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Vietnam Veterans may be eligible for a wide variety of benefits available to all U.S. military Veterans. VA benefits include disability compensation, pension, education and training, health care, home loans, insurance, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and burial. 

New Law of Note to USNA Class of 1966

The PACT (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics) Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.

The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions that we assume (or “presume”) are caused by exposure to these substances. This law helps Veterans and their survivors with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.

Resources

  • VA Booklet: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors
    This booklet contains a brief overview of the most commonly sought information concerning Veterans’ benefits and services. It also includes helpful websites and phone numbers. For the most accurate information, Veterans and family members should visit the websites provided within this publication as regulations, payments, and eligibility requirements are subject to change. For additional information, please visit www.va.gov. To find the nearest VA facility, go to www.va.gov/find-locations
  • Important Contact Information
    • Blue Water Ships (Veterans who served on vessels operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia)
    • Brown Water Exposure Information (Veterans serving on land in Vietnam or the inland waterways of Vietnam)
  • Veterans Diseases Associated with Agent Orange
  • #theSITREP
    The SITREP is a show for Veterans, by Veterans that provides youtube videos with helpful information about disability ratings, medical records, medical supplies, and other benefits. New episodes are published each week, Wednesday through Friday. Go to www.youtube.com and search #theSITREP.
  • #VetResources
    This resource is a weekly newsletter from the VA for Veterans, their Families, Caregivers, and Survivors. It’s easy to scan topics from previous weeks’ newsletters. Click HERE for more information and to subscribe.
  • VA Resources Curated by USNA Alumni Association
    Links to VA Benefits and Procedures helpful to USNA alumni.

Where to Start for a Disability Claim, Health, Education & Survivor Benefits

  1. VA: File Online
    • The VA claim process after you file your claim (length of processing time, the 5 steps the VA takes). Not shown is that Step 3 may include a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam done either in-house at VA or by a contractor such as QTC, OptumServe, etc.
    • VA Disability Ratings (VA’s combined disability rating calculator)
    • How to Obtain Your VA Medical Records Online (use your Login.gov, ID.me, DS logon, or MyHealthevet account, or create an account)
    • VA Priority Groups (the VA groups Veterans based on disability rating, income level and other factors)
    • VA Travel Pay Reimbursement (Pays eligible Veterans and caregivers back for mileage and other travel expenses to and from approved health care appointments. Find out if you’re eligible and how to file a claim.)
  2. Veterans Service Organizations
    • Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
    • Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
    • Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
    • American Veterans (AMVETS)
    • The American Legion, a US Veterans Association (AMVET)
  3. (Your State) Department of Veterans Affairs/Service
    • Google to find locations and contact info for your state
  4. Authorized Claims Agents and Law Firms (fee $)

Related Topics

  • Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)
  • Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP)
  • Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
  • Other Healthcare Resources

Class Presentations

NOTE: everything underlined is a hyperlink to a web-based resource