Who should use VONAPP?


If you are applying for education benefits:

You should use VONAPP if you are a U.S. military veteran, a service member on active duty, a member of the Selected Reserve, a spouse/dependent of a "service connected" disabled or deceased veteran, or a family member that has been aproved to receive transferred benefits. If you have previously filed a claim for education benefits, use VONAPP only if you are filing for a different education benefit or if you are changing schools or programs under your current benefit program; for example, if you are eligible for two benefit programs, currently using one, but would like to begin using the other benefit program.

If you have a pending application, don't use VONAPP to resubmit your claim.  It will slow down processing. If you would like to know the status of a pending claim, contact the Education Division by calling 1-888-GI BILL 1 (1-888-442-4551).

Click here to learn more about Education.

If you are applying for compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation and employment, or burial benefits:

Active duty and full-time servicemembers within 180 days of separation or retirement OR U.S. military veterans  can apply for compensation benefits and/or pension benefits using VA Form 21-526.  Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits can be applied for using VA Form 28-1900.

Active duty and full-time servicemembers within 180 days of separation or retirement may apply through VONAPP as participants of the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) or Quick Start Pre-discharge programs.

Please note:  In order for VA to process a claim through BDD or Quick Start, the servicemember must submit a copy, or original, of service treatment records and have a known separation date.  Instructions will be included in the VONAPP process as to where to send service treatment records. 

Beneficiaries, funeral directors and other designated individuals can apply for burial benefits using VA Form 21-530.

Changes to the status of your dependents can be reported using VA Form 21-686c.

Statement in Support of Claim, VA Form 21-4138, can be used to provide information requested by the VA in support of a claim as well as the following types of claims:

  • increased evaluation of a service connected disability(ies),
  • new disability(ies) after an original claim for service connected disability(ies) has been decided,
  • anciallary benefits such as special housing adaptation, automobile allowance, etc.,
  • entitlement to statutory benefits such as special monthly compensation, and
  • entitlement to special monthly pension (aid and attendance or housbound benefits).

You can also use VA Form 21-4138 to submit the following:

  • new and material evidence in support of a finally decided claim,
  • notice of disagreement with a VA decision, and
  • other claims for benefits.

To learn more about each benefit, click below.

VA Compensation Benefits

VA Disability Pension Benefits

VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Benefits

VA Burial Benefits

VA Predischarge Program

VA Compensation Benefits

You may apply for VA compensation benefits if:

  • You were injured while you were in the service, or
  • You are permanently and totally disabled and you believe that it is because of your military service, or
  • You were seriously ill while you were in the service, and you believe you have continuing problems, or
  • You developed a mental or physical condition that you believe may be related to your military service.
  • You are undergoing a medical evaluation board (MEB) or a physical evaluation board (PEB) and have a known separation date.

What are compensation benefits:

VA pays veterans disability compensation for disability(ies) that are a result of military service.  If VA determines that your disability(ies) are 30% or more disabling, VA may pay additional compensation for your spouse, children, and dependent parents.  VA will pay a higher amount of compensation for a spouse when the spouse is a patient in a nursing home or is disabled and requires the regular aid and attendance of another person.

VA Disability Pension

You may apply for VA disability pension if:

  • You are permanently and totally disabled but not as a result of your military service or are age 65 and older, and
  • You served on active duty during a wartime period, and
  • Your income is limited.

What are pension benefits?

VA pays disability pension to veterans who are:

permanently and totally disabled but not as a result of military service, and served during:

  • Mexican Border Period
  • World War I
  • World War II
  • Korean Conflict
  • Vietnam Era
  • Gulf War

VA pays disability pension based on the amount of income that the veteran and family receives and the number of dependents in the family.

VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Benefits

You should apply for VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits if:

  • You are a veteran or a servicemember awaiting a disability discharge.
  • You have a VA combined service-connected disability rating of 10 percent or more.
  • You believe that you are disabled due to your military service and have an application pending for service connection or are filing one with your Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment claim.  

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