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Special Claims | Veterans Affairs
<!DOCTYPE html><!--[if lt IE 7 ]> <html lang="en" class="ie6"> <![endif]--><!--[if IE 7 ]> <html lang="en" class="ie7"> <![endif]--><!--[if IE 8 ]> <html lang="en" class="ie8"> <![endif]--><!--[if IE 9 ]> <html lang="en" class="ie9"> <![endif]--><!--[if (gt IE 9)|!(IE)]><!--><html lang="en"><!--<![endif]--><!-- layout: page.drupal.liquid path: disability/eligibility/special-claims entityId: 983 --><head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="True"> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="320"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <!-- Preconnecting required origins: https://web.dev/uses-rel-preconnect/ --> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com"> <!-- Index only pages on production. --> <!-- Add metatags. --> <!-- Canonical URL --> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/special-claims/"> <!-- Last updated --> <meta name="DC.Date" scheme="W3CDTF" content="2023-12-26"> <!-- Last updated --> <!-- Mobile App Promo Banners config --> <!-- End Mobile App Promo Banners config --> <!-- og:url --> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/special-claims/"> <!-- og:type --> <meta property="og:type" content="website"> <!-- article:tags --> <!-- Custom metatags --> <meta name="description" content="Find out if you can get special compensation for service-connected disabilities like the ones listed here. A service-connected disability is an illness or injury caused or made worse by your active-duty service."> <link rel="image_src" href="https://www.va.gov/img/design/logo/va-og-image.png"> <meta property="og:description" content="Find out if you can get special compensation for service-connected disabilities like the ones listed here. A service-connected disability is an illness or injury caused or made worse by your active-duty service."> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.va.gov/img/design/logo/va-og-image.png"> <meta property="og:image:alt" content="U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Veterans Affairs"> <meta property="og:title" content="Special claims | Veterans Affairs"> <title>Special Claims | Veterans Affairs</title> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="If you're a Veteran living with a service-connected disability, find out if you can get special compensation for help with certain needs. 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A service-connected disability is an illness or injury caused or made worse by your active-duty service.</p> </div> <div data-template="paragraphs/wysiwyg" data-entity-id="103718"> <div itemprop="text"> <h2 id="types-of-special-claims">Types of special claims</h2><hr><h3 id="automobile-allowance-and-adapt">Automobile allowance and adaptive equipment</h3><p>If your service-connected disability prevents you from driving, find out if you can get money to help buy a specially equipped vehicle or make needed changes to your existing vehicle.</p><p><a href="/disability/eligibility/special-claims/automobile-allowance-adaptive-equipment" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="639cd4e7-16b8-47ce-ac38-9b96faab0620" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Automobile allowance and adaptive equipment">Learn more about special claims to get an automobile allowance and adaptive equipment</a></p><h3 id="birth-defects-linked-to-agent-">Birth defects linked to Agent Orange</h3><p>If you were exposed to specific chemicals while serving in Vietnam, Thailand, or the Korean Demilitarized Zone, and your child has spina bifida or other birth defects, your child may be eligible for certain benefits.</p><p><a href="/disability/eligibility/special-claims/birth-defects" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="d7c452e4-615c-40e3-978d-1244354573d9" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Birth defects linked to Agent Orange">Learn more about special claims for birth defects linked to Agent Orange</a></p><h3 id="replacing-damaged-clothing">Replacing damaged clothing</h3><p>If your clothing’s been damaged by your prosthetic or orthopedic device—or by medicine you’re taking for a skin condition—find out if you can get money to help buy new clothes.</p><p><a href="/disability/eligibility/special-claims/clothing-allowance" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="78aa4a36-406e-4ad3-a45d-59fe5c2db6de" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="VA clothing allowance">Learn more about special claims to replace damaged clothing</a></p><h3 id="recovery-from-surgery-or-an-im">Recovery from surgery or an immobilizing disability (convalescence)</h3><p>If you’re recovering from surgery or other treatment related to your service-connected disability that’s left you unable to move, find out if you can get temporary disability payments or other benefits.</p><p><a href="/disability/eligibility/special-claims/temporary-increase-after-surgery-or-cast" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="80833e8e-20a7-464e-9fcc-4644858ae504" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Temporary disability rating after surgery or cast">Learn more about special claims based on recovery from surgery or an immobilizing disability</a></p><h3 id="dental-care">Dental care</h3><p>If you’re a Veteran, find out if you can get dental care through VA.</p><p><a href="/disability/eligibility/special-claims/dental-care" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="b02c9056-e7d1-476b-a72e-26fb6080be86" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Dental benefits for Veterans with disabilities">Learn more about special claims for dental care</a></p><h3 id="time-spent-in-a-hospital">Time spent in a hospital</h3><p>If you spent time in a VA or VA-approved hospital for a service-connected disability, find out if you can get benefits like disability payments for that time.</p><p><a href="/disability/eligibility/special-claims/temporary-increase-for-time-in-hospital" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="8331923b-d4fd-4a0f-acc5-ead9579b3f21" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Increased disability rating for time in a hospital">Learn more about special claims for time spent in a hospital</a></p><h3 id="being-unable-to-work-individua">Being unable to work (Individual Unemployability)</h3><p>If you can’t work because of your service-connected disability, find out if you can get increased disability payments.</p><p><a href="/disability/eligibility/special-claims/unemployability" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="3c31ad57-6362-4861-b62f-01f4cc6715b4" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Individual Unemployability if you can’t work">Learn more about special claims based on Individual Unemployability</a></p><h3 id="title-38-usc-1151-disabilities">Title 38 U.S.C. 1151 disabilities</h3><p>If you suffered an added disability while getting VA medical care or taking part in a VA program designed to help you find, get, or keep a job, find out if you can get disability payments.</p><p><a href="/disability/eligibility/special-claims/1151-claims-title-38" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="ecbb3728-9e94-448d-b8a6-3835d8def51a" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="VA Title 38 U.S.C. 1151 claims">Learn more about special claims based on Title 38 U.S.C. 1151 disabilities</a></p><h3 id="immediate-help-for-temporary-d">Immediate help for temporary disability needs (prestabilization)</h3><p>If you recently ended your active military service and you have a service-connected disability, find out if you can get temporary disability payments or other benefits right away.</p><p><a href="/disability/eligibility/special-claims/temporary-rating-prestabilization" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="b5223093-6977-45a7-adbf-f62b58a45c07" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Temporary disability (prestabilization rating)">Learn more about special claims to get immediate help for temporary disability needs</a></p> </div> </div> <va-back-to-top></va-back-to-top> <!-- Last updated & feedback button--> <div class="last-updated usa-content vads-u-padding-x--1 desktop-lg:vads-u-padding-x--0"> <div class="mobile-lg:vads-u-display--flex above-footer-elements-container"> <div class="vads-u-flex--auto"> <span class="vads-u-text-align--justify"> <p>Last updated: <time datetime="2023-12-26">December 26, 2023</time></p> </span> </div> <div class="vads-u-flex--1 vads-u-text-align--right"> <span class="vads-u-text-align--right"> <button 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