Of all the available veterans benefits, compensation is widely considered the most important of them. This is true both economically and politically, as there is no VA benefit more fervently supported by the American public than the benefits from VA compensation claims for soldiers injured while on active duty.
Because of this, the VA is much more protective of its compensation program than all other programs, refusing to make changes that would lower its support with the public.
Are Veterans Benefits for Compensation Only Available to Soldiers with Battlefield Injuries?
The rules that determine VA compensation claims state that, in order for a veteran to qualify for service connected disability benefits, the medical condition they are inflicted with must have been “suffered or contracted in the line of duty.” This also includes any preexisting conditions that were made worse in the line of duty.
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But what does “in the line of duty” actually mean? Throughout history, the VA has long taken this phrase to mean that veterans are eligible for compensation for any problem that occurred from their introduction into military service, all the way through their discharge. This even includes any injury that occurred while the soldier was off base or while on leave. This also means that there doesn’t have to be a strict connection between a veteran’s medical condition and the performance of their military duties. There just has to be documentation that the medical condition occurred or worsened during the veteran’s time of service.
Veterans are also eligible for compensation even if their medical condition does not pop up until years later. This is, of course, as long as they can prove that the condition was acquired while in the line of duty. And just like with any other service-connected compensation claim, these delayed veterans benefits will even cover conditions that resulted from personal choices a soldier made, such as skiing while on leave or sun tanning on the base. Call one of our veteran disability lawyers today.
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