I am a disabled veteran of the War on Terror who received VR&E benefits for undergraduate training in nursing. When I requested higher-level trai(...)
M.T.
I was initially approved for VR&E but my intended goal of being retrained as a dentist was denied. I am a husband and father to two young girls. (...)
A.S.
I am rated 100%. I was denied training to become a Psychologist. At first, VR&E gave me the impression they supported my career goal but that qui(...)
J.M.
Veteran Readiness and Employment—still called “Vocational Rehabilitation” or “Chapter 31” by many veterans—is one of the most powerful benefits the VA offers. For veterans with a service-connected disability, VR&E can open the door to meaningful employment, advanced education, career retraining, and the accommodations needed to build a stable future.
If you’re a veteran struggling to return to the workforce—or you simply want a different career that fits your body, mind, and long-term goals—VR&E was created for you. And despite the red tape, the delays, and the confusing rules, you deserve every opportunity this benefit can provide.
Every veteran’s situation is different, and VR&E is designed to meet you where you are. Depending on your needs, VR&E may provide:
A full assessment of your interests, strengths, limitations, and employment-related abilities.
Personalized career counseling geared toward finding a path that fits your disabilities and long-term goals.
Funding for:
College or university programs
Graduate school
Technical or vocational programs
Apprenticeships and on-the-job training (OJT)
Professional certifications
Non-paid work experiences to build skills and résumé credentials
Résumé development
Interview coaching
Job-seeking assistance
Job retention support
Employer incentives and accommodations
For veterans whose disabilities make employment difficult right now, VR&E may fund services and equipment to help you live more independently while preparing for the future.
No—using VR&E does not reduce your Post-9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill benefits.
However, using your GI Bill before VR&E may reduce how much VR&E time you have left. There is one important exception:
If you were using another VA education program and later become eligible for VR&E, the VA may “give back” the GI Bill entitlement you already used and move those months into your VR&E track.
This can be a major financial advantage for veterans pursuing higher education or specialized career training.
Both veterans and active-duty service members may qualify.
You may be eligible if:
You were not dishonorably discharged; and
You have a VA service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher.
If you left active duty before January 1, 2013, you generally have 12 years to use your benefit—starting from:
The date of your separation notice, or
The date you received your first service-connected disability rating.
But if a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor finds you have a Serious Employment Handicap (SEH), that 12-year limit can be extended.
If you left active duty on or after January 1, 2013, there is no time limit at all.
You may qualify if:
You have a 20% or higher memorandum rating and are preparing for discharge, or
You are being medically discharged due to a severe illness or injury.
VR&E is a life-changing benefit—but navigating it can be overwhelming. Veterans often face:
Incorrect denials
Misapplied regulations
Lost paperwork
Delays that stretch months
Counselors who misunderstand the law
Plans that push veterans into low-value jobs that ignore their disabilities
The VA is a massive federal system. Getting the benefits you’ve earned often requires someone who knows the rules—and knows the tactics VA uses when it gets things wrong.
And that’s where the personal story of Attorney Benjamin Krause sets this firm apart.
Attorney Benjamin Krause is not just a lawyer. He’s a US Air Force veteran who served in Special Operations Command and Air Mobility Command. He has lived the same battles many veterans face with the VA.
His own struggles for benefits—and the barriers the VA put in his way—are the reason he became an attorney.
But he didn’t just fight for himself. He exposed some of the most significant VA scandals in recent history:
Ben uncovered the VA’s use of unqualified doctors to evaluate Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) claims for nearly 25,000 veterans.
Those veterans were wrongly denied benefits—and Ben’s reporting triggered:
National IG investigations
Congressional oversight hearings
Corrective actions from VA
He also uncovered the VA’s widespread failure to pay veterans for non-VA emergency room visits, leaving thousands with illegal bills.
Again, his work pushed the VA and Congress into action.
Ben knows the system—from the inside and the outside. He knows its flaws, its blind spots, and its pressure points. And he uses that experience every day to help veterans win the benefits they earned.
If you’re ready to apply for VR&E, if you’ve been denied, or if your counselor is pushing you down the wrong path, you don’t have to fight alone.
You fought for us. Now let us fight for you.
Call Krause Law, PLLC at (612) 888-9567 to speak directly with Attorney and US Air Force veteran Benjamin Krause.
He has walked this road. He knows the system. And he’s ready to help you win the benefits you deserve.
Call Us Now
Email Us Now
