WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Elect Donald Trump arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States.
Eligibility for VA Disability. If youâre a veteran suffering from arthritis, there are a number of ways you may be eligible for VA disability. Most specifically, if you were diagnosed with arthritis within a year of being discharged from service, you are presumed to have an impairment that is service-connected.
Alternatively, some veterans receive veterans disability benefits before applying for Social Security disability. VA disability benefits, also known as service-connected disability, is not based on income, so you can receive VA disability compensation and Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) at the same time. There is also VA pension, which is a needs-based program similar to Supplemental Security Income (SSI).