Full Answer
What is VA vocational rehabilitation and employment?
You didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, and You have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from VA When we receive your VR&E application, we’ll schedule your initial evaluation with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). The VRC will determine if you’re entitled to receive VR&E benefits and services.
Is it hard to get into VA voc rehab with 10% disability?
Nov 23, 2010 · Fatal Issue #1: Both of these disabled veterans point blank told the Voc Rehab counselor they wanted to go back to school [insert favorite …
Can a 100% disabled veteran use vocational rehabilitation?
To get your foot in the door, meaning you are eligible, you’ll need at least a 10% disability rating without a dishonorable discharge. The above criteria should at least get you an evaluation to...
Can a disabled veteran manipulate the facts of a VA case?
Apr 11, 2018 · We get questions like this one quite often in our 26,000 veteran Facebook group wondering how working or using VA Voc Rehab will affect their disability rating in the long run.
Does voc rehab affect VA disability?
This veteran has a rating that is static meaning VA believes the rating or ratings will not change in the future. Generally, any kind of employment or use of Voc Rehab for training will not result in a disability rating reduction.Apr 11, 2018
What is the VA 5 year rule?
The five-year rule states that the VA can't reduce a veteran's disability that's been in place for five years, unless the condition improved overtime on a sustained basis. The veteran will likely need to present medical evidence to prove the material improvement of their condition.Apr 7, 2022
How long does it take to hear back from VR&E?
After your application is submitted, it takes approximately 30 days or more to be processed.
What is the VA Chapter 31?
Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) provides assistance to veterans who have a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and are in need of vocational rehabilitation.
What is the VA 10 year rule?
The VA disability 10-year rule states that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) cannot eliminate a disability rating that has been in place for at least 10 years unless there is evidence of fraud. This 10-year period is calculated from the effective date of VA's original grant for service connection.Dec 31, 2021
Does the VA spy on veterans?
A VA inspector used a spy-like camera-pen to record the veteran engaged in a VA social function. At this point, you might be thinking to yourself, “The severity of my disability is real, and the VA has proof.” Which, by the way, is the case for 99% of veterans with service-connected disabilities.Apr 25, 2018
How long does it take for GI Bill to get approved?
Apply for benefits. Use the VONAPP Veterans Online Applications website, download an application Form 22-1990 from the VA website, or call 1-888-GI-BILL to have a paper form mailed to you. It takes about 6-10 weeks for the VA to process your application and mail you a Certificate of Eligibility.Mar 12, 2013
What is a VA memorandum rating?
disability rating (“memorandum rating”) of 20% or more from VA, AND. » You have received, or will receive, a discharge. from service that is other than dishonorable, OR. » You may qualify without a VA rating if you are.Dec 5, 2012
How long does it take to get a COE from the VA online?
about 4-6 weeksHow long does it take to get a Certificate of Eligibility from the VA? If you mail in your COE application, it will take about 4-6 weeks to receive your COE confirmation. If you self-submit online or through a VA lender it will take minutes.
What is VA Chapter 35?
VA's Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and survivors of certain Veterans.
What is a Chapter 33 veteran?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) helps you pay for school or job training. If you've served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). Find out if you can get this education benefit.
What can I use Chapter 31 for?
It is referred to as the Chapter 31 program. It assists entitled Veterans with service-connected disabilities and an employment handicap to prepare for, find, and maintain a job. It also helps entitled transitioning Servicemembers.
What kind of VR&E services can I get?
Depending on your needs and goals, services may include: A complete evaluation to determine your abilities, skills, and interests for employment Pr...
If I’m eligible for GI Bill benefits, can I get paid the Post-9/11 GI Bill subsistence rate for my VR&E program?
If you’re participating in a VR&E program, you can choose to get paid the GI Bill subsistence rate instead of the Chapter 31 subsistence allowance...
Will VA deduct my VR&E benefits from my VA education entitlement?
If you use VR&E benefits, we won’t deduct entitlement from your other VA education benefits, like the Post-9/11 GI Bill or the Montgomery GI Bill....
How long can you get a VR&E if you lost your housing?
If you’re participating in a VR&E employment program and lost your housing because of a natural or other disaster, you may qualify for 2 more months of the Employment Adjustment Allowance. Contact your VRC for more information. Last updated: June 8, 2021. Back to top.
How long do you have to file for disability benefits before you leave active duty?
Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD): If you have an illness or injury that you believe was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, you can file a claim for disability benefits through the BDD program 180 to 90 days before you leave active duty.
What does it mean to have a handicap?
Having an employment handicap means your service-connected disability limits your ability to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment ( a job that doesn’t make your disability worse, is stable, and matches your abilities, aptitudes, and interests).
What is a vocational evaluation?
A complete evaluation to determine your abilities, skills, and interests for employment. Professional or vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning for employment services. Employment services such as job training, resume development, and other work-readiness support. Help finding and keeping a job, including the use ...
Can you get employment if you are disabled?
If you're a service member or Veteran and have a disability that was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service and that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, you may be able to get employment support or services to help you live as independently as possible.
Can I get GI Bill if I am on VR&E?
If you’re participating in a VR&E program and also qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you can choose to get paid the GI Bill subsistence rate instead of the Chapter 31 subsistence allowance rate. In most cases the GI Bill rate is higher.
What is VA vocational rehabilitation?
VA Vocational Rehabilitation is one of the hidden gems that veterans can turn to when looking for assistance in finding work, getting benefits and training to help start life on the right foot. It is important to understand what benefits you can receive, how you qualify and the active role you take in the process.
What happens after a vocational rehabilitation plan is developed?
After a plan is developed and signed, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor or case manager will continue to work with the Veteran to implement the plan to achieve suitable employment and/or independent living.
What does the VA counselor do at the first VA meeting?
During the first meeting, the VA counselor will take in information about the veteran’s employment history and disabilities to make an entitlement determination. Many errors can occur during this process resulting in the veteran being wrongly denied based on errors of fact or law, so it is important to be prepared for this meeting.
How long can a disabled veteran use VoC?
In most circumstances, disabled veterans can use Voc Rehab once they have at least a 10 percent disability rating so long as they have a “serious employment handicap” or a 20 percent disability rating so long as they have an “employment handicap.”.
What is a VRE?
The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VRE) Program helps veterans with service-connected disabilities and employment handicaps prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. Approximately 80 percent of veterans using the program achieve the employment goal through traditional education at a college, university, or technical school.
What is the GI Bill rate for veterans?
Veterans participating in VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program who elect the GI Bill rate are paid at the 100% rate level for their school and training time, even if their GI Bill eligibility is less than 100%.
What is an employment handicap?
An employment handicap exists if the Veteran’s service-connected disability impairs his or her ability to obtain and maintain suitable employment. This type of determination is not the same as evaluating whether a person can obtain and maintain “a job,” which is what the VA.gov website tells veterans.
Why is a veteran excused from a job?
The veteran is excused from critical functions of their job due to the limitations caused by his or her disability. The veteran employee may, for example, be allowed to skip meetings or trainings that other employees have to attend. The veteran is less productive than other workers.
What does static rating mean for VA?
This veteran has a rating that is static meaning VA believes the rating or ratings will not change in the future. Generally, any kind of employment or use of Voc Rehab for training will not result in a disability rating reduction.
Why do veterans seek employment?
And still other veterans may seek employment in a protected work environment because they cannot get work in a normal work environment. Each of these options may have dramatically different income potentials or long-term prospects. Suffice to say, again, every option for every person will be different.
Can a 100% PT rating be used for PTSD?
However, veterans with a 100% PT rating who have underlying ratings for PTSD or similar that preclude all employment but later improve to allow employment or retraining may face scrutiny from the agency if they gain and maintain employment.
Can a 100% TDIU veteran have their disability rating reduced?
Veteran #2: Veterans with 100% Regular Schedular ratings may have their disability rating reduced if any of their underlying combined ratings are based on the veteran’s ability to gain employment. Veteran #3: 100% TDIU veterans will likely have their rating reduced back to their combined rating once they earn more than marginal employment.
Is 100% disability unique?
This means no one is the same as you. You are unique. Your experiences are unique. Likewise, your 100% disability rating is also unique. Now, I realize some of you are thinking of cyber friends you made on Facebook who have ...
Can you receive TDIU benefits while receiving VA?
Additionally, many VA Voc Rehab counselors tell veterans they cannot receive benefits from the program while receiving TDIU. This assertion, however, is false without a deeper analysis. It is false to simply conclude all veterans with TDIU cannot use the program.
Who reviews VA rehabilitation reports?
A report is prepared and reviewed by a VA rehabilitation counselor who then makes the entitlement determination. If entitled, additional counseling is provided to assist in identifying an appropriate goal and developing a plan of services to achieve that goal.
What is suitable employment?
Suitable employment is a term meaning entry level employment which is not inconsistent with your general pattern of interests, aptitudes, and abilities; is not contra-indicated by your service-connected or non service-connected conditions; and is generally available in the area you live.
Can disabled veterans be gainfully employed?
We can do extraordinary things to assist the most severely disabled veterans become gainfully employed. If, however, employment is not reasonably feasible, there are many services we can provide to help you become more independent in your daily living.
Do VBA counselors work in rehab?
At least some counselors in VBA are not functioning like they should and in accordance with CRC Ethics Rules. Until they do so, some VA Voc Rehab Counselors will remain mere bean-counters rather than partners in your rehabilitation. One qualifier, the VA Voc Rehab program has some amazing counselors in it.
What is the VA hotline?
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) has founded a National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline to ensure that homeless Veterans or Veterans at-risk for homelessness have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors.
Do veterans with high disability ratings fail to complete their training?
Lie #1 - Veterans with high disability ratings usually fail to complete their training. Truth – The survey states that veterans with a higher disability rating also have a higher likelihood of successfully completing their program.
Can you use vocational rehabilitation if you are unemployable?
Lie #2 - You cannot use Vocational Rehabilitation if you are Individually Unemployable (IU). Truth – According to the training module, veterans with a 100 percent disability rating can and do use VR&E for retraining purposes to obtain jobs, if possible.
Do veterans fight for vocational rehabilitation?
Many veterans fight with VA Vocational Rehabilitation. Sometimes it takes veterans years before we figure out that program administrators are straight up lying to us. Sometimes they lie to avoid work. Sometimes they lie out of principle (e.g. Voc Rehab does not pay for graduate school.) about what the program can do for any veteran.
Why Are Veterans Denied Access To Their VocRehab Records?
Here is the story of one Afghanistan War disabled veteran who did not back down when VA VocRehab employees unlawfully withheld his VocRehab records from him following a benefits denial.
VocRehab Battle For Records
Recently, Roth was fighting for his right to access his records that VocRehab keep on each applicant at the San Diego RO. He needed those files to pursue his claim against VA, and without those records, it is like fighting with a blindfold on while wearing handcuffs – even if you bump into something suspicious, you cannot take a swing.
When In Doubt, Call Security
When Roth did not leave, VRE staff called security. This was done in an apparent attempt to intimidate him into leaving the facility since Roth was not acting in a threatening manner. But when security showed up, nothing else happened. On arrival, Roth stated the security could not see why VRE staff called security to begin with.
How Lack Of Access Affects Claims
Sara March, Congressman Peter’s VA liaison representative, was told by the VA that the delay in providing Mr. Roth’s record was due to the fact: 1) VA files are paper hard copy records; 2) His files were commingled with several other veteran’s records; and, 3) VRE needed to sort out the problem before release.
How To Deal With Redactions Or Records Denials
After appeal of the redactions to VA Office of General Counsel (OGC), Roth finally received his full file, but not before his claim became completely hung up between DC Central Office and San Diego.