Veteran Benefits for Minnesota

• Minnesota Tax Exemption for Military Pay: Minnesota does not tax military pay received by resident Service members serving active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.
  • Service member’s income will not be taxed in the year of their death
  • Any unpaid tax debts or penalties from prior years when the Service member was on active duty will be forgiven
  • Heirs may request a refund of income tax the Service member paid while they were serving on active duty; refund claims must be filed within seven years of when the Service member’s tax return was filed or when the tax was paid or collected
• Minnesota Tax Debt Relief for Deceased Active Duty Service Members: Minnesota provides tax relief to the Family of a Service member who died while serving on active duty in the U.S. or United Nations Armed Forces. Taxes are forgiven under the following circumstances:
• Minnesota Taxes on Military Retired Pay: Minnesota does not tax military retired pay. Retired Service members who claim his subtraction may not claim the nonrefundable credit for past military service.
• Minnesota State Taxes on Military Disability Retirement Pay: Military Disability Retirement Pay received as a pension, annuity, or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces should not be included in taxable income. Some of the payments that are considered disability benefits include:
  • Disability compensation and pension payments for disabilities paid to Veterans or their Families
  • Grants for homes designed for wheelchair living
  • Grants for motor vehicles for Veterans who lost their sight or the use of limbs or
  • Benefits under a dependent-care assistance program
• Minnesota State Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of Service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease.
• Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/ Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP)/ Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) Minnesota State Tax Subtraction: SBP, RCSBP, and RSFPP annuities are not taxed in Minnesota.
• Minnesota Tax Credit for Military Service in Combat Zone: Service members who served in a combat zone or qualified hazardous duty area can receive a refundable tax credit of $120 monthly for each month they served in a qualifying area. Partial months will count as whole months. Service members may qualify for this credit even if they have no income or owe no tax.
• Minnesota Income Tax Filing Extensions for Service Members: Minnesota offers tax filing extensions for eligible resident Service members. A Service member and their Spouse who file jointly are eligible for the extension.
  • Combat Zone: Service members serving in a combat zone have 180 days from the date they leave the combat zone to file and pay Minnesota taxes. Service members who are hospitalized due to injuries received in a combat zone have a 180-day extension from the date of their discharge from the hospital.
  • Stationed Outside the U.S.: Service members stationed outside the U.S. but not involved in combat operations have until October 15th of the tax year to file a tax return. To avoid penalties, service members must pay 90% of any owed taxes by April 15th.
  • Reserve Component: Reserve component Service members called to federal active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for a six-month extension to file and pay their taxes. Service members outside the U.S. qualify for an extension to file and pay their taxes for the time abroad, plus six months.
• Minnesota Market Value Exclusion on Homestead Property of Disabled Veterans, Primary Family Caregivers, and Surviving Spouses: Minnesota offers a market value exclusion program for Veterans, Surviving Spouses, or a primary Family caregiver of a Veteran. This program reduces the market value of homesteads for tax purposes, which may reduce property tax. This program provides two different levels of market value exclusions:
  • $150,000 exclusion for:
    • Veterans with 70% to 100% service-connected disability rating (not permanent or total)
    • Primary Family caregiver of a Veteran with 70% to 100% service-connected disability rating (not permanent or total)
  • $300,000 exclusion for:
    • Veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating
    • Surviving Spouse receiving Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
    • Surviving Spouse of a Veteran who had a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating
    • Primary Family caregiver of a Veteran with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating

Sales Tax:

• Statewide: 6.875%
• Counties: cannot levy an additional sales tax
• Common exceptions at the state level:
  • Prescription medicines are exempt
  • Unprepared foods are exempt

Recreation

• • Minnesota Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake: The Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake, St Croix, is a Family campground that provides facilities and opportunities for recreation, rest, and recovery for all who have served, or who are still serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces, their Families, and sponsored friends.
    • • The campground has a wide variety of recreational activities for the entire Family, including camping (cabins, tents, and RV sites), boating, fishing, tubing, swimming, softball, volleyball, horseshoes, canteen, game room, lending library, and outdoor pavilions for parties, reunions, gatherings, and picnics
• Free Minnesota State Park Passes for Service Members, Purple Heart Recipients, Disabled Veterans, and their Dependents: Service members and their dependents, Purple Heart recipients, and Disabled Veterans can receive a free annual permit for Minnesota State Parks.

  Who is eligible for Free Minnesota State Park Passes?

  • Service members from any component of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents must bring current military orders and military ID to the park
  • Veterans with any level of service-connected disability must bring a copy of their VA determination letter and a photo ID
  • Purple Heart recipients must bring documentation that they received the Purple Heart (DD214, citation for award, etc.)
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Military and Veterans Benefits: The Minnesota DNR offers several benefits for Service members and Veterans.
• Resident Service Members Benefits:
  • Resident Service members serving in an active and reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces will receive first preference in drawings for special deer hunts, antlerless deer lottery, and bear and turkey lotteries. 
  • Resident Service members on leave who are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and stationed outside the state may:
    • Hunt small game without a license; no Minnesota waterfowl stamp or pheasant stamp is needed, but they must have a federal duck stamp to hunt waterfowl.
    • Hunt deer, bear, wild turkey, and wolf without charge after obtaining the appropriate licenses and tags through the Minnesota Electronic License System; bonus permits are not included
    • Fish without a license
    • Use ski trails without a ski pass

  Service members must have a valid Minnesota driver’s license or state ID card and leave papers with them while hunting, fishing, or using ski trails.

• Residents Discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces Benefits:
  • Service members discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces within ten days of the start of, or during, the firearm deer season may purchase a firearm deer license that is immediately valid; applicants must show official discharge papers when applying
  • Service members discharged from federal active duty outside the U.S. within the previous 24 months may:
    • Hunt small game without a license; no state stamps are required, and a federal stamp is needed for waterfowl hunting if less than 65 years old
    • Fish without a license, trout stamps are not required (Note: Free sturgeon tags are available only from the DNR License Center in St. Paul)
    • Eligible for one free deer per year license, valid for one either-sex deer except in buck-only areas
    • Use ski trails without a ski pass
  • Service members discharged from active duty in an active or reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces during the previous 24 months will receive first preference in drawings for special deer hunts, antlerless deer lottery, bear and turkey lotteries
• Resident Disabled Veterans Benefits:
  • Veterans who have a 100% service-connected disability are eligible for the following:
    • Free small game license, no state stamps are required, federal stamp is needed for hunting waterfowl
    • One free deer license per year. A free deer license is valid for one either-sex deer except in buck-only areas
    • Receive first preference in drawings for special deer hunts, antlerless deer lottery, bear and turkey lotteries 
    • Card that serves as proof of eligibility for a free annual small game and deer licenses 
    • Free, permanent angling license. This permanent license is available only from the DNR License Center in St. Paul; a trout stamp is not required with this license 
  • Veterans who are patients at a Minnesota Veterans Home may fish without a license with written permission from the superintendent or chief executive of the Veterans home 
• Resident Purple Heart Recipient Benefits: Purple Heart recipients must purchase licenses, but they will receive first preference in drawings for special deer hunts, antlerless deer lottery, and bear and turkey lotteries.
• Nonresident Benefits:
  • Nonresident Spouse of a Minnesota resident Service member serving on active duty may purchase resident hunting and fishing licenses; Spouse must provide proof of their Service member Spouse’s residency and active duty status
  • Service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in Minnesota, training at Camp Ripley, or serving in the Minnesota National Guard may purchase resident hunting and fishing licenses; applicants must provide official military documents stating they are stationed in Minnesota, training at Camp Ripley or a member of the Minnesota National Guard (does not include elk license)
• Firearms Safety Training Exemptions for Military Service Members: Service members who have completed basic training and serve in the U.S. Armed Forces may obtain a hunting license or approval authorizing hunting even if they haven’t been issued a firearms safety certificate. Eligible Service members must provide proof they completed basic training (i.e., discharge papers (DD214) or current military ID) to the course instructor. Once discharged or no longer serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, applicants born after December 31, 1979, must complete a firearms safety training course.
• Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Magazine: DNR offers a free two-year subscription to their Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Magazine to Service members and Veterans.
• Apprentice Hunter Validation: An apprentice hunter validation may be used in place of firearms safety certification. The validation can only be used in Minnesota and purchased twice. Those using this exemption must hunt with a licensed hunter whose license was not obtained using an apprentice hunter validation. 

Education Programs:

• Minnesota Higher Education Veterans Programs: The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Higher Education Veterans Programs helps connect Veterans with education benefits and resources to help students succeed in college. The programs support Veterans, current Service members, and their Families attending Minnesota’s colleges and universities by providing on-site comprehensive information about benefits and resources and supporting these students’ unique needs.

  This program provides staff at Minnesota colleges and universities to help identify and remove barriers to Veterans’ enrollment and access to benefits and establish and manage campus Veterans Resource Centers.

  Higher Education Veterans Program Coordinators help schools establish “Veteran friendly” policies and procedures and can help with:

  • Payment extensions while waiting for educational benefits
  • Military transfer credit
  • Veteran resident status
  • Options for withdrawal from classes due to deployment
• Minnesota Veteran Education Assistance: Minnesota Veteran Education Assistance is a one-time $750 grant for tuition for Veterans to assist them in completing a bachelor’s degree. This grant is only available to Veterans who have exhausted their GI Bill benefits. Grants are paid directly to the institution or may be reimbursed to Veterans upon verification that their tuition has been paid.
  • Who is eligible for Minnesota Veteran Education Assistance? To be eligible, the Veteran must meet the following criteria:
    • Minnesota resident for six months immediately before entry into the U.S. Armed Forces and
    • U.S. citizen and a current resident of Minnesota
    • Veteran must have wholly exhausted their VA educational benefits within the eligibility period that their benefits were available; those who allowed their benefits to expire before using them do not qualify

    Benefits may be used at the following Minnesota Higher Education Institutions:

    • State Universities
    • Community colleges
    • Vocational technical colleges
    • Any campus of the University of Minnesota
    • Any college of higher learning which has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
    • Law College approved by the Supreme Court
    • Theological seminary
    • Nursing school approved by the Board of Nursing
    • Vocational technical trade or business school approved by the State Department of Education
• Minnesota National Guard Tuition Reimbursement Program (STR): STR reimburses Minnesota National Guard Service members up to 100% of the tuition cost at an accredited educational institution. The lifetime maximum STR benefit is 208 quarter or 144 semester credits.

  The undergraduate reimbursement rate is up to 100% of the undergraduate rate of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Campus, with a maximum yearly benefit of $18,000 per fiscal year (1 July through 30 June).

  The Graduate reimbursement rate is up to 75% of the graduate rate of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Campus, with a maximum yearly benefit of $28,000 per fiscal year.

• Minnesota Surviving Spouse and Dependent Education Benefit: Surviving spouses and eligible dependents of deceased veterans are offered free tuition at an approved Minnesota postsecondary education institution up to their bachelor’s degree completion. In addition, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) will pay $750 per fiscal year for fees, books and supplies, and room and board.
• Minnesota GI Bill: The Minnesota GI Bill program provides educational financial assistance to Veterans, Service members, and their dependents. The Program offers a maximum benefit of $10,000. Eligible participants can use the benefit for higher education, On-the-job training (OJT), apprenticeships, or licenses and certifications.
  • Who is eligible for the Minnesota GI Bill? To be eligible, all applicants must be Minnesota residents and meet one of the following general requirements:
    • Service member currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces
    • Veteran who served in an active or reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces and received an honorable discharge
    • Former Service member who served in an active or reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces for five or more years (cumulatively) and received an honorable discharge; any part of that service must have occurred on or after September 11, 2001, or
    • Surviving Spouse and Children of a Veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time who died or has a total and permanent Service-connected disability rating
• Minnesota Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children: The purpose of this compact is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on Children of military Families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents by:
  • Facilitating the prompt enrollment of Children of military Families and ensuring that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of educational records from the previous school district or variations in entrance or age requirements
  • Facilitating the student placement process through which variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content, or assessment do not disadvantage Children of military Families. Facilitating the qualification and eligibility for enrollment, educational programs, and participation in extracurricular academic, athletic, and social activities
  • Facilitating the on-time graduation of Children of military Families
  • Providing for the enforcement of administrative rules implementing the provisions of this compact
  • Providing for the uniform collection and sharing of information between and among member states, schools, and military Families under this compact
  • Promoting coordination between this compact and other compacts affecting military Children
  • Promoting flexibility and cooperation between the educational system, parents, and the student to achieve academic success for the student

Housing: The following are the sites for Veterans Homes

Minnesota Veterans Homes: Minnesota has five Veterans Homes throughout the state that provide high-quality health care and a safe environment for Veterans and their Spouses.  Minnesota has three new Veterans homes that are scheduled to be opened in the Fall of 2023.

Some of the services provided at Minnesota Veterans Homes include:

• Skilled nursing care
• Specialized dementia care
• Medical services with 24-hour nursing care
• Social services
• Recreational services
• Rehabilitation services, including physical, occupational, and speech therapies
• Mental and behavioral health services
• Chaplain and spiritual services
• Nutritional services
• Pharmaceutical services

Minnesota State Veterans Home at Fergus Falls

Minnesota State Veterans Home at Hastings

Minnesota State Veterans Home at Luverne

Minnesota State Veterans Home at Minneapolis

Minnesota State Veterans Home at Silver Bay

Eligibility for admission:

• Honorably discharged Veterans who served 181 consecutive days on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, unless discharged early due to a service-connected disability they received in the line of duty
• Entered the U.S. Armed Forces from Minnesota, or they are a current resident
• Spouse of an eligible Veteran who is at least 55 years old and who meets residency requirements
• Applicant has a medical or clinical need for admission

Employment and Job Training: Veterans Preference

• Paid Leave for Minnesota State Employees for National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Military Service: State employees who are Service members in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces receive 15 days of paid military leave per calendar year for training and federal or state active duty. In addition, they will not lose pay, seniority status, efficiency rating, vacation, sick leave, or other benefits while on military leave.
• Minnesota State Employee Veterans Hiring Preference: The Minnesota Veterans Preference Act grants most Veterans a limited preference over non-Veterans in hiring and promotion for most Minnesota public employment positions.
  • Who is eligible for Minnesota State Employee Veterans Hiring Preference? 10 Point Veteran’s credit will be added to the competitive open examination rating of a Non-disabled Veteran, 15 points Veteran’s credit will be added to scores of Veterans with 50% or more permanent service-connected disability rating. Veterans must receive a passing rating on the examination without adding credit points to qualify.

    This preference is also available for the Surviving Spouse of a deceased Veteran or the Spouse of a disabled Veteran who, because of their disability, is unable to qualify for the position.

• Permissive Veterans Preference for Minnesota Veterans in Private Employment: A private, nonpublic employer may grant preference in hiring and promotion to a Veteran or the Spouse of a disabled Veteran with a service-connected permanent and total disability. This preference may also be afforded to the Surviving Spouse of a deceased Veteran. “Disabled Veteran” means someone with a compensable service-connected disability rating as determined by the VA or by a retirement board of a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Minnesota Veteran-Owned Small Business Procurement Program: The Minnesota Veteran-Owned Small Business Program offers a 6% preference in selling products or services or bidding on construction projects for the state to certified Veteran-Owned businesses. In addition, they have the authority to set goals that require prime contractors to subcontract a portion of the work to certified Veteran-Owned businesses on contracts for construction or consulting services.
• Federal Employment Veteran’s Hiring Preferences:  Federal law mandates that Veterans, especially those with disabilities or those who served during specific time periods or in military campaigns, are granted preference over non-veterans when it comes to Federal civil service hiring and retention during workforce reductions. In various scoring processes for examinations and interviews, Veterans may be eligible for an additional 5 or 10 points.
  • 5-point Hiring Preference: Five points are added to the examination score or rating of a Veteran who served:
    • During a war, or
    • During the period April 28, 1952, through July 1, 1955, or
    • For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976, or
    • During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992, or
    • For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010, the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom, or
    • In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti, qualifies for preference

    10-point Compensable Disability (CP) Preference:  Ten points are added to the examination score or rating of a Veteran who served at any time and who has a compensable service-connected disability rating of at least 10% but less than 30%.

    10-Point 30% Compensable Disability Preference (CPS): Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of a Veteran who served at any time and who has a compensable service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.

    10-Point Disability Preference (XP): Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of:

    • A veteran who served at any time and has a present service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or the VA but does not qualify as a CP or CPS, or
    • Veteran who received a Purple Heart

    10-Point Derived Preference (XP): Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of spouses, Surviving spouses, or mothers of Veterans. Both a mother and a spouse (including a Surviving spouse) may be entitled to preference based on the same Veteran’s service if they both meet the requirements. However, neither may receive preference if the Veteran is living and is qualified for Federal employment.

    Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of the spouse of a disabled Veteran who is disqualified for a federal position along the general lines of their usual occupation because of a service-connected disability. Such a disqualification may be presumed when the Veteran is unemployed and:

    • Is rated by appropriate military or VA authorities to be 100% disabled and/or unemployable, or
    • Has retired, been separated, or resigned from a civil service position because of a disability that is service-connected in origin, or
    • Has attempted to obtain a civil service position or other position along the lines of their usual occupation and has failed to qualify because of a service-connected disability

    Preference may be allowed in other circumstances but anything less than the above warrants a more careful analysis.

    A campaign medal holder or Gulf War Veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980, (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty. The 24-month service requirement does not apply to 10-point preference eligible Veterans separated for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or to Veterans separated for hardship or other reasons under Title 10 U.S.C. 1171 or 1173.

    Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA): USERRA protects civilian job rights and benefits for Veterans and members of reserve components. USERRA also protects Service member rights and benefits by clarifying the law, improving enforcement mechanisms, and adding Federal Government employees to those employees already eligible to receive Department of Labor assistance in processing claims.

    Absence from Work for Military Duty: USERRA establishes the cumulative length of time that an individual may be absent from work for military duty and retain reemployment rights for five years. Exceptions to the five-year limit, include initial enlistments lasting more than five years, periodic National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve training duty, and involuntary active duty extensions and recalls, especially during a time of national emergency. USERRA establishes that reemployment protection does not depend on the timing, frequency, duration, or nature of an individual’s service if the basic eligibility criteria are met.

    Disability Accommodation: USERRA provides protection for disabled Veterans, requiring employers to make reasonable efforts to accommodate the disability. Service members recovering from injuries received during service or training may have up to two years from the date of completion of service to return to their jobs or apply for reemployment.

    Return to Work without Loss of Seniority:  USERRA provides that returning Service members are reemployed in the job that they would have attained had they not been absent for military service, with the same seniority, status, and pay, as well as other rights and benefits determined by seniority. USERRA also requires that reasonable efforts (such as training or retraining) be made to enable returning Service members to refresh or upgrade their skills to help them qualify for reemployment. USERRA also provides that while an individual is performing military service, they are deemed to be on a furlough or leave of absence and are entitled to the non-seniority rights accorded to other individuals on non-military leaves of absence.

    Extension of Health and Pension Plans: Health and pension plan coverage for Service members is provided for by USERRA. Individuals performing military duty of more than 30 days may elect to continue employer-sponsored health care for up to 24 months; however, they may be required to pay up to 102% of the full premium. For military service of less than 31 days, health care coverage is provided as if the Service member had remained employed. USERRA clarifies pension plan coverage by making explicit that all pension plans are protected.

    Who is eligible for USERRA Benefits? Veterans, U.S. Armed Forces Reserve or National Guard Service members who leave a position for training or active military service are eligible.

    The Department of Labor, through the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), helps all who have claims under USERRA, including Federal and Postal Service employees.

• Compensation for Minnesota National Guard State Active Duty: Minnesota National Guard Service members serving on state active duty will receive from the state the same compensation as paid to Service members of the same grade and length of service in the U.S. Armed Forces, but not less than $130 a day.
• Minnesota CareerForce Veteran Resources: Minnesota CareerForce assists Veterans in meeting their career development needs. Veterans Employment Representatives at CareerForce locations can help with career planning, job search, finding education and training opportunities, and connecting veterans with other resources. Veterans will receive priority services in all CareerForce locations across the state.

  Those eligible will receive access to their online career resource to:

  • Find information on transferring military skills to civilian careers
  • See samples of successful resumes and cover letters
  • Search listings of employment opportunities

Burials and Memorials

Please note that your preference regarding burial in a national cemetery and use of a headstone provided by VA should be documented and kept with your paperwork and medical records. Burial is open to all Veterans who were honorably discharged.

he National Cemetery Administration (NCA) pays tribute to eligible Veterans and their family members by providing a final resting place and a lasting memorial to commemorate the Veteran’s dedicated service to the nation.

The burial benefits encompass a gravesite in any of our open cemeteries with available space, the opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government-furnished headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, all at no cost to the family. Some Veterans may also meet the criteria for a burial allowance. Cremated remains are interred or inurned in national cemeteries with the same honors and respect as casketed remains.

Burial benefits extend to eligible spouses and dependents, including burial alongside the Veteran and perpetual care of the interment site. The name and relevant dates of birth and death of the spouse or dependent are inscribed on the Veteran’s headstone at no expense to the family. Importantly, spouses and qualified dependents are eligible for burial even if they pass away before the Veteran and are not required to be interred in the same national cemetery as the Veteran.

National Cemeteries include:

Minneapolis: Fort Snelling National Cemetery

Minnesota VA Benefit Resources

Minnesota provides Veterans with a Regional Benefits Office and VA Medical Centers.

Minnesota VA Regional Benefits Office

• St. Paul: St. Paul Regional Office

Minnesota VA Medical Centers

• Minneapolis: Minneapolis VA Health Care System
• St. Cloud: St. Cloud VA Health Care System

Important information for Minnesota Veteran Benefits:

For Veterans applying for VA benefits for the first time, you must submit a copy of your DD 214 (discharge paperwork). This will provide your discharge status, full name, social security number, branch of service, and dates you served. Honorable and general discharges qualify a Veteran for most VA benefits.

You should always keep your paperwork and medical records in a safe place where you and your family can access them. It is imperative to have it in a location where it cannot be destroyed or tampered with, which includes a safe.

Your eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under conditions other than dishonorable. Active service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, the Environmental Services Administration, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Any Veteran discharged from the military under the conditions of “Dishonorable” due to bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees may be eligible for certain VA benefits. VA regional offices can clarify the eligibility of prisoners, parolees, and individuals with multiple discharges issued under differing conditions.

*This information is accurate as of November 2023

Minnesota Veteran Benefits

If you are a disabled veteran in Minnesota and are VA rated 90% or less, you may be eligible for additional benefits. Contact Veterans Guardian for a free consultation with no obligation. Let us review your claim to determine whether you qualify for additional benefits.