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Veteran Status: Am I a veteran?

You are a veteran if you meet the Federal or Commonwealth requirements listed here.

General Eligibility, Federal

Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Generally, men and women veterans with similar service may be entitled to the same VA benefits.

Dishonorable and bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees must contact a VA regional office to determine eligibility. VA benefits will not be provided to any veteran or dependent wanted for an outstanding felony warrant.

Certain Federal VA Benefits Require Wartime Service:
  • World War II: Dec. 7, 1941, through Dec. 31, 1946.
  • Korean War: June 27, 1950, through Jan. 31, 1955.
  • Vietnam War: Aug. 5, 1964 (Feb. 28, 1961, for veterans who served "in country" before Aug. 5, 1964), through May 7, 1975.
  • Gulf War: Aug. 2, 1990, through a date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation.

General Eligibility, Commonwealth

To be eligible for veterans' benefits, one must be a "veteran" or a dependent of a "veteran" under M.G.L. c. 4, sec. 7, cl. 43rd as amended by the Acts of 2005, ch. 130. See below for service requirements and exceptions.

Era of Service Dates Requirement for Commonwealth Veteran Status
  • WWII, 16-Sep-1940 to 25-Jul-1947: 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.
  • Peacetime, 26-Jul-1947 24-Jun-1950: 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.
  • Korea, 25-Jun-1950 to 31-Jan-1955: 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.
  • Vietnam I, 1-Feb-1955 to 4-Aug-1964: 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.
  • Vietnam II, 5-Aug-1964 to 7-May-1975: 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.
  • Peacetime, 8-May-1975 to 1-Aug-1990: 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.
  • Lebanon Campaign*, 25-Aug-1982 to (to be determined later): 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.
  • Grenada Campaign*, 25-Oct-1983 to 15-Dec-1983: 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.
  • Panama Campaign*, 20-Dec-1989 to 31-Jan-1990: 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.
  • Persian Gulf, 2-Aug-1990 to (to be determined later): 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.

For GUARD MEMBERS to qualify they must have 180 days and have been activated under Title 10 of the U.S. Code or Members who were activated under Title 10 or Title 32 of the U.S. Code or Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 33, sections 38, 40, and 41 must have 90 days, at least one of which was during wartime, per the above chart.

For RESERVISTS to qualify, they must have been called to regular active duty, at which point their eligibility can be determined by the above chart.

Training Duty Exception

Active duty service in the armed forces shall not include active duty for training in the Army or Air National Guard or active duty for training as a Reservist in the Armed Forces of the United States.