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Direct answer: Most VA benefits need active-duty service and a discharge that isn't dishonorable. Disability pay also needs a service-linked condition; pension needs wartime service, low income and age 65+ or disability; the GI Bill needs 90 days of active duty since Sept. 11, 2001. Survivors may get DIC or CHAMPVA. VA decides; this checker only estimates.
By the numbers: Post-9/11 GI Bill: at least 90 days of active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, or a Purple Heart on or after that date with an honorable discharge. Source: VA.gov: Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility
“If you’ve received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge, you may not be eligible for VA benefits.” — VA.gov: VA home loan eligibility
Updated 2026-10-17
Generally, people who served on active duty (or were called up by federal order from the Guard or Reserve) and didn't get a dishonorable discharge. Each benefit adds its own test: a service-linked condition for disability pay, wartime service and income limits for pension, minimum service time for health care and home loans, and 90 days on or after Sept. 11, 2001 for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Possibly. VA says an other than honorable, bad conduct or dishonorable discharge may make you ineligible, but you can apply and VA will review your service record, or you can ask for a discharge upgrade. A dishonorable discharge bars pension and health care.
Wartime Veterans without a dishonorable discharge whose family income and net worth are within limits set by Congress, who have the minimum service (90 days if they started before Sept. 8, 1980; generally 24 months after), at least 1 wartime day, and who are 65+, permanently and totally disabled, in a nursing home for a disability, or getting SSDI or SSI.
Surviving spouses and children of a service member who died in the line of duty, or of a Veteran who died from a service-connected condition or was rated totally disabling for the required time (usually 10 years). A spouse generally must have been married at least 1 year, had a child with the Veteran, or married within 15 years of discharge.
The spouse or child of a Veteran rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability, or the surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who died from a service-connected disability or was rated permanently and totally disabled at death, as long as they aren't eligible for TRICARE.
Per the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services: property tax relief for Veterans with a service-connected permanent and total disability (figured on up to $175,000 of home value), a county wheel tax exemption at 100% P&T or for former POWs, a $10 one-time hunting and fishing license at 100% P&T or 30%+ wartime disability, and free burial in state veterans cemeteries.
No. It's an estimate built from VA.gov and TDVS eligibility wording. It runs only in your browser, saves nothing and sends nothing. VA, your County Trustee or your county clerk makes the real decision. TDVS field offices help Veterans apply at no charge.
Updated October 17, 2026 · VA.gov and TDVS rules
If you have a condition linked to your service, start with a VA disability compensation claim. VA's eligibility page asks for only two things: a current condition and active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty training it's linked to (no minimum length of service or wartime period is listed). A rating also opens other benefits: at 100% permanent and total, CHAMPVA for your family and, in Tennessee, property tax relief and the wheel tax exemption. Without a service-linked condition, VA health care and the home loan COE depend mainly on minimum service time.
The math:
Sources: VA disability eligibility · VA home loan eligibility · VA Post-9/11 GI Bill · TDVS property tax relief
A best fit for the situation described, not financial advice or a buy/sell recommendation. Partner links never change a pick.
Runs only in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent. It applies the VA.gov and TDVS wording below; VA makes the real decision.
For: Veterans and service members
You have a current illness or injury, you served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, and the condition is linked to service: it started in service, got worse because of service, or appeared after service but is related to it. VA presumes service caused some conditions.
Source: VA disability eligibility · Amounts: VA disability rates 2026
For: Wartime Veterans with limited income
No dishonorable discharge; yearly family income and net worth within limits set by Congress; at least 90 days of active duty with 1 wartime day if you started before Sept. 8, 1980 (enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980: 24 months or the full period called, with 1 wartime day; officers starting after Oct. 16, 1981 follow the 24-month rule); and you're 65 or older, permanently and totally disabled, in a nursing home for long-term care because of a disability, or getting SSDI or SSI.
Source: VA pension eligibility · Amounts: VA pension rates 2026
For: Veterans
Served in the active military, naval or air service with no dishonorable discharge. If you enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980, or entered active duty after Oct. 16, 1981, you need 24 continuous months or the full period you were called to, unless you were discharged for a service-connected disability, a hardship or an early out. Guard and Reserve members need a federal call to active duty, completed in full; training-only duty doesn't count.
Source: VA health care eligibility
For: Veterans, service members and children with transferred benefits
At least 1 of: 90 days of active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001 (all at once or with breaks); a Purple Heart on or after Sept. 11, 2001, with an honorable discharge; 30 continuous days on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and an honorable discharge with a service-connected disability; or you're a dependent child using benefits transferred by a qualifying Veteran or service member.
Source: VA Post-9/11 GI Bill · Amounts: GI Bill rates 2026-27
For: Veterans, service members, Guard and Reserve, some surviving spouses
Minimum service depends on when you served. Since Aug. 2, 1990: 24 continuous months, or the full period (at least 90 days) you were called to. Sept. 8, 1980 to Aug. 1, 1990: 24 continuous months, or the full period (at least 181 days). May 8, 1975 to Sept. 7, 1980: 181 continuous days. Aug. 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975: 90 total days. Less time can qualify if you were discharged for a service-connected disability. Current service members: 90 continuous days. Guard and Reserve: 90 days of active service or 6 creditable years.
Source: VA home loan eligibility
For: Surviving spouses, children and parents
The service member died on active duty, active duty for training or inactive-duty training; or the Veteran died from a service-connected condition; or the Veteran was rated totally disabling for at least 10 years before death, since release and for at least 5 years before death, or for 1 year if a former POW who died after Sept. 30, 1999. A spouse must have lived with the Veteran without a break (or not been at fault for a separation) and married within 15 years of the qualifying discharge, been married at least 1 year, or had a child together. Remarriage is allowed at 57+ on or after Dec. 16, 2003, or 55+ on or after Jan. 5, 2021. A child must be unmarried, not on the spouse's award, and under 18 (under 23 in school).
Source: VA DIC · Amounts: VA DIC rates 2026
For: Spouses, surviving spouses and children
You're the spouse or child of a Veteran rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability, or the surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who died from a service-connected disability or was rated permanently and totally disabled at death. You can't be eligible for TRICARE. (“Permanent and total” means rated 100% and not expected to improve.)
Source: VA CHAMPVA
For: Veterans, service members, spouses and some children
A Veteran who didn't receive a dishonorable discharge; a service member who died on active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty for training; the spouse or surviving spouse of a Veteran (even after remarrying); or a minor child (in some cases an unmarried adult dependent child) of a Veteran.
Source: VA burial eligibility
Discharge matters. VA says an other than honorable, bad conduct or dishonorable discharge may make you ineligible, but you can still apply and VA will review your service record, or you can ask for a discharge upgrade. Source: VA home loan eligibility.
From the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services (TDVS):
TDVS also lists property tax relief for surviving spouses, recreation discounts, a Veteran ID, specialty plates and other benefits on its state benefits page; we haven't summarized those here. Interment rules in full: TDVS interment eligibility. TDVS field offices help Veterans file VA claims at no charge.
Facts and an estimate only. VaultRubric isn't VA or TDVS and doesn't decide eligibility.
Generally, people who served on active duty (or were called up by federal order from the Guard or Reserve) and didn't get a dishonorable discharge. Each benefit adds its own test: a service-linked condition for disability pay, wartime service and income limits for pension, minimum service time for health care and home loans, and 90 days on or after Sept. 11, 2001 for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Possibly. VA says an other than honorable, bad conduct or dishonorable discharge may make you ineligible, but you can apply and VA will review your service record, or you can ask for a discharge upgrade. A dishonorable discharge bars pension and health care.
Wartime Veterans without a dishonorable discharge whose family income and net worth are within limits set by Congress, who have the minimum service (90 days if they started before Sept. 8, 1980; generally 24 months after), at least 1 wartime day, and who are 65+, permanently and totally disabled, in a nursing home for a disability, or getting SSDI or SSI.
Surviving spouses and children of a service member who died in the line of duty, or of a Veteran who died from a service-connected condition or was rated totally disabling for the required time (usually 10 years). A spouse generally must have been married at least 1 year, had a child with the Veteran, or married within 15 years of discharge.
The spouse or child of a Veteran rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability, or the surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who died from a service-connected disability or was rated permanently and totally disabled at death, as long as they aren't eligible for TRICARE.
Per the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services: property tax relief for Veterans with a service-connected permanent and total disability (figured on up to $175,000 of home value), a county wheel tax exemption at 100% P&T or for former POWs, a $10 one-time hunting and fishing license at 100% P&T or 30%+ wartime disability, and free burial in state veterans cemeteries.
No. It's an estimate built from VA.gov and TDVS eligibility wording. It runs only in your browser, saves nothing and sends nothing. VA, your County Trustee or your county clerk makes the real decision. TDVS field offices help Veterans apply at no charge.
Estimates, not financial advice. Taxes, insurance, PMI and fees vary by lender, county and city; confirm with your lender, dealer and state agency before acting.
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