VA Term Library

A

• Active Service

  Military service is required for a veteran to qualify for VA benefits. Qualifying...

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• Agent Orange

  Agent Orange was an herbicide mix that was heavily used as a defoliant...

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• Aid & Attendance Allowance

  The Aid and Attendance (A&A) allowance is an additional monetary benefit paid by...

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• Appeal

  This is the process by which a veteran challenges a VA decision on...

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• Armed Forces

  The United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

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C

• Camp Lejeune

  Contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, has been linked to multiple...

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• Catastrophic Disability

  A severe and permanent disability that significantly impairs a person’s ability to perform...

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• Clay Hunt Act

  The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, named after a veteran...

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• Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE)

  Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE) is a legal concept in VA claims. It...

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• Combat Service

  Combat Service refers to military duty in designated combat zones or areas where...

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• Compensable Disability

  A VA-rated, service-connected disability that entitles a veteran to monetary compensation. Most compensable...

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• Compensation

  Monthly monetary benefits paid to veterans with service-connected disabilities. The amount of compensation...

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• Compensation and Pension Examination (C&P Exam)

  A medical examination conducted by the VA to assess the severity and impact...

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• Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP)

  Allows qualified military retirees to receive both retirement pay and VA disability compensation.

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D

• Decision Review Officer (DRO)

  A Decision Review Officer (DRO) is a senior Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)...

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• Deferred Decision

  A situation where the VA postpones making a decision on a disability claim...

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• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

  Benefits provided to surviving spouses, children, or dependent parents of veterans who died...

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• Dependent

  A family member, such as a spouse, child, or parent, who relies on...

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• Dependents’ and Survivors’ Benefit Programs

  VA initiatives providing financial assistance and support to deceased veterans’ dependents and survivors....

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• Diabetes Mellitus (Type II)

  Veterans with Type II diabetes may be eligible for disability compensation and healthcare...

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• Disability Rating

  The percentage assigned by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to a service-connected disability...

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• Discharge

  The type of discharge a veteran receives can significantly impact VA benefits. Generally,...

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• Disenrollment

  VA disenrollment involves withdrawing from VA health care or other VA benefits programs....

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• Domiciliary

  A VA Domiciliary is a residential rehabilitation and treatment program for eligible veterans...

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• DS Logon

  Department of Defense Self-Service Logon, a secure ID that veterans and service members...

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• Durable Medical Equipment

  Medical devices or equipment prescribed by healthcare providers for long-term use. Examples include...

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E

• Earned Income

  Money a veteran receives through working.

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• Emergency

  A medical situation with acute symptoms that demands immediate attention. In an emergency,...

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• Enrollment

  The process for gaining access to VA health care services.

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• Enrollment Group Threshold (EGT)

  The income limit set by the VA to determine eligibility for certain priority...

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• Enrollment Priority Group

  A classification system set by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and used by...

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• Environmental Contaminants

  The VA recognizes certain conditions caused by pesticide exposure, chemical and biological agents,...

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• Extra-Schedular Rating

  An injury that does not have a listing on the VA disability schedule....

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F

• Field Adjuster

  An insurance professional who assesses and investigates claims on-site, often evaluating damages and...

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• Financial Assessment

  An evaluation of a veteran’s financial situation to determine eligibility for certain benefits,...

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• Foreign Medical Program (FMP)

  FMP reimburses eligible veterans for necessary foreign medical services or supplies and ensures...

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• Former Prisoner of War (POW)

  Former prisoners of war (POWs) are veterans who, during active military service, were...

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• Formulary

  The VA healthcare system’s formulary lists approved and covered prescription medications. It outlines...

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G

• Geriatric Evaluation

  An assessment of an elderly veteran’s health and well-being, considering factors like medical,...

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• Gross Household Income

  The total earnings of all individuals living in a household before deducting taxes...

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• Gulf War

  The Gulf War refers to the conflict in 1990-1991 when a coalition of...

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• Gulf War Syndrome

  Gulf War Syndrome, also called Persian Gulf Syndrome or Gulf War Illness, is...

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H

• Hardship

  Hardship in a VA claim refers to challenging circumstances veterans face, impacting their...

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• Head or Neck Cancer

  Veterans receiving nasopharyngeal (NP) radium therapy for head and neck cancer may qualify...

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• Health Care

  The Veterans Health Administration offers diverse healthcare options for veterans.  

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• Health Care for Re-Entry Veterans (HCRV) Program

  Focuses on incarcerated Veterans, aiming to prevent homelessness and address medical, psychiatric, and...

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• Health Care Programs for Elderly Veterans

  VHA Geriatrics and Extended Care provides services to extend the lives of elderly...

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• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

  HIPAA is a U.S. law safeguarding individuals’ health information privacy. It sets standards...

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• Home Health Care

  Provides skilled nursing and therapeutic services in a home setting as an alternative...

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I

• Ionizing Radiation

  Exposure to ionizing radiation during military service (such as nuclear testing sites or...

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M

• Means Test

  A means test in a VA claim assesses an applicant’s financial situation to...

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• Medicaid

  Medicaid is a U.S. government program that provides health coverage to low-income individuals...

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• Medicare

  Medicare is a U.S. government health insurance program primarily for individuals aged 65...

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• Merchant Marine

  The United States Merchant Marine refers to the fleet of commercial ships owned...

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• Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

  Military Sexual Trauma (MST) refers to sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment...

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N

• Nexus Letter

  A nexus letter is a document written by a medical professional that establishes...

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• Non-Service-Connected Veteran

  Someone who has been discharged from active military duty but does not have...

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• Noncompensable

  A service-connected condition or disability may be non-compensable if it does not meet...

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• Notice of Disagreement (NOD)

  A Notice of Disagreement is a written statement filed by a veteran within...

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• Nursing Home Care

  Also called community living center care. Accommodates convalescents not needing acute hospital care.

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O

• Outpatient Care

  Includes office visits, x-rays, lab tests, and certain surgical procedures without hospital admission.

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P

• Pension

  VA pension is a needs-based benefit for low-income wartime veterans over 65 or...

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• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after...

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• Presumption of Service Connection

  The legal assumption that certain disabilities are related to military service, simplifying the...

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• Prosthetic Devices

  Prosthetic devices are artificial substitutes for missing body parts, including limbs, eyes, teeth,...

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R

• Regional Office (RO)

  Regional offices (ROs) are local VA offices that determine veterans’ eligibility for VA...

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S

• Schedule for Rating Disabilities

  The regulations that specify disability ratings and compensation levels for all service-connected conditions.

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• Scheduled Injury

  An injury to specific body parts like arms, legs, or organs that have...

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• Service Connection

  A direct link between a veteran’s current disability and an injury, disease, or...

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• Service Treatment Records (STR)

  Medical records documenting healthcare received by a service member while in the military....

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• Special Home Adaptations 

  Special home adaptations are grants the VA provides to eligible severely disabled veterans...

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• Special Mode of Transportation

  Ambulances, wheelchair vans, air ambulances, or other modes of transport needed for a...

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• Special Monthly Compensation

  Additional compensation paid to veterans who have certain severe disabilities or loss of...

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• Statement in Support of Claim

  A buddy letter is a statement from a fellow service member, family member,...

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T

• Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU)

  Benefits awarded when a veteran’s service-connected disabilities prevent them from maintaining substantial gainful...

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U

• Urgent Care

  Addresses immediate outpatient medical needs for unexpected, non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries to prevent...

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V

• Veteran

  A veteran is a person who served on active duty in the armed...

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• Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014

  Allows eligible veterans to receive hospital care and medical services from non-VA healthcare...

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• Veterans Service Organization (VSO)

  An organization that provides free assistance to veterans filing claims and appeals for...

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