Do combat veterans have a higher priority at the VA?

I believe veterans with a higher service related disability rating receive a higher priority. However, I don't think the source of the injuries are taken into account. Somebody can correct me if that is not correct.

In Robert Gates' book, he lamented over how members with combat related injuries had to wait in the same line as everybody else, and that they were not able to expedite their benefits. I'm not sure if that has changed in the last few years.

Maj, the answer lies in 38 U.S. Code § 1154 (b) for VA disability claims development and adjudication.

The VAMC or VHA on the other hand has priority groups that give combat veterans higher priority groups based on Medals, i.e., POW, MOH, PH etc.. but include those veterans whether peacetime or combat at 10% or 20% service connect disabled both in Priority Group Three. Most POWs are 50% or greater so therefore would be grouped in PG One.

Priority Group Two is 30% and 40% while Priority Group One is 50% or greater and or determined by the VA to be unemployable due to their disability.

The VHA looks at percentage of disability not whether peacetime and or in war. The percentage determines the Priority Group assigned.

I THINK THESE PEOPLE THEY DO NOT CARE IF YOU ARE WAR VET , I MY CASE I'M A WAR ARMY RET VET, WHO FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS I HAVE 2 APPOINTMENTS CANCELS BY THE HEAD OF THE ORTHO CLINIC SPECIALIST AT THE BROOKLYN VA MEDICAL HOSPITAL, I ASK TO BEEN EVALUATED ON MY RIGHT KNEE, SO FAR I GOT MY POSTRATE TEST DONE AS PAY BACK, I DID NOT ASK FOR THIS GOD DAME TEST, I WROTE EVERY BODY INCLUDING, SENATORS, CONGRESS WOMAN FROM NY STATE, WROTE TO THE PRESIDENT OBAMA , ,AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FROM THE VA ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE NO EVEN CONSIDER AS VETERANTS, CIVILIANS , GO THE THEIR PRIVATE DOCTORS, ANYTHING THEY ASK THEY GET IT, BUT WE THE VETERANTS WE ONLY GETTING THE END OF THE STICK, MAYBE I NEED TO KISS SOMEBODY ASS, I JUST NEED THE NAME , SO I CAN GET HELP ON MY RIGHT KNEE, WHY THIS HAPPEN TO US, THEY HAVE OVER 26 VA HOSPITALS UNDER INVESTIGATIONS, DO TO THE SHIT THEY DO TO US, WE NEED TO RAISE HELL, SOME BODY NEED TO HELP US, MY OPINION, THE POLITICIANS, DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ARE MISERABLE TREATMENT THAT WE GET AT ALL THIS VA HOSPITALS, AND ALL THESE VA HOSPITALS ADMININSTRAITORS ARE GETTING THEIR FAT CHECKS EVERY MONTHS. WHO IS FITTING FOR US, NOBODY, IF ANYBODY OUT THEIR WHO MAY HELP ME PLS , I NEED TO GET MY RIGHT KNEE EVALUATED, MY EMAIL IS: [login to see] my phone # [login to see] thank you for your support I DID MY BEST FOR MY COUNTRY AND PEACE & WAR TIME AND NOW THAT I NEED MY COUNTRY TO TAKE CARE ME, I GET THE WORST TREATMENT BECOUSE WE ARE GETTING OLD , AND NOBODY CARE FOR US . SO WILL NOT MAKE A DIFERENCE IF YOU ARE A WAR VET OR REGULAR VET'S WE ARE GETTING THE LOWES TREATMENT. GOD BLESS THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY EVEN IF WE THE VETS GET THE END OF THE STICK. WHO MANY PEOPLE ARE LIKE ME WAITHING FOR THIS DOCTORS TO TAKE CARE US.