For direct online access to VA benefits and resources, create an account here.

If you or someone you love is a military veteran recovering from a surgery (or surgeries) to take care of something that was related to service (service-connected disability) compensation and benefits may have been earned. This unfortunate rehabilitation stage is also known as convalescence.

How to Determine If You’re Eligible

First, you must be a veteran. Second, you must have had surgery (or a similar type of procedure) at a VA hospital, an approved hospital or an outpatient center for a service-connected disability.

If you checked “yes” for both of these, then see below, and if your situation falls into the following categories:

– The surgery had a recovery time of at least one month or there are reports that indicate it was a service-connected disability or the surgery brought on severe health issues like

  • Stumps of recent amputations
  • Surgical wounds that haven’t healed
  • Immobility due to casts or splints
  • Can’t leave your house (house confinement)
  • Being required to use a wheelchair or crutches

Even if surgery wasn’t part of your injury or ailment, you could still be eligible if you had one or more major joints immobilized due to a cast.

What Exactly Are the Benefits?

– Health care

– Temporary 100% disability rating

– Compensation, i.e. payments

Where Can You Apply?

Here.

Once you finish, you can check on the status of your benefits and compensation here.

 

For more information on convalescence and other related topics, click here.