A Service Connected Disability (SCD) is a chronic, disabling condition which is attributable to a veterans active military service. These conditions may be the direct result of an injury or illness that occurred during ACTIVE military service or an illness that manifested itself with a specified period of time after discharge, normally one year.

To be eligible for disability benefits, the veteran must have received a discharge under conditions that were other than dishonorable. The amount of compensation payable depends upon the disabling effect of the condition(s) and can range from 0% to 100%, depending on the condition. The degree of overall SCD will determine the veterans eligibility for additional benefits such as medical treatment priority, vocational rehabilitation, spousal and dependent allowance, and dependent education. The type of disabling condition can also determine eligibility for special benefit programs such as adaptive housing and vehicle programs. The type and extent of the veterans SCD determine survivors’ benefits. These survivors’ benefits can include education, medical care, burial, and compensation (DIC) benefits.

Establishing a Claim

To properly establish a claim for service connected disability benefits, three criteria must be met. You must have a current disability. It must have been diagnosed and documented by an appropriate medical authority. Secondly, there must be evidence of an injury or illness occurring during the veterans’ military service. This will normally require documentation of diagnosis and treatment for the condition in the individual service medical records (SMR’s) or private medical records covering the period the individual was on active duty. Lastly, there must be medical evidence (doctors opinion, continuity of care or treatment) that relates the current disability to that injury or illness that occurred during the veterans active military service. These conditions must be met to establish a "well grounded claim."

Preparing Claim

The initial claim for service connected disability benefits includes completion of VA form 21-526 and supporting documentation. Supporting medical documents are copies of all medical treatment records relating to the condition being claimed. This relates to both doctors’ office visit records, hospital records, statements from attending physicians, and copies of any service medical records the veteran possesses.

Other documents that will be required:

• A certified copy of all discharge documents (DD-214’s). For information regarding DD-214’s please go to "Safeguarding Your DD-214".
• Copies of all marriage licenses for the current and all previous spouses.
• Copies of divorce decrees and/or death certificates from previous spouses.
• Copies of divorce decrees and/or death certificates for all of your current spouse’s previous marriages.
• Social Security numbers for your spouse all eligible dependent children.

Additional documents may be necessary depending on the individual situations.

We recommend that if you prepare the application yourself from a form supplied by the Department of Veterans Affairs (either by mail or down-loaded from their web site), that you have your application reviewed by a certified or accredited Veterans Service Officer prior to submission to the DVA. The VSO may offer some suggestions to keep your application from being returned to you or even denied.