VA pays monthly disability compensation to Veterans for injuries or diseases related to active military service. We call these disabilities "service-related" or "service-connected." A Veteran's survivors also may qualify for benefits.
Learn about your eligibility and VA's benefits:
Eligibility for Veterans' Disability Compensation
Veterans may be eligible for disability compensation if they have a service-related disability and were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. Learn more about eligibility for disability compensation, including how much VA pays.
VA recognizes that specific disabilities diagnosed in certain Veterans were caused by their military service. This is called "presumptive service-connection." Learn about the diseases related to radiation exposure.
Apply for disability compensation online.
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Claims Process for Disability Compensation
After VA receives your application, we send you a letter that explains what we need in order to help grant your claim. We will help you get records to support your claim, including records of radiation exposure during military service and radiation dose information. Learn more about the disability claims process.
VBDR Helps Improve Claims Process
VA has adopted improvements to the claims process recommended by the Veterans' Advisory Board on Dose Reconstruction (VBDR)*†, which provides guidance and independent oversight of the claims process for Atomic Veterans. One major improvement was consolidating the handling of radiation claims.
Read the February 2011 update on VBDR (131 KB, PDF), a supplement to the Ionizing Radiation Review newsletter (952 KB, PDF).
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Additional Benefits for Veterans
Veterans also may be eligible for:
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Survivors' Benefits
Surviving spouses, children and dependent parents of Veterans who died from health problems related to radiation exposure during military service may be eligible for health care, compensation, education, and home loan benefits. Find out if you qualify for survivors’ benefits.
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Contact VA about Benefits
By Telephone
- Health Care and Ionizing Radiation Registry Health Exam: 1-877-222-8387 (Ask to speak to the Environmental Health Coordinator or Patient Care Advocate)
- Compensation and Other Benefits: 1-800-827-1000
- TDD (for hearing impaired): 1-800-829-4833
In Person
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*By clicking on these links, you will leave the Department of Veterans Affairs Web site.
†VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked Web site.
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