Service-connected (SC) status refers to Veterans who are disabled by an injury or disease that was incurred or aggravated during active military service. MS is a presumptive condition and benefits are based on the presumption that the disability is service-connected (SC). Veterans with symptoms of MS in the military or within seven years after honorable discharge may be eligible for … Read More

Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) provides special compensation to retirees who have retired pay reduced because of receiving U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation. This means that qualified military retirees with 20 or more years of service that have “combat related” VA-rated disability will no longer have their military retirement pay reduced by the amount of their VA disability … Read More

The VA laws and regulations require qualified medical evidence in establishing a veteran’s right to VA disability benefits. How is a veteran to obtain this evidence? There are really three key ways of obtaining this evidence. The type of evidence you obtain depends on the issue in your case. If your case requires a nexus opinion where you need a … Read More

Military retirement pay based on age or length of service is considered taxable income for Federal income taxes. However, military disability retirement pay and Veterans’ benefits, including service-connected disability pension payments, may be partially or fully excluded from taxable income. Service members with service-connected disabilities may be eligible for Federal income tax exclusions of Veterans’ benefits and disability pension payments. … Read More

Under the federal duty to assist found in VA law, the VA must assist a veteran in developing the medical evidence to establish a claim for benefits. While this sounds straightforward to most of us, the VA meets this requirement by sending veterans to a comp and pen exam. This is also called a C & P exam or compensation … Read More