FEDERAL AGENCY:

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

AUTHORIZATION:

38 U.S.C. 1110, 1131.

OBJECTIVES:

To compensate veterans for disabilities incurred or aggravated during military service according to the average impairment in earning capacity such disability would cause in civilian occupations.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

No restrictions.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Persons who have suffered disabilities during service in the Armed Forces of the United States. The disability must be shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by service in the line of duty. Separation from service must have been under other than dishonorable conditions.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Disabled veterans.

Credentials/Documentation:   Military discharge certificate.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   An application (VA Form 21-526) may be obtained from any VA office or regional office (see Appendix IV of the Catalog) and submitted to the regional office.

Award Procedure:   Awards are authorized at the regional office.

Deadlines:   None, but it must be filed within 1 year after separation from service in order for entitlement to be established from the day following discharge; otherwise, entitlement is established only from the date of receipt of the claim.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Approximately 45 percent in 180 days or less.

Appeals:   Available through special board. In the event of a denial, claimants are advised of appeal rights and procedures at the time of notification.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Not applicable.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   The veteran must submit to an examination at the request of the Department of Veterans Affairs when necessary to evaluate the present extent of the disabilities. Failure to appear for such examination may result in suspension of benefits.

Audits:   None.

Records:   None.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   36-0102-0-1-701.

Obligations:   (Direct Payments) FY 01 $16,528,735,000; FY 02 est $17,957,675,000; and FY 03 est $19,303,703,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   Basic rates of compensation range from $117 for a 10 percent degree of disability to a maximum of $7,232 a month for specified very severe disabilities.

In fiscal year 2001, 2,310,880 disabled veterans received compensation. Fiscal year 2002, 2,364,237 veterans; and fiscal year 2003, 2,431,323 veterans.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

38 CFR 3.4; "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-00-1, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The stock number is: 051-000-00220-2.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   See Appendix IV of the Catalog for Veterans Benefits Administration field offices.

Headquarters Office:   Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420. Telephone: (202) 461-9700.

Web Site Address:  
https://www.va.gov/

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.

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