VBA Definition

The Veterans Benefits Administration, or VBA, is the organization that manages the disbursement of a variety of benefits to veterans and their dependents. The jurisdiction of the VBA spans from disability compensation and pension, to loan guarantees, education services, and vocational rehabilitation. VBA is not to be confused with the BVA, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, which is the organization that issues decisions on appeals.

What the VBA Does

It is essential to understand what the VBA does and how it operates as it plays an important role in the distribution of benefits.

Offices the VBA Oversees

The Office of the Undersecretary of Benefits oversees the VBA, which includes the following four offices:

• The Office of Strategic Planning. This office handles the strategic and operational planning of the VBA.
• The Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity. The Office of Economic Opportunity oversees programs such as vocational rehabilitation, transitional assistance, employment, education services, and loan guarantees.
• The Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Disability Assistance. The Office of Disability Assistance manages the administration of benefits and services to veterans, their family members, and survivors.  It also works closely with VA’s 56 Regional Offices.
• The Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations. The Office of Field Operations manages the operations at all the VA Regional Offices, Records Management Center, and Appeals Management Center.  These are the offices that handle initial claims and appeals for VA disability benefits.

Types of Compensation Available from VBA

The VBA offers several different types of compensation, including:

• Disability Compensation: monthly benefits for service-connected disabilities, determined by a veteran’s combined disability rating which ranges from 0 to 100 percent
• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: a monthly benefit available to surviving spouses or dependent children of a servicemember who died on active duty or died from a service-connected condition
• Special Monthly Compensation: a higher rate of compensation available to qualifying veterans with especially serious disabilities or combinations of disabilities

The team of veteran lawyers from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you receive the above-mentioned types of compensation.

Call 800-544-9144 for a Free Case Evaluation

VA estimates it can take up to a year and a half for VBA to grant or deny an appeal. This means you will likely be dealing with the organization for a long time which can be exceptionally frustrating, especially if you do not have any experience with the VBA.