r/VeteransBenefits

You don’t have to be facing the person who’s talking to hear them.
I did a lot of lip reading and secondary processing before I got them.
My brain reacts to things constantly in my ear by causing them to itch. (Intruder alert! Implement histamine response)
It reminds me of this every 4 minutes.
Plastic grocery bags make a lot of noise.
Putting a T-shirt on makes noise
I’m old af

I’ve been out of the Army for about 18 years. I was infantry and did two Iraq deployments (2004–2005 and 2007–2008).
Lately I’ve been thinking about how different I feel compared to when I was younger. I don’t seem to get that adrenaline rush anymore. Things that used to get my heart pumping or make me feel intensely alive just don’t seem to hit the same way.
I also still deal with a lot of emotional numbness/flat affect. It’s not necessarily that I’m constantly sad—it’s more like I just don’t feel things as strongly as I used to.
For those of you who were infantry or deployed, especially those who have been out for 15–20+ years: have you experienced something similar? Did the adrenaline rush eventually come back, or did you just learn to live with feeling more emotionally flat?

Hi all. I'm 18, using my dad's Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits to attend college tuition-free starting this fall. My dad is rated 100% P&T disabled and is a Purple Heart recipient, if that's relevant to what I might actually be eligible for. My long-term goal is medical school to become an anesthesiologist, so I'm trying to figure out now, not years from now, whether these benefits will carry me that far, or if I need to plan around a cutoff.

Questions I have:

Does Chapter 35 cover graduate/professional programs like med school, or is it undergrad-only?

I know there's usually a 36-month benefit limit. Does that reset for grad school, or is it one pool covering both undergrad and med school combined?

Is there an age cutoff I need to be aware of (I've heard 26 mentioned for dependents)? Would that realistically run out before I even finish undergrad and get into med school?
Given my dad's 100% P&T rating, does that open up any other options I should be considering instead of or alongside Chapter 35, like Fry Scholarship or benefit transfers?

Is there a way to check exactly how many months I have left and confirm what I actually qualify for, other than calling the VA directly?

Anything people wish they'd known or confirmed early instead of assuming benefits would just "carry through" everything?

Trying to plan realistically instead of assuming this is fully covered through med school and finding out too late. Appreciate any guidance, especially from people who've used VA education benefits for grad or professional school themselves. Thank you!

Major milestone today for California's 100% disabled veteran property tax bill.

SB 296 passed the Assembly on its final floor vote with no "No" votes (64–0).

The bill now heads back to the Senate for concurrence on the Assembly amendments, which include:

• 50% property tax exemption for qualifying 100% disabled veterans.
• 100% exemption for qualifying lower-income disabled veterans.
• Applies to the first $1 million of property value.
• Effective beginning with the January 1, 2027 lien date.
• 5-year sunset (through 2032).

The only major legislative steps remaining are:

1. Senate concurrence on the Assembly amendments.
2. Governor Newsom's signature.

After following this bill for over a year, it's great to see it make it this far. I'll keep posting updates as it moves toward the Governor's desk.

https://preview.redd.it/f639t4pa5ekh1.png?width=728&format=png&auto=webp&s=486a24692488359cb4cef17f447e5c8eebbaf730

So I’ve been out since December 9,2021, I’m P&T 100% since I got out for some nerve damage, and PTSD. I’ve been battling depression, anxiety, and flash backs since I got out. BH told me today there’s nothing more they can do because meds just make me feel numb to everything and nothing works. Without my current benefits I’d be homeless, I feel so crazy, I now understand why people blow their tops off. My anxiety finds something and sticks to it, for example when they told me there’s nothing more and too just call them if I need something, I’m now worried I’ll lose my benefits since they said that. It sounds dumb but I’m spiraling because I physically can’t function anymore and if I lose my benefits I’ll lose my home. I work for my family business but I miss a lot of work because of the nerve damage and the pure fact my anxiety doesn’t allow me to leave my house. The worse part is everybody I know says I’m fine because I always seem happy but in reality I’m dieing inside. Am I being crazy or am I in risk of losing my benefits?

Last semester of my Undergrad in Advertising. Older student in Mid/late 40’s. Non Traditional Route to get here like quite a few others I’d imagine.

Got picked up by VR&E and it’s been such a blessing. Undergrad about complete, Masters on the Horizon. Curious how other Vets are getting into places like Harvard, Yale, Duke, Stanford, and others?

Giving this opportunity my everything as it’s been life changing and I have my kids to prove a world to as well.

Didn’t grow up in an Academic Family, so, learning the steps as I go.

Apologies if this has been answered or talked about before, new to the group:

Recently got my VA disability rating. I got a letter in the mail a few days later saying based off my 2024 tax return I make too much for VA healthcare?

I’m just confused for many reasons.

1)Am I eligible for VA healthcare? (I thought that was only at 100%)

2)What would it cover? Everything? Like even if I get the flu and need a doc? Would I be able to cancel the insurance I currently have?

3. Can my family get it too?

I probably have a bunch of other questions too that I haven’t even thought of yet. I’m new to being a veteran and getting VA disability and everything that comes with it. Any help would be appreciated

Sorry to bother you all. Trying to find out if appealing an equipment denial is poking the bear. Thanks in advance!

I received 100% P&T last month in July and my lawyer is going to file a claim for earlier effective date and some 3-4 year old ish 0%. Is it worth to “poke” the bear. I have arthritis on my back and I’m pretty fckd most of the days. But is it worth it or nah?

The bureaucracy is getting to me this week. Mistakes happen but it’s a bummer that we are powerless to get it fixed. Just looking for some solidarity and empathy. Have a better day brothers and sisters.

Did the clothing allowance get paid out? I got a deposit from the Va for $1053 but it doesn’t say clothing allowance and I don’t see anything when I check payment history in the VA app

Recently enrolled in VA health care. I currently have my initial eye exam scheduled for November.

I have a service connected eye condition(recurrent corneal erosion) I would like treated sooner rather than later. Though I wouldn’t say it’s urgent, it won’t cause any permanent issues if I waited until November.

I understand that I’d be eligible for community care due to the wait time, so I could ask the Va eye clinic for a community care referral(my primary care team said only the eye clinic can refer for that here).

My concern with going this route is potential delays due to proper authorization of services. The care needed is probably beyond a standard optometry referral and may need more appointments. And if there’s delays, I may be better off sticking with the VA as 2.5 months isn’t all that much longer.

Any advice on how to go about this?

I’m in the Washington DC Va clinic system if that matters.

I was blessed yesterday. 100 percent P and T. I have a second career after retirement from 27 years military service. I have lumbar back disease and numb feet and legs. My occupation is driving, clearly not safe. I’m 62 plan on filing SS and retiring. Can I draw social security too? I was also advised to file SS disability. This is all new to me. Would appreciate advise. Thank you in advance.

I’m in the middle and have seen bad reviews online for both. Anyone have a recommendations?
Mainly concerned with Physical Therapy, Women’s clinic, and mental health.. thanks

Hi folks - I had a Permanent and Total discharge of my student loans in 2019. I have a kid in college now and took out a Parent Plus loan. Much to my surprise, I just received a letter telling me that the loan would be discharged because I was automatically "matched" with VA as a 100% PT disabled vet. I thought the discharge was a one-and-done deal.

I've since read that the new Parent Plus loan requires a person in my situation to sign a document stating that, before I am eligible for that loan, I must:

• "provide your school with a certification from a physician stating that you can now engage in substantial gainful activity, and 
• sign a statement acknowledging that the new loan or TEACH Grant service obligation cannot be discharged due to TPD in the future based on any impairment that is present when you receive the new loan or TEACH Grant, unless that impairment worsens."

I never provided or signed anything like that.

So, what's the deal here? Are these Parent Plus loans actually dischargeable in a Round 2?  Is this just a glitch at DOE somewhere? And if so, should I pause the discharge until my kids are done with school?

Thanks for any guidance.