They Shouldn't Have to Fight for It

They Shouldn’t Have to Fight For It

Lisa Matthews

20 August 2012

Professor Patricia Devin

The Veteran’s Health Care Eligibility Reform Act was signed by congress in 1996, making health benefits available to almost all veterans. The eligibility is clear under this act and is based on military services in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or the Coast Guard. The veteran cannot receive a dishonorable discharge in order to be eligible for services. There are proper steps to take, the first being applying for benefits, and once the veteran is enrolled in the system they remain enrolled and they will be able to use their benefits at any VA hospital or VA health care facility.

So what is covered under this Reform Act? According to the Act, veterans are eligible for hospital care and medical services for service-connected disabilities. Sometimes the eligibility criteria can be a little confusing. When talking about eligibility the Act states: “The Secretary (subject to paragraph (4)) shall furnish hospital care and medical services, and may furnish nursing home care, which the Secretary determines to be needed—

‘‘(A) to any veteran for a service-connected disability; and

‘‘(B) to any veteran who has a service-connected disability rated at 50 percent or more.
‘‘(2) The Secretary (subject to paragraph (4)) shall furnish hospital care and medical services, and may furnish nursing home care, which the Secretary determines to be needed to any veteran— ‘‘(A) who has a compensable service-connected disability

rated less than 50 percent;
‘‘(B) whose discharge or release from active military, naval,

or air service was for a compensable disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty;

‘‘(C) who is in receipt of, or who, but for a suspension pursuant to section 1151 of this title (or both a suspension and the receipt of retired pay), would be entitled to disability compensation, but only to the extent that such veteran’s continuing eligibility for such...