Veterans disabled by an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service are eligible for service-connected disability compensation.
Wartime veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or age 65 and older, and are below established income limits, are eligible for disability pension. If that veteran is housebound or requires skilled nursing care, they could be eligible for pension with higher income limits.
Surviving spouses of veterans whose service-connected disability caused the veterans death are eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
Surviving spouses of wartime veterans who are below established income limits are eligible for survivors death pension benefits. If housebound or in need of skilled nursing care, they could be eligible for pension with higher income limits.
Eligibility for veterans to receive medical care is NOT based on wartime service and they do NOT have to have a service-connected disability. Veterans without a service-connected disability can qualify under an income/asset evaluation and can agree to pay a small co-payment for services, if necessary.