Are You Considered A Veteran While Still In The Military – Are National Guard Veterans? YES! Here are the 8 Best VA Benefits for National Guard and Reservists (The Ultimate Guide)
If you want to learn how to apply these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claims expert for free.
Contents
- Are You Considered A Veteran While Still In The Military
- Can You Join The Military With A Criminal Record?
- Cdcr Hires Military And Veteran Applicants
- Read: Discharged And Displaced: Breaking The Military To Housing Insecurity Pipeline
- Answers To The Top Army Questions
- Going To College After (or While In) The Military: What You Should Know
- Tips For Active Duty Military Buying Homes While Overseas
- What’s The Right Size For The U.s. Army?
- Building A Home Base For Veterans
- Veteran Rights And Discrimination: Are You A Victim Of Veteran Discrimination?
- Veteran’s Service Card
- Why German Soldiers Don’t Have To Obey Orders
- Rejoining The Military With Prior Service
- Veterans Benefits For Divorced Spouses: What Happens After Separation?
- Jrotc Is Not The Same As The Military
Are You Considered A Veteran While Still In The Military
One of the most common questions we get at VA Claims Insider is “Are National Guard Veterans?” and whether National Guard and Reservists can receive VA benefits.
Can You Join The Military With A Criminal Record?
Thanks to a 2016 change in federal law, a National Guard member who was deployed on federal active duty for at least 180 days, and who did not receive a dishonorable discharge or a bad conduct discharge, is now considered a “veteran.”
In addition, the law now officially grants “veteran status” to members of the National Guard who have served 20 years or more, even if they have never been activated on a federal active duty order for more than 180 days outside of training.
In addition, all National Guard and Reserve members discharged or discharged under non-dishonorable conditions (eg, honorable, general, or other than honorable) are eligible for VA benefits.
Some of the top VA benefits available to National Guard and Reserves include, VA Disability Compensation, VA Pensions, VA Home Loans, VA Education, VA Health Care, VA Life Insurance, VA Job and Job Training (aka, “Voc Rehab” or Chapter 31). benefits), and VA Funeral/Memorial benefits.
Cdcr Hires Military And Veteran Applicants
Well, let’s go over some important definitions and eligibility factors, and then we’ll explore the various VA benefits available to Guardsmen and reservists.
Eligibility and eligibility for VA benefits is largely dependent on a VA determination of “Veteran Status”, to include length of service, service commitment, and number of days spent on active duty.
Click HERE to review M21-1 – Chapter 6 – Establishing Veteran Status, to review the complete decision matrix VA Raters use to determine eligibility for VA benefits for National Guard and Reserve members.
Armed Forces means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, including the Reserve components.
Read: Discharged And Displaced: Breaking The Military To Housing Insecurity Pipeline
Reserve Component means the Reserves of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard and National Guard and Air National Guard of the United States.
According to VAOPGCPREC 8-2001, Sexual Assault (eg, MST PTSD Claims) constitutes an injury for purposes of this section involving “active service.”
In addition, time spent directly traveling to and from active duty for training shall be considered part of active or inactive duty for training as specified in 38 CFR 3.6(e).
Federal law defines Veteran status as someone who: (1) Served in active military, naval, or air service AND (2) Was discharged or discharged under dishonorable conditions.
Answers To The Top Army Questions
Qualifying service is any type of service that qualifies or potentially qualifies a claimant for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.
Defining the term “active duty” is critical to determining eligibility for VA benefits for National Guard and reservists.
Because VA benefits for Guard and Reserve members depend heavily on the number of days spent on active duty.
The governor of a state or territory may activate members of the National Guard for State Active Duty, such as in response to a natural or man-made disaster.
Going To College After (or While In) The Military: What You Should Know
State Active Duty is based on state law, not federal law, and therefore does NOT qualify as “active duty” for VA benefits.
Unlike full-time National Guard duty, active duty National Guard members are paid with state funds as opposed to federal funds (the VA is a federally funded agency).
Prior to separation or retirement from the military, active duty service members including full-time National Guard or Reservists, may apply for VA disability benefits with the Pre-Discharge Claims program.
If you have an illness or injury that you believe was caused or aggravated by your active duty, you can file a VA claim for disability benefits 180 to 90 days BEFORE you leave the military.
Tips For Active Duty Military Buying Homes While Overseas
However, at VA Claims Insider, we recommend using the VA’s Fully Developed Claim (FDC) program right on the new VA.gov website along with these helpful tips from VA Raters to increase your VA rating.
These 6 tips come from a former VA Reviewer (RVSR) with extensive experience reviewing and evaluating VA disability claims for National Guard and reservists.
List of 8 Best VA Benefits for National Guard and Reserve Members #1. VA Disability Compensation Benefits
VA Disability Compensation is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to veterans who are at least 10% disabled due to injuries or illnesses caused or aggravated during active military service or active duty training.
What’s The Right Size For The U.s. Army?
The VA will pay monthly benefits to separated or retired members of the National Guard and Reserve for disability resulting from illness or injury incurred or aggravated during active duty and active duty training, AND for disability resulting from injury occurred or aggravated during inactive duty for training (formerly known. as “Battle Assemblies”).
However, the VA will not pay disability compensation benefits for related illnesses and conditions incurred or aggravated during inactive duty for training except as determined by veteran status and qualifying service.
The VA pension is a tax-free benefit paid to Veterans with limited income and net worth who served during a period of war (see the full list of recognized war periods in the FAQ section below).
Generally, National Guard and Reserve members must have 90 days or 24 months of active duty (depending on when you served) to qualify for VA pension benefits.
Building A Home Base For Veterans
VA Home Loan Benefits, aka “Home Loan Guarantees,” allow National Guard and Reserve members to obtain home loans with more favorable terms.
Private lenders provide the loan, but the VA guarantees a portion of it, which allows lenders to provide benefits such as no down payment or mortgage insurance premiums.
To qualify for a VA home loan as a member of the National Guard or Reserve, you must meet one of the following requirements:
Don’t forget if you have a VA disability rating of 10% or higher, you qualify for the VA Funding Fee Waiver, which can potentially save you thousands of dollars or more on your home.
Veteran Rights And Discrimination: Are You A Victim Of Veteran Discrimination?
VA Education Benefits offer valuable education and training options to National Guard and Reserve members, including financial support for undergraduate and graduate degrees, vocational and technical training, licensing and certification testing, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.
You may be eligible for one or more of the following programs if you meet certain service requirements:
The Post 9/11 GI Bill offers up to 36 months of educational benefits to eligible individuals, for programs ranging from flight training to bachelor’s or graduate degrees.
According to the VA, members of the National Guard or Reserve must meet the following criteria to be eligible for benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill:
Veteran’s Service Card
The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits.
If you are a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard, you may qualify for this benefit.
VA health care benefits may include all inpatient hospital care and outpatient services necessary to promote, preserve, or restore your health for eligible National Guard and Reserve Members.
Eligibility for VA health care requires that you have served on active duty by a federal order and completed the full term for which you were called or ordered.
Why German Soldiers Don’t Have To Obey Orders
If you served on active duty in a combat theater of operations after November 11, 1998, you are eligible for free VA health care benefits for up to 5 years from the date of discharge or discharge.
Other factors determine eligibility for health care benefits for non-combat Veterans, or those with combat service prior to November 11, 1998.
VA Life Insurance programs provide you and your family with financial security and peace of mind, especially when you consider the risks of military service.
Part-time coverage is also available for members of the National Guard and Reserve who do not meet the above inactive training requirements but do work at specified times.
Rejoining The Military With Prior Service
The VA’s “Voc Rehab” program provides education and training services, including career counseling and job search assistance to National Guard and Reserve members with service-connected disabilities.
If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, Veterans and Employment Readiness (formerly Vocational and Employment Rehabilitation) can help.
You may be eligible for Voc Rehab assistance to prepare, find and maintain suitable employment through VR&E if you are:
You may also be eligible for career counseling if you have recently separated from the military or are using VA education benefits.
Veterans Benefits For Divorced Spouses: What Happens After Separation?
Eligibility for VA Funeral Benefits requires that a National Guard or Reserve member served on active duty, or that your death was due to an injury or illness that developed or was aggravated during active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training .
The National Cemetery Administration offers veterans a plot in any of the national cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the grave, permanent care, a headstone or government marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, free for the family of the deceased. veteran
Burial benefits available to spouses and dependents buried in a national cemetery include burial with the Veteran, permanent care, and the spouse’s or dependent’s name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the Veteran’s headstone, at no cost to the family.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Jrotc Is Not The Same As The Military
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