New York, NY–United Spinal Association announces A Veterans’ Self-Help Guide, available online at www.unitedspinal.org/publications/vetsfirst/.

A Veterans’ Self-Help Guide informs veterans of all eras, including those who have recently been discharged from the military, about how to establish that a current disability or condition is related to military service, or existed prior to military service and was aggravated by such service.

To succeed in a claim for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation for a disability or condition, there must be a medical diagnosis of a current disability; medical, or sometimes non-medical, evidence that the disability had its onset during active military service; and, medical evidence of a linkage between active military service and the current disability.

A Veterans’ Self-Help Guide also provides information about VA pensions for veterans whose disabilities are not related to military service, and the circumstances under which such pensions might be available. Other important VA programs covered in the Guide include benefits for dependents and survivors of veterans; the VA health care system; appeals of claims for VA compensation and pension; and, getting help from VA-authorized veterans service organizations like United Spinal Association.

Of particular note is that National Guard members and reservists who have served on active duty in a theater of combat operations have special eligibility for VA health care, including inpatient, outpatient, and nursing home care, for five years following their separation from active service.

While this publication contains some information particular to VA benefits for United Spinal veteran members with spinal cord injuries and diseases like multiple sclerosis and ALS, much of its content is applicable to any veteran of U.S. military service.