Long term disability insurance might be available if you are a qualified veteran or an immediate family member of one. Veterans Affairs eligibility criteria differ if you are a veteran or applying as a family member. As a veteran, you must meet the service, discharge, and disability requirements. 

If you are applying for VA benefits as a family member, you must meet spouse, child, or parent requirements. However, you can only receive benefits if your service member also qualifies. For instance, you may not qualify if your service member received a dishonorable discharge. 

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These Common Conditions May Qualify for VA Disability Insurance
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To be eligible for VA benefits, you or your service member must have served on active duty in one of the United States uniformed services:

  • Army
  • Navy
  • Air Force 
  • Coast Guard 
  • Marine Corps 
  • Space Force
  • Active National Guard and Reserve

To qualify for VA disability compensation, you must: 

  • Have a condition that affects your mind or body,
  • Have served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, and
  • One of the following is true:
    • You have an inservice disability claim since your sickness, injury, or condition resulted from military service. 
    • You have a preservice disability claim because serving in the military worsened your preexisting condition (an illness or injury you had before serving). \
    • You have a post-service disability claim for a condition related to your active-duty service that appeared after your discharge.  

An injury or a sickness may have caused the disability during your service, and your condition may be either:

Physical, such as:

  • A current diagnosed back disability causing long-lasting (chronic) pain. 
  • A lung condition or lung disease causing breathing problems, and sleep apnea. 
  • A percentage loss of breast tissue from a mastectomy or radiation treatment. 
  • An illness caused by time as a prisoner of war (POW).
  • Back, neck, and spine pain and conditions. 
  • Cancer caused by proximity to toxic chemicals or other hazards.
  • Decreased range of motion or difficulties moving your body. 
  • Hypertension and other heart-related conditions.
  • Inability to communicate, smell, or taste. 
  • Loss or loss of use of hand, foot, reproductive organ, or both buttocks. 
  • Scar tissue and skin diseases. 
  • Significant hearing or vision loss. 
  • Ulcers. 

Mental, including: 

  • Anxiety. 
  • Amnesia.
  • Depression. 
  • Eating disorders. 
  • Headaches. 
  • Mood disorder. 
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI). 

You may not be eligible for VA benefits if you have a bad conduct, dishonorable, or other than honorable discharge status. However, you can apply for a discharge upgrade or request a VA Character of Discharge review. The VA may change your discharge status if you can prove your discharge was related to:

  • Mental health conditions. 
  • Traumatic brain injury.
  • Military sexual assault or harassment.
  • Sexual orientation. 

You can apply for disability insurance on your own or get some help. Check out what you might need to apply for benefits next.

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