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United States Army Veteran Benefits — Complete Army Guide

Branch-specific guide for Army veterans: VA disability claims, healthcare eligibility, education benefits, PACT Act presumptives, and the right VSOs to file with. Free, evergreen, fact-checked. Last updated 2026-05-07.

Branch: United States Army (USA) Founded: 1775 Motto: This We'll Defend Components: active + Reserves + National Guard Separation doc: DD-214
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Quick Facts: Army Veteran Benefits

Pay Grades
E-1 to E-9 (enlisted), W-1 to W-5 (warrant), O-1 to O-10 (officer)
Typical Service Length
2-25+ years
Senior Uniformed Officer
Chief of Staff of the Army
Discharge Doc Lookup
Request via vetrecs.archives.gov (NPRC, St. Louis MO)

PACT Act Eligibility for Army Veterans

Burn-pit exposure for Iraq/Afghanistan deployments. Agent Orange for Vietnam-era service.

The PACT Act of 2022 expanded VA presumptive-condition lists for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune water, radiation, and Gulf War conditions. Presumptive status means VA assumes the condition is service-connected — no nexus letter required. File a PACT Act claim →

Branch-Specific VSOs for Army Veterans

VSOs (Veterans Service Organizations) provide free claims-filing help. Use them. Common VSOs serving Army veterans:

Can't find a local VSO? Use a free County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) — every U.S. county has at least one.

Common Army Disability Claim Patterns

Infantry: musculoskeletal + tinnitus + PTSD. Aviation: hearing loss. Logistics: back pain.

The VA does not consider MOS/rate when adjudicating claims, but understanding service patterns helps with secondary-service-connection arguments and lay-evidence framing. Browse all 85 VA-claim guides →

Key Army Facilities (for Service Verification)

If you need to verify your service period or find a specific assignment record, these are major Army facilities:

Service Eras (for PACT Act + Era-Specific Benefits)

Different eras qualify for different presumptives. Know your service era:

Frequently Asked Questions

What VA benefits am I eligible for as a Army veteran?

Army veterans with qualifying service (typically active duty + honorable/general discharge) are eligible for VA disability compensation, healthcare, education (GI Bill), home loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation, life insurance, burial benefits, and survivor benefits. Eligibility specifics depend on character of service, length of service, and (for some benefits) service-connected disability rating.

Where do I get my DD-214 as a Army veteran?

Request via vetrecs.archives.gov (NPRC, St. Louis MO). Most discharge documents are available within 4-6 weeks of request via the National Personnel Records Center. Online request: vetrecs.archives.gov. If your record is restricted (post-2002), you may need to request through eBenefits or your branch personnel center.

What PACT Act presumptives apply to Army veterans?

Burn-pit exposure for Iraq/Afghanistan deployments. Agent Orange for Vietnam-era service.

How do I file a VA disability claim as a Army veteran?

Three free options: (1) File online at va.gov, (2) Use a free County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) — see find-cvso, (3) Use a free VSO representative (American Legion, VFW, DAV, etc). For PACT Act presumptives, use file-pact-claim. Avoid private attorneys for initial filings; they are paid via percentage of back-pay.

What are the most-claimed disabilities for Army veterans?

Infantry: musculoskeletal + tinnitus + PTSD. Aviation: hearing loss. Logistics: back pain.

Browse Other Branches

Navy Marine Corps Air Force Coast Guard Space Force National Guard Reserves

Related Resources from Wounded Warriors

About This Guide

This page is part of an open, free, evergreen reference for Army veterans by Wounded Warriors (Texas 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 86-1336741, IRS ruling year 2021, d/b/a Warriors Fund). Information is sourced from VA.gov, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Library of Congress, and federal statutes. We update this guide as VA policy changes. Last updated 2026-05-07.

This page is informational only. It does not establish an attorney-client or fiduciary relationship. For your specific situation, find a CVSO or accredited VSO representative.