injury and you were discharged honorably (Honorable or General under Honorable conditions).
Now to your overall question - will the VA help out with medical care and prescriptions for your wife. The answer is "it depends". From what you described, it sounds like she should be eligible* for VA Healthcare (she entered active duty prior to 7 September, 1980 and/or she spent two years on active duty).
However, there is a difference between being eligible for VA healthcare and being eligible for FREE VA healthcare. There are no premiums for VA Healthcare, but there may be co-pays depending on which priority group you are in. If she has NO service connected disabilities (even one rated as 0% which is what the VA deems a service-connected condition, but is a non-compensable disability), then she would be in priority groups 7 or 8 most likely - and they have a co-pay for treatment*.
** UPDATE **
Based on some of the comments below, it's clear I should have discussed the subgroups of those placed in Priority Group 8, specifically subgroups 'e' and 'g'.
If you're are assigned to priority group 8 because you don't fit into any of the other priority groups*, you're assigned to different 'subgroups' depending if you have a non-compensable service-connected disability rated at 0% and your income.
If your income is above 10% of the VA's geographical income limits* you're placed in subgroup 'e' or 'g' and won't be eligible for health care for any non-service-connected conditions.
So, bottom line - if you new to VA health care, aren't in one of the other priority groups because of your situation (served in certain combat theaters, eligible for certain programs, etc.), don't have a compensable service-connected condition, and are more than 10% above the geographical income limits, then you aren't currently eligible for treatment of non-service-connected conditions.
--------------------------------------------------
* Eligibility - https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/
* Apply for VA Health Care - https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/
* Co-pay rates - https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/
* Priority Groups - https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/
* Check VA income limits - https://www.va.gov/health-care/income-limits/introduction
Eligibility for VA health care | Veterans Affairs
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SFC Ralph E Kelley
SFC Joseph Behmke - I kniow but she wants her own injuries listed. She did serve.
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SFC Joseph Behmke
SFC Ralph E Kelley - If she was injured on Active Duty, or ADT while in the reserves she is authorized care for those injuries. While in the reserves there should be a LOD report for every injury incured to substanciate the care claim.
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CW5 Steve Kohn
"For disability compensation, it is pretty cut and dried - you have a service connected illness/injury and you were discharged honorably (Honorable or General under Honorable conditions)."
That service connected illness/injury has long confused me. Is an injury occurred during PT service connected? How about playing on a unit baseball or basketball team?
Sleep apnea: I've seen the need for a mask go away in a co-worker after six months and losing about 50 pounds. That worked out well for him; he's on 50% disability the rest of his life. Gonorrhea and syphilis used to qualify for disability payments.
Isn't arthritis, hearing loss, etc, a function of aging?
I don't want to be the one dropping a turd in the punch bowl, but in my neighborhood I see on my walks a lot of license plates with DV. Most of the time, they don't put a flag up on Memorial or Veterans Day. Neighbor across the street for example.
I say the entire disability system -- military and civilian -- is abused and broken. We knew we were entering a high-risk life style when we signed up, and unless we received a Purple Heart, we should step aside and let those most deserving get all the help we can give them.
That service connected illness/injury has long confused me. Is an injury occurred during PT service connected? How about playing on a unit baseball or basketball team?
Sleep apnea: I've seen the need for a mask go away in a co-worker after six months and losing about 50 pounds. That worked out well for him; he's on 50% disability the rest of his life. Gonorrhea and syphilis used to qualify for disability payments.
Isn't arthritis, hearing loss, etc, a function of aging?
I don't want to be the one dropping a turd in the punch bowl, but in my neighborhood I see on my walks a lot of license plates with DV. Most of the time, they don't put a flag up on Memorial or Veterans Day. Neighbor across the street for example.
I say the entire disability system -- military and civilian -- is abused and broken. We knew we were entering a high-risk life style when we signed up, and unless we received a Purple Heart, we should step aside and let those most deserving get all the help we can give them.
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COL Randall C.
CW5 Steve Kohn - As long as there wasn't a finding or line of duty saying that your injury was caused by negligent, unlawful, etc. actions, then ANY illness/injury that happens while your you're on active duty is service-connected. Yes, that is contrary to some logic on certain activities (your playing basketball off-duty and getting a sports injury had nothing to do with your military service).
Don't attribute one case as the norm when looking at disabilities. For example, while your neighbor was able to resolve his sleep apnea symptoms after losing 50 pounds, is that the exception or the rule? Medical literature says it's the exception that it is resolved. Mitigated, yes, but not resolved.
Understand that at the heart, the VA disability compensation system is to compensate a veteran for the potential loss of income or quality of life associated with a illness/injury that was sustained during military service.
I agree that the system needs reforms and in some cases is abused by individuals. There are instances I can easily pick out that just don't pass the 'sniff test' as well. However, there are just as many stories about veterans who have significant disabilities, that are likely service-related, who are denied benefits because there isn't some specified linkage.
For example, SPC Snuffy significantly screws up his back while playing sports, seeks medical care at a MTF, goes through rehab and has lasting effects which the VA gives him C&P for when he separates because there is clear documentation in his records of an injury and the lasting impacts while on active duty.
On the other hand, SFC Snuffy was performing a job where he encountered hazardous materials routinely, but because that exposure wasn't part of his MOS and wasn't documented, the service connection for his cancer was denied because there wasn't an adequate paper trail and the cancer wasn't declared presumptive based on his MOS and/or duty locations.
Is a veteran who is experiencing numerous issues due to his military service any less deserving of care because those issues weren't related to the direct actions of an enemy and instead were direct, or indirect, actions from our own government? Should the previously mentioned SFC Snuffy be denied care/benefits because of his Agent Orange exposure while serving in Viet Nam because he didn't get a Purple Heart while there?
As I said, I agree the system needs reforms, but just because we signed up for a high-risk lifestyle doesn't mean we shouldn't take care of those veterans who have non-combat injuries because they knew what they were getting into.
Don't attribute one case as the norm when looking at disabilities. For example, while your neighbor was able to resolve his sleep apnea symptoms after losing 50 pounds, is that the exception or the rule? Medical literature says it's the exception that it is resolved. Mitigated, yes, but not resolved.
Understand that at the heart, the VA disability compensation system is to compensate a veteran for the potential loss of income or quality of life associated with a illness/injury that was sustained during military service.
I agree that the system needs reforms and in some cases is abused by individuals. There are instances I can easily pick out that just don't pass the 'sniff test' as well. However, there are just as many stories about veterans who have significant disabilities, that are likely service-related, who are denied benefits because there isn't some specified linkage.
For example, SPC Snuffy significantly screws up his back while playing sports, seeks medical care at a MTF, goes through rehab and has lasting effects which the VA gives him C&P for when he separates because there is clear documentation in his records of an injury and the lasting impacts while on active duty.
On the other hand, SFC Snuffy was performing a job where he encountered hazardous materials routinely, but because that exposure wasn't part of his MOS and wasn't documented, the service connection for his cancer was denied because there wasn't an adequate paper trail and the cancer wasn't declared presumptive based on his MOS and/or duty locations.
Is a veteran who is experiencing numerous issues due to his military service any less deserving of care because those issues weren't related to the direct actions of an enemy and instead were direct, or indirect, actions from our own government? Should the previously mentioned SFC Snuffy be denied care/benefits because of his Agent Orange exposure while serving in Viet Nam because he didn't get a Purple Heart while there?
As I said, I agree the system needs reforms, but just because we signed up for a high-risk lifestyle doesn't mean we shouldn't take care of those veterans who have non-combat injuries because they knew what they were getting into.
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Most Counties will have a Veterans Service Office in their County Office building. Recently My wife, a veteran, and I as a retiree went to see the VSO at our county of residence. She was a tremendous advocate for both of us and it turned out to be life-changing.
Go to the Veterans Service Office in your home county. That is what they are there for. They work with the VA but not for the VA. Our County VSO had access to our files, filled out or assisted in the filling out of needed forms and submitted them for us. She went above and beyond and I say again it changed our lives 100%.
It had been 21 years since my wife got out of the Army, we had her Medical records (If youhave those, take them to the appointment, along witht he DD214, and if you do not have the Medical records, go anyway and start the process, while you request the records) My wife has had her physicals and is awaiting her determination.
I am not saying it will be fast, but it is worth the attempt, and what is the worst they can say? No. After all, she has not filed a VA Calim since 1985, so even if it takes a while, the outcome could be tremendous.
You, as well, should have your records reviewed by the VSO. Things change all the time.
Go to the Veterans Service Office in your home county. That is what they are there for. They work with the VA but not for the VA. Our County VSO had access to our files, filled out or assisted in the filling out of needed forms and submitted them for us. She went above and beyond and I say again it changed our lives 100%.
It had been 21 years since my wife got out of the Army, we had her Medical records (If youhave those, take them to the appointment, along witht he DD214, and if you do not have the Medical records, go anyway and start the process, while you request the records) My wife has had her physicals and is awaiting her determination.
I am not saying it will be fast, but it is worth the attempt, and what is the worst they can say? No. After all, she has not filed a VA Calim since 1985, so even if it takes a while, the outcome could be tremendous.
You, as well, should have your records reviewed by the VSO. Things change all the time.
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SSG Roger Ayscue
AB Roger Zauner - 100%! Our County VSO pulled through for us again and my wife got a positive determination, and has started getting her benefits!
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SPC (Join to see)
I was told by the county vso to apply for medical but yet still got denied. I think the vso is only as good as the the employees working there
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SSG Roger Ayscue
SPC (Join to see) - As with any organization. I can say that the VSO in my county is spot on, and I made sure that the Chair of our County Commissioners knew that as well.
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SPC Matt Ovaska
I went to the Franklin County Court house to apply for a vet discount on my taxes. The E7 asked me where I served. I told him. He said'" You don't deserve a tax break" I applied for the Agent orange club at the VA hosp. The gal told me my original DD214 could have been forged. I guess she was well aware of the suspicious fire in 1973 , at the military records warehouse in St. Louis, Mo. Only the Vietnam records burned up. I applied anyway. The application disappeared.
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SPC (Join to see)
SFC (Verify To See) - Your dad (not you) talked to "someone" who told your dad something. Not a very solid information chain.
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SPC Matt Ovaska
I did, and she awarded me a tiny Vietnam War medal. It wasn't a war, just a conflict. If it were a War, then we lost the War and our Sgt. stripes would be pointing down. Only countries that have never lost a war can wear them up...So now I have a tiny useless medal. I called the Pres. hotline. The guy hung up when I mentioned Agent Orange. I called back. The lady offered me a coloring book. It took me by surprise. I haven't thought of asking for a free coloring book. No thank you. I was told by Maguire
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