Thousands of dollars in VA benefits go unclaimed every year because veterans don't know they exist. Learn about Independent Living, Chapter 31, dental, aid & attendance, and more.
Beyond standard disability compensation, the VA offers dozens of benefits that most veterans never claim — often because they don't know these programs exist. The Independent Living program (Chapter 31) can fund home modifications, adaptive equipment, and even business startup costs for severely disabled veterans. Aid and Attendance benefits add up to $2,431/month for veterans who need help with daily activities. VA dental care is available to veterans with 100% disability or any service-connected dental condition. And the Automobile Adaptive Equipment program provides grants up to $22,036 for vehicle modifications. The VA also offers lesser-known benefits including the Clothing Allowance ($972/year for veterans whose prosthetics or medications damage clothing), Specially Adapted Housing grants (up to $109,986), the Homebound benefit for veterans confined to their homes, and concurrent receipt of both military retirement pay and VA disability compensation (CRDP). Many veterans are also unaware they can claim benefits for conditions presumptively linked to specific service locations — including Camp Lejeune water contamination, Agent Orange exposure, and burn pit exposure under the PACT Act. Filing for these benefits is free and does not affect existing ratings.