Conditions of aging and VA compensation

Remembering Jim

Jim Strickland was a Vietnam era Army veteran and nationally recognized expert on VA disability benefits who was also editor and webmaster of the popular VA Watchdog website. Jim wrote extensively about VA and Social Security disability benefits. Before his recent passing, Jim was kind enough to answer questions from visitors on StatesideLegal.org here in Jim's Mailbag. This page is dedicated to Jim and to his efforts to assist every veteran who called upon him.

About Jim's Mailbag

Jim's Mailbag is a regular column where veterans, servicemembers, and family members can find answers about their VA and Social Security disability benefits. Although we are not accepting new questions at this time, you can browse all of the previous Q&As and search Jim's Mailbag for helpful answers to your specific VA issue.

Question:

Why???? I am 90yrs old; 80+disabled qualify under most requirements > eating dressing etc.

My award was for $365/mo. spinal stenosis,lumbar stenosis and scoliosis supreme. You tell me? I am at a loss and two shoulders frozen, wanna dance?

Jim's Reply:

VA doesn't offer compensation for disabling conditions unless they are connected to the military service the veteran experienced. The conditions you tell me about are conditions of aging...if we're lucky, we'll all live as long as you and probably suffer the same disabling conditions...conditions that are not service connected thus not rated nor compensated.