VA Claims for Reservists and National Guard

If you serve in the Reserve or National Guard, you may wonder whether you can file a VA disability claim—and whether it affects your military pay. The short answer: yes, you can file, but there are important rules about how VA compensation and drill pay interact.

Can You File While Still Serving?

Yes. You do not have to wait until you leave the Reserves or National Guard to file a VA disability claim. You can file at any time after incurring a service-connected condition.

Many reservists assume they must wait until they separate or retire, but this is not true. Filing early can protect your effective date and start the clock on your claim while evidence is still fresh.

Establishing Service Connection

For reservists and Guard members, service connection typically comes from:

• Active duty periods: Deployments, mobilizations, or activations under Title 10
• Active Duty for Training (ADT): Annual training, schools, and similar duty periods
• Inactive Duty Training (IDT): Drill weekends—but with limitations (typically only injuries, not diseases)

The type of duty matters. Conditions that arise during active duty (including ADT) are treated similarly to regular active duty claims. For IDT, service connection is generally limited to injuries or acute events that occurred during drill.

Drill Pay vs. VA Compensation

This is where it gets complicated. You can receive both VA disability compensation and reserve/Guard pay, but not always for the same days:

The General Rule

You cannot receive VA disability compensation for the same days you receive drill pay. The VA will offset (reduce) your compensation for days you are paid for military duty.

How It Works in Practice

• Monthly VA payments continue even while you drill
• At year end, the VA reconciles your pay and may recoup overpayments
• You report your drill days to avoid surprises

Some veterans choose to waive drill pay for certain days to keep their full VA compensation. Others prefer the drill pay (especially if it exceeds their daily VA rate). You will need to do the math for your situation.

Retirement Points

Even if you waive drill pay, you typically still earn retirement points for satisfactory participation. Check with your unit's admin section to confirm.

When Should You File?

Consider filing a claim when:

• After a deployment: Conditions from active duty are often easier to document while records are current
• After an injury at drill: Report and document it immediately, then file your claim
• Before you separate: If you plan to leave the Reserves/Guard, file beforehand to establish your effective date
• When symptoms worsen: Do not wait for conditions to become severe

Remember: you can file an Intent to File to protect your effective date while you gather evidence.

What You Need to File

Reservists should gather:

• DD-214s: For each period of active duty (deployments, mobilizations)
• Orders: Copies of activation orders, deployment orders, or training orders
• Line of Duty (LOD) determinations: Critical for injuries during IDT or ADT
• Service treatment records: From both active and reserve periods
• Retirement point statements: Annual summaries showing your drill attendance and total points (documents your service history)
• Buddy statements: Written accounts from fellow service members, family, or others who witnessed incidents or can describe your symptoms

Line of Duty determinations are especially important for reserve component claims. If you were injured during drill and an LOD was completed, get a copy.

Medical Retirement Considerations

If your condition may prevent you from continuing reserve service, you might face a medical evaluation:

• MEB (Medical Evaluation Board): Determines if you can continue serving
• PEB (Physical Evaluation Board): Determines fitness and assigns a DoD disability rating
• IDES (Integrated Disability Evaluation System): Combines DoD and VA evaluations into one process

If you go through IDES, you will receive both a DoD rating (for retirement/separation purposes) and a VA rating (for compensation). These ratings can differ.

Key Takeaways

• You can file now: Do not wait until you leave the Reserves or Guard
• Drill pay and VA pay interact: You may need to choose or accept offsets for drill days
• Document everything: LOD determinations, orders, and medical records are critical
• File after deployments: While evidence and memories are fresh
• Consult your unit: Talk to your admin section about how VA compensation affects your specific situation

Every reservist's situation is different. If you have questions about concurrent receipt, retirement implications, or complex service histories, consider consulting with a VSO or accredited claims agent who has experience with reserve component claims.

Next Steps

If you're ready to start your claim:

1. Gather your DD-214s, orders, and any LOD determinations
2. File an Intent to File to protect your effective date
3. Request your service treatment records if you do not have them
4. Review our evidence checklist to ensure you have supporting documentation
5. Consider getting buddy statements from fellow service members