Veterans cannot be directly service-connected for substance use disorder. They can be service connected on a secondary basis for disabilities that arise from drug use due to a service-connected condition. Veterans can receive ratings for substance-related disabilities as long as the substance use was not the veteran’s own “willful misconduct.” VA defines willful misconduct as “an act involving conscious wrongdoing … Read More

Heredity is transmitted from your parents through DNA. A gene is a region of DNA that contains instructions to make RNA molecules that code for other proteins. When genes are transmitted through the process of reproduction, they govern inheritance of genetic traits like hair color or blood type. The Human Genome Project (HGP) is an international research effort to sequence … Read More

To obtain disability for vision loss you must show two main things. The first is that your currently have a diagnosed disability affecting your vision. This requires a medical diagnosis from a qualified medical provider. The second thing you must show is that the current disability identified by a qualified medical provider was caused by an event or injury in … Read More

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a condition where the brain is damaged because of a traumatic event. A “traumatic event” is any event, like a car accident, IED blast, gunshot wound, falling and hitting your head, etc., that causes damage to the brain. If the brain condition is caused by an illness or is genetic, then it is not considered … Read More

A caregiver can be a parent, spouse, child, step-family member, extended family member, or an individual who lives with the veteran, but is not a family member who provides support to the veteran. Caregivers of eligible veterans can receive: Monthly stipend Travel expenses (including lodging and per diem while accompanying veterans undergoing care) Access to health care insurance (if the … Read More