Veteran Benefits for Nevada

• Nevada Income Taxes: There are no individual income taxes in Nevada. Distributions received from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) are not taxed.
• Nevada Wartime Veteran’s Property Tax Exemption: Nevada offers an annual property tax exemption for Veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during wartime. The exemption can be applied to vehicle privilege or real property taxes. For 2022–2023, the amount of the deduction is $3,080.
• Nevada Disabled Veteran’s Property Tax Exemption: The Nevada Disabled Veteran’s Property Tax Exemption is available for Veterans with a permanent service-connected disability of at least 60%. The amount of exemption is based on the Veteran’s disability percentage.

  The 2022-2023 fiscal year amounts:

  • 60% – 79% disabled – $15,400 assessed value
  • 80% – 99% disabled – $23,100 estimated value
  • 100% disabled – $30,800 estimated value

  Veterans may apply the exemption toward next year’s tax bill on real property or vehicle registration taxes.

Sales Tax:

• Statewide: 4.6%
• Municipalities: can levy a sales tax of no more than 1.53%
• Current average sales tax (with local taxes included): 8.265%

Recreation

• Nevada Department of Wildlife Benefits for Service Members and Veterans: The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) offers the following benefits for Service members and Veterans:
  • $15 Specialty Combination Hunting and Fishing License for Nevada resident Service members stationed outside Nevada; must show military ID and proof of duty station at the time of purchase
  • $15 Specialty Combination Hunting and Fishing License for honorably discharged, resident disabled Veterans who have a 50% or more service-connected disability rating from the VA; must show discharge paperwork and disability rating letter when they apply
  • Service members serving active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces who drew a big game tag and are mobilized or deployed can request a deferral (up to two years) or a refund.
  • Nonresident, active duty Service members and their families assigned to a permanent duty station in Nevada can purchase Nevada hunting and fishing licenses for resident prices.
• Nevada State Parks, Annual Disabled Veteran Permit: Disabled Veterans may be eligible for the Nevada State Parks Disabled Veteran Permit. This permit authorizes free entry to Nevada State Parks (only for vehicles occupied by the Veteran) and an exemption from boating and camping fees. Additional fees are required for reservations, special events, boat slip rental, yurt/cabin reservations, utility hook-ups, or other special program fees. Permits are valid for one year and have an annual administrative fee of $30.

Education Programs

• Waiver of Tuition for Nevada National Guard Service Members: Service members serving in the Nevada National Guard are eligible for a waiver of resident tuition and lab fees at state-supported educational institutions. This waiver is unavailable at the William S. Boyd School of Law, the University of Nevada School of Medicine, or the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine.
• Tuition Waiver for Children and Surviving Spouse of Nevada National Guard Service Members Killed in the Line of Duty: Children and the Surviving spouse of a Nevada National Guard Service member who was killed in the line of duty are eligible for a waiver of resident tuition and lab fees at state-supported educational institutions. This waiver is unavailable at the William S. Boyd School of Law, the University of Nevada School of Medicine, or the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine.
  • Children may use the waiver for ten years after they turn 18 or, if they enroll before age 18, the limitation is ten years after enrollment. A Surviving spouse may use the waiver for ten years after the date of the death of the Service member.
• Nevada Tuition Waiver for Children and Surviving Spouse of a Service Member Declared a Prisoner of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA): The children and spouse of a Service member serving in the U.S. Armed Forces who is permanently stationed in Nevada and is declared a POW or MIA are eligible for a waiver of resident tuition and lab fees at state-supported educational institutions. This waiver is unavailable at the William S. Boyd School of Law, the University of Nevada School of Medicine, or the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine.

  Children may use the waiver for ten years after they turn 18 or, if they enroll before age 18, the limitation is ten years after enrollment. A Surviving spouse may use the waiver for ten years after the date the Service member was declared a POW or MIA.

• Nevada Tuition Waiver for Purple Heart Recipients: Purple Heart recipients are eligible for a waiver of tuition, lab, and other associated fees at state-supported educational institutions. Any Veteran eligible for this benefit is granted residency for tuition purposes.
• Nevada In-State Tuition for Nonresident Veterans who were Stationed in Nevada when Discharged: U.S. Armed Forces Veterans who were honorably discharged from active duty while stationed in Nevada (including the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickel Meadows, California) are eligible for in-state tuition.
• Nevada In-State Tuition for Nonresident Veterans within Five Years of Discharge: Nonresident Veterans who were honorably discharged five years before enrolling at a Nevada state-supported educational institution are charged in-state tuition.
• Nevada In-State Tuition for Nonresident Active Duty Service Members, Spouse, and Children: Nonresident active duty Service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in Nevada and their spouse and children are eligible for in-state tuition. This benefit also applies to active duty Service members stationed at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickel Meadows, California.

  The spouse and children of an active duty Service member reassigned outside of Nevada will remain eligible as long as they remain continuously enrolled at a Nevada state-supported educational institution.

• Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), Grants-in-Aid Tuition Assistance: The NSHE Grants-in-Aid program provides tuition grants at Nevada state-supported educational institutions for the spouses and children of active duty Service members who were killed in the line of duty while permanently stationed in Nevada. The grant amount is based on available funding and the number of applicants.

  This benefit is also available to Service members, their spouses, and children while the Service member is assigned to an ROTC detachment at a state-supported educational institution.

  Grant recipients must maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average. These grants do not include lab or other special course fees. They may not be used at the William S. Boyd School of Law, the University of Nevada School of Medicine, or the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine.

• Nevada Operation Recognition, Diplomas for Wartime Veterans: Nevada School Districts may issue a standard high school diploma to Veterans who left high school before receiving their diploma to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

  Who is eligible for Nevada Operation Recognition, Diplomas for Wartime Veterans? To be eligible, Veterans must meet the following requirements:

  • Served during World War II through the Vietnam Era (between September 16, 1940, and May 7, 1975)
  • Received an honorable discharge
  • Attended a high school in Nevada before enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces

  The Veteran, guardian of a disabled Veteran, or a family member of an eligible deceased Veteran can apply for a diploma.

• Nevada Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3): 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
• Nevada Purple Star Schools Program for Military-Friendly Schools: The Nevada Purple Star School program recognizes schools with a significant commitment to students and families connected to the U.S. Armed Forces. Schools that earn the award will receive a special Purple Star recognition to display on their campus.
  • For a school to qualify for the Purple Star Award, they must appoint a school liaison specially trained to handle the unique challenges experienced by military families. This liaison will ensure that other teachers at their school are aware of special considerations that students from military families can benefit from. Each school will also have a dedicated page on their school website featuring resources for military families.

Housing: The following are the sites for Veterans Homes

Nevada State Veterans Homes: Nevada has two State Veterans Homes that offer skilled nursing care, emphasizing maintaining resident dignity in a home-like environment for eligible Veterans and their family members.

Nevada State Veterans Home at Boulder City

Nevada State Veterans Home at Sparks

Who is eligible for care at the Nevada State Veterans Home? Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• Veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and received an honorable discharge
• Spouse or Surviving spouse of an Eligible Veteran
• Gold Star parents of a Service member who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces

 

Employment and Job Training: Veterans Preference

• Nevada State Employment Veterans Hiring Preference: Nevada offers a hiring preference for state jobs to honorably discharged Veterans, National Guard Service members, and Surviving spouses. Preference is given by adding points to passing scores on open competitive or promotional examinations.
  • Veterans receive 10 points
  • Surviving spouse of an active duty Service member killed in the line of duty receives 10 points
  • The deceased Veteran’s Surviving spouse receives five points
  • Nevada National Guard Service members receive five points (must have a letter of recommendation from their commanding officer)
• 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.

• Leave of Absence from Nevada State Employment for Military Duty and Differential Pay: Nevada state employees who are members of a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces are authorized 15 working days with pay per year for approved training or deployment.
  • In addition, if the Service member’s military pay is less than their state salary, they will receive the difference between their salary and their military pay for those hours

   

• Nevada Employment Security Division, Veterans Employment Service: Nevada Employment Security Division offers Veteran Employment Services designed to assist Veterans and their spouses with career development information, job search resources, and training programs. These services are designed to increase their chances of finding gainful employment.

  Some of the services provided are:

  • Priority of Service
  • Job search workshops
  • Career assessment and guidance services
  • Labor market information
  • Training

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.

The 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:

Fernley: Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery

Boulder City: Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery

Nevada VA Benefit Resources

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

Nevada VA Regional Benefits Office

• Reno: Reno Regional Office

Nevada VA Medical Centers

• North Las Vegas: VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System
• Reno: VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System

Important information for Nevada 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 for which 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

Nevada Veteran Benefits

If you are a disabled Veteran in Nevada 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.