What Is VA Disability Compensation – And How It Can Transform Your Life After Service -
In other words, if you got sick or injured because of your service – or if service aggravated an existing condition – the VA compensates you for that loss in health. This money is not charity or a handout; it’s a recognition and reward for the sacrifices you made. There’s also a special status called TDIU (Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability) where if your disabilities (even if not totaling 100%) prevent you from holding a job, the VA will pay you at the 100% rate. So there are multiple paths to get the top benefit. Incremental Differences Matter: Each step up in rating brings more money and often new benefits.Additional Compensation (SMC): In cases of very severe disabilities, the VA can pay Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) on top of the regular rates. This includes things like loss of use of limbs, blindness, need for aid and attendance, etc. If you’re 100% and housebound or need a caregiver, for example, you can get extra money.For more detail on our fees and how they work, see our VA Disability Lawyer Pricing Explained page (we break down examples there). But the key takeaway: hiring us requires no money out-of-pocket, ever. We’ve structured our practice so that finances won’t stand in the way of a veteran getting quality representation.Many clients also find comfort in the fact that because our fee is a percentage of back pay, it essentially pays for itself – it’s money you wouldn’t have had without us fighting and winning for you. Let’s illustrate that in the next section, because it’s one of the strongest reasons veterans choose to get legal help. “Do I really need a lawyer, or can I do this on my own (or with a VSO)?” This is a very common – and valid – question veterans have.