Last month, I covered how to file an initial claim to get your disability rating. The VA pays on its rates from 10 to 100 percent, or Fully Disabled. In some cases, especially with younger vets who may have served only one tour of duty, the disability rating can be zero.

If you receive a zero rating for your claim, that is not the end of your journey. This is called a Non-Compensable Rating, which means you do not receive disability payments. However, with a zero rating, you are now officially in the VA system. You may still be eligible for routine VA Healthcare, including eye and hearing exams, prescriptions filled at a VA pharmacy, and co-payment waivers.

These benefits alone make filing a claim worthwhile. Getting into the VA system also allows you to sign up for VA Life Insurance and Educational Benefits. Each state has additional benefits and programs for its resident veterans. You can search for your State Veterans Office.

Now, if you believe the zero rating is incorrect, you can request a re-evaluation at any time. Contact the Service Officer who assisted you in filing to review your records again and ensure you haven’t missed anything. Also, if any medical issue you have worsened, such as knee issues or hearing loss, document it and add it to your records immediately. There are several methods of appeal, which I’ll detail in a future column.

The VA is continually updating its programs to incorporate new information on medical issues and to comply with legislative requirements, such as the PACT Act. You can sign up for the VA’s updates at the bottom of their homepage to stay up-to-date on the disability, healthcare, and other benefits you’ve earned through your military service.

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