We are here for you... free of charge! 

As a Congressionally charted veterans' service organization (VSO), Paralyzed Veterans of America is here for you! Our National Service Officers are available to help ALL Veterans and their family get the benefits they have earned and deserved. 

National Service Officers are accredited experts in VA benefits, and can legally represent Veterans, dependents and survivors before the VA. 

 

Part 1:

Set yourself up for success: Eligibility and Appeals

Set yourself up for success

Applying for VA Benefits can be an overwhelming process. Keep organized, and ask for help when you need it. 

 

How to manage the mountains of paperwork
How PVA can help your case

Managing your benefits claim

If you disagree with your disability rating, or any other component of your benefits eligibility, here's what you need to know. 

 

Get proper support from PVA
If you need to appeal

Part 2:

Types of Benefits Provided by VA

VA provides a variety of benefits to eligible Veterans. Scroll down to learn more about each benefit, or click the titles below to go to the corresponding section.

  • Healthcare 

  • Prosthetics

  • Education

  • Home

  • Post-Military Career

  • Dependents

  • Burial & Funeral

  • Other

Healthcare Benefits

Veterans can continue to receive health care from the military after they are discharged, but the majority apply to the Department of Veterans Affairs for benefits, a disability rating and health care.  The Veteran will receive healthcare from the Veterans Health Administration, but must first be given a disability rating by the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA).

  • Veterans Health Administration (VHA): The VHA is the USA’s largest integrated health care systems consisting of 167 medical centers, more then 1400 outpatient clinics, community living centers, Vet Centers and Domiciliaries. These health care facilities provide comprehensive care to more then 9.1 million Veterans each year. 

PVA provides healthcare advocacy and collaborates with the healthcare providers and our National Service Officers (NSO) at 25 Spinal Cord Injury and Disease (SCI/D) Centers and over 100 outlying VA Medical Centers across the country. PVA NSOs specialize in helping Veterans with:

  • Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
  • Other Spinal Cord Diseases and Motor Neuron Diseases (MND)
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Eligible Veterans can receive free, high-quality healthcare for the rest of their lives through VA.

Learn More

Do you have a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)?
Do you have Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
Do you have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?
Do you have a Spinal Cord Disease or Motor Neuron Disease (MND) other than ALS?
Who is eligible for VA healthcare benefits?
Understanding priority groups
Toxic Exposures
Dental Care
Pharmacy Services
Understanding VA facilities
Women Veterans
Long-term Care, Rehabilitation Services, Home Health Services and Nursing Home Care

 

Need help getting these benefits and others? Connect with one of our National Service Officers (NSO):

 

Prosthetics Benefits

Prosthetics are items and services used to help a disabled person regain independence and mobility. The VA will provide these to an eligible disabled Veteran as part of their health care. 

All VA facilities have clinicians and teams that work with the Veteran to determine what kind and type of prosthetic device or service does the patient need to regain as complete function as possible. The team can send a Veteran who has specialized needs to one of the hospitals that specialize in that particular disability if necessary. Functioning similarly to a pharmacy, the Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service will fulfill prosthetic orders upon request from a VA physician. The VA is the only healthcare system with a prosthetics service.

The VA will replace and repair prosthetics for the Veteran for the rest of their life, free of charge. 

Immediate Past President Charles Brown and Chief Operating Officer Shaun Castle pose in a power wheelchair and manual chair with PVA in the background and an American flag and flag with a PVA logo on either side of them
Immediate Past President Charles Brown and Chief Operating Officer Shaun Castle pose in a power wheelchair and manual chair, both provided by the VA
Goal of prosthetics

The health care team has two goals for the Veteran to achieve: 

  • Independence, which is the ability to take care of themselves: to Wash their face, comb their hair, to feed themselves, use the toilet, dress themselves, and all the activities of daily living. 
  • Mobility, which is the ability to transport one’s self from place to place. Whether it be crutches, scooter, wheelchair, modified vehicles or cane. 
Categories of prosthetics covered by VA
How Veterans get prosthetics: Prosthetics & Sensory Aid Services
Clothing Allowance
Service and guide dogs
Automobile Adaptive Equipment (AAE)

 

Need help getting these benefits and others? Connect with one of our National Service Officers (NSO):

 

Education Benefits

VA education benefits help Veterans, service members, and their qualified family members with needs like paying college tuition, and finding the right school or training program.

 

Learn More

Eligibility for the Post 9/11 GI Bill
Covered costs
Covered programs
Do grades matter, and what to do if you're not making progress?
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Eligible Veterans can get tuition assistance for covered programs.

Need help with educational planning and benefits? Connect with one of our Veterans Career Program (VCP) Counselors:

 

Home Ownership and Modification Benefits

VA can help you make improvements to your home for greater accessibility, and purchase a new home with great loan programs.

 

Learn More

All about the VA Home Loan Program
Eligibility for the VA Home Loan Program
Types of Loans
Home improvement and structural alterations
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Buy Accessible Home Design on our Amazon store to guide you as you adapt your home!

 

Need help getting these benefits and others? Connect with one of our National Service Officers (NSO):

 

Post-Military Career Benefits

There are many resources available to connect you with meaningful employment that uses the skills you learned in your time in the military.

 

Learn More

About Veteran preference for civil service jobs
Private sector jobs and programs for Veterans
Veteran-owned businesses
Vocational rehabilitation and therapeutic work opportunities for eligible disabled Veterans
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Your military service taught you valuable skills. VA will help you put those skills to work in a post-military career.

Need career assistance? Connect with one of our Veterans Career Program (VCP) Counselors

Burial & Funeral Benefits

VA can help with your end-of-life planning and ensure that you have a funeral and burial that honors your service.

 

Learn More

Burials
Military Honors at Funerals
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Need help getting these benefits and others? Connect with one of our National Service Officers (NSO):

 

Dependent Benefits

VA can also help take care of your loved ones. 

 

Learn More

Medical benefits for your dependents
Educational assistance for your dependents
Life Insurance for your dependents
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Managing divorce and property division
PVA member Marco with his family.
PVA member Marco with his family.

 

Need help getting these benefits and others? Connect with one of our National Service Officers (NSO):