Understanding Active Duty & Veterans’ Disability Benefit Eligibility

One of the basic requirements of veterans’ disability benefits is that you suffered your disability (or that your disability became worse) while you were on active duty in the military. But what exactly is active duty?

Very basically, active duty is when you are serving full time in the military. Let’s take a closer look:

Army, Navy, Marine Corp & Air Force. These branches of the military involve a full-time commitment, usually spanning from two to six years of service. During this time, you will go through training and service, which is considered active duty, as well as a few weeks of rest and relaxation (R&R), which is not considered active duty.
The Army National Guard. The national guard is a part-time commitment in which you participate on small time periods of active duty that include regular training and drills. However, in times of emergency, you may be called into active duty as a unit for a longer amount of time and greater commitment.
The Army Reserves. Like the National Guard, the Reserves are not usually on active duty – service members may have civilian jobs and only train sporadically. Reserves are temporarily on active duty while training and may be called to active duty in a time of need or may elect to go into active duty.

It can be confusing to understand whether you were on active duty when you suffered your disability or became ill – and to understand whether you qualify for benefits. The Texas disability benefits attorneys at Morgan & Weisbrod can help. Call 800-800-6353today to learn more about your possible eligibility for VA disability benefits and to take steps toward filing your claim.

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