Send an email to info@pvanewengland.org or call us at 800-555-9140.
There are multiple ways to help paralyzed veterans here in New England. To learn more about the many ways to give click here.
Paralyzed Veterans of America’s employment program, PAVE, provides FREE employment support and vocational counseling assistance to ALL transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, and caregivers.
Paralyzed Veterans of America and Disabled American Veterans work closely together on issues of mutual concern. However, PVA is focused solely on the needs of veterans with catastrophic disabilities and paralyzed veterans. DAV’s members have a variety of abilities and they primarily focus on veterans’ benefits and health care. PVA’s programs reflect a more expansive view of the needs of our members to include not only veterans’ benefits and health care, but also their right to access their communities as people with disabilities. We are the leader in the veterans’ community for disability civil rights, including the protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act for all people with disabilities.
No. In fact, the programs offered by Paralyzed Veterans of America complement those offered by government programs. PVA offers critical assistance to and oversight of benefits and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. PVA also helps veterans with catastrophic disabilities who encounter barriers in their communities by empowering them to advocate for their removal. In a time when government services are underfunded, PVA often fills an important void. Without our assistance, many paralyzed veterans would not have proper access to the benefits, services, and rights that they have earned.
Yes. Paralyzed Veterans of America’s legal services department can help with your claims for benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Their attorneys have litigated hundreds of VA benefits cases on behalf of our members and other veterans to ensure that they receive all the VA benefits they have earned. If your claim for VA benefits has been turned down and your appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals has been denied as well, PVA can file a federal lawsuit on your behalf with the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. In certain cases, we may also appeal an adverse decision from the Veterans’ Court to other federal appellate courts.
PVA’s Appellate Services legal staff also provides appellate representation for VA benefits claims that have been initially denied by a VA Regional Office before the VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals. Appellate Services staff will work directly with you (or a member of your family) and your local National Service Officer to gather evidence and present a written and/or oral argument before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
Paralyzed Veterans of America will also, in certain cases, provide free legal representation to veterans and active duty service members at hearings before military Physical Evaluation Boards, Boards of Correction for Military Records, and Discharge Review Boards.
While PVA does not provide direct legal representation in other kinds of cases, such as domestic relations matters, bankruptcies, criminal misconduct, negligence, and other civil matters, we may be able to provide you with other sources of pro bono (free) or discounted legal services.
Membership is free and open to anyone who:
New England PVA provides a variety of adaptive sports and recreation opportunities during each calendar year. Our events take place throughout the New England – Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont. For more information on our current event schedule, please visit our events calendar page.
The Member Individual Allotment (IA) Program’s purpose is to improve the quality of life of New England PVA’s members by assisting in the expansion of both the quality and quantity of opportunities in sports, recreation, events and entertainment, especially those activities which enhance lifetime health and fitness, both physical and mental.
New England PVA volunteers do invaluable work that makes a real difference to veterans and their communities. Volunteering can be a life-changing experience for both you and the paralyzed veterans.
Disability compensation is a tax-free financial benefit paid to veterans who are considered at least 10 percent disabled due to an injury or disease that occurred or became worse during active military service. This is true even if the disability arises after active service is over. The disability can be a physical condition, such as spinal cord injury, or a mental health issue, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
To learn more about your eligibility for disability benefits, call the Veterans Benefits Helpline at 1-866-734-0857 send an email to info@pva.org, or speak with your New England region PVA National Service Officer in your area.
The benefit amount ranges from 10 percent to 100 percent, depending on the veteran’s disability rating. (“Disability Rating” refers to the level of impairment a veteran is living with.) Special Monthly Compensation may also be provided when the level of impairment exceeds 100 percent. Disability compensation may be affected if a veteran receives military retirement pay, disability severance pay, or separation incentive payments. Learn more about veteran benefits from one of our New England region National Service Officers.
The VA provides tax-free, supplemental income to low-income wartime veterans through the Veterans Pension benefit. To qualify, a veteran must have at least 90 days of active duty service, with at least one day during a wartime period.
Veterans entering active duty service after Sept. 7, 1980, generally must have served at least 24 months or the full period for which they were ordered to active duty (with some exceptions) with at least one day during a wartime period.
The pension benefit also requires that veterans be:
In addition, the veteran’s yearly income must be less than the amount set by Congress.
Ways to Help
There are many ways to give essential support to paralyzed veterans in need.
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