FYI Series #03
Did You Know?
- Do You Know About Other Compensations?
- How to Rate a Mental Disorder
- Those Denied Purple Heart Should Reapply
- Horse Therapy for Veterans
Do You Know About Other Compensations?
• If a veteran has a service-connected rating of 60% – 90% that causes unemployability, the veteran may be eligible for compensation at 100%.
• If a veteran is hospitalized for 21 days or more, or inconvalescent care for one month or more for service-connected disabilities, the veteran will be compensated at 100% during the time period.
• Any veteran rated 10% or more for a service-connected disability is eligible to receive training from Vocational Rehabilitation Training program.
• Any veteran rated 10% or more for service-connected disabilities may have the Home Loan fee waived.
• If your service-connected disabilities are disabling to the point you are unable to hold down steady, gainful employment, you may apply for total disability. To apply, visit your VSO or nearest VA office and complete VA Form 21-8940, which is the Veteran’s Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability.
• Compensation payments are exempt from claims made by creditors. With certain exceptions, compensation payments are not assignable and are not subject to attachment, levy or seizure except as to claims of the United States government.
How to Rate a Mental Disorder
When evaluating a veteran for a mental disorder, the rating agency shall consider the frequency, severity, and duration of psychiatric symptoms, the length of remissions, and the veteran’s capacity for adjustment during periods of remission. The rating agency shall assign an evaluation based on all the evidence of record that bears on occupational and social impairment rather than solely on the examiner’s assessment for the level of disability at the moment of the examination.
Example: An examining psychologist must take into account the veteran’s entire psychological history that may have a determining factor on an accurate diagnosis.
Those Denied Purple Heart Should Reapply
Active duty and reserve component soldiers, as well as veterans, who were denied Purple Heart awards for concussive, mild traumatic brain or severe traumatic brain injuries are encouraged to resubmit documentation for reconsideration of the medal. The injury must have occurred on or after September 11, 2001. Active duty and reserve component soldiers must resubmit through their chains of command. Veterans should submit packages directly to Army Human Resources Command. They can obtain copies of their deployment orders from the Veteran’s Inquiry Branch by emailing veterans@conus.army.mil. Veterans will also need to submit their DD Form 214
Horse Therapy for Veterans
Hanging out with horses – not riding them, but just being in a barn, or arena or field with them – may have therapeutic value for people dealing with issues of all sorts. The nonprofit organization Reins of Change in rural Elgin, Illinois offers quality mental health services, personal growth and educational opportunities for people, utilizing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and the Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Association (EAGALA) model. EAGALA is the leading international nonprofit association for professionals using equine therapy to address mental health and human development needs. Equine Specialists at Reins of Change work with mental health providers who specialize in particular areas. The organization provides services for eating disorders, anger management, self-injury, ADHD, addiction, anxiety disorders, depression, grief, OCD, PTSD, and other mental health issues. For more information, call 847-464-5177 or email: info@reinsofchange.com .
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