Veterans' View
VA provides vocational rehab
by Amy Simmons, Veterans Service Officer, Washington County
The Veteran’s Administration offers a wide array of services to help veterans find new career paths and jobs. Service eligibility stretches back to those who served almost 65 years ago – on or after Sept. 16, 1940 – and covers people with a service-connected disability or disabilities received in active service that entitle them to at least 20 percent compensation or would do so but for receipt of military retirement pay. Veterans with a 10 percent disability also may be eligible if they have a serious employment handicap.
Servicemembers must have been discharged or released under other than dishonorable conditions or be hospitalized awaiting disability-related separation. The Veterans Administration (VA) must determine that the person needs vocational rehabilitation consistent with his or her abilities, aptitudes and interests. The veteran’s service-connected disabilities must materially contribute to this handicap.
A veteran who is found eligible for Chapter 31 and who has an employment handicap is entitled to vocational rehabilitation services. Following the vocational rehabilitation counselor’s determination that a veteran has met Chapter 31 entitlement criteria, the counselor and veteran will jointly develop a plan for a rehabilitation program with a goal typically leading toward employment. In some cases, the plan goal may be related to an independent living need. This plan will provide all of the needed services and assistance identified through the initial evaluation.
In those cases when a veteran is not found to be entitled, the VA counselor will assist him or her to use the information gathered in the initial evaluation to identify other options, goals and programs that should contribute to sound vocational adjustment – for example, referral to the state vocational rehabilitation program, information about financial aid and referral to the Dept. of Labor’s DVOP program.
Generally, the veteran must complete a rehabilitation program 12 years from the date VA notifies him or her of entitlement to compensation. This period may be deferred or extended if a medical condition prevented the veteran from training for a period or if the veteran has a serious employment handicap.
Disabled veterans may receive services until they have reached their rehabilitation goal, but the duration of a rehabilitation program generally may not exceed 48 months. VA may provide counseling, job placement and post-employment services for an additional period not to exceed 18 months.
For more information, visit the VA Web site at www.va.gov.
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