The Employment Adjustment Allowance (EAA) under Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) is governed by 38 CFR 21.280–21.284. To qualify, a veteran generally must complete a rehabilitation program and then engage in a documented, timely job search meeting VR&E's specific requirements (number of contacts per week, proper logs, and forms submitted within the counselor's timeframe). If the job search log or forms are filled out incorrectly, or the required period isn't satisfied, VR&E can deny the EAA even if the underlying work search effort was genuine.
A denial can be appealed like any other VA decision. Under the modernized appeals system (AMA), options include filing a Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) if you have new and relevant evidence — for example, documentation showing you repeatedly asked for clarification on the forms and received no timely answer — a Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996) if you believe the existing evidence was misapplied, or a Notice of Disagreement to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (VA Form 10182) for a formal review. If VA's own delays or failure to provide clear guidance materially contributed to the incorrect submission, that pattern of correspondence (dates, follow-up messages, call logs) is exactly the kind of evidence to submit, since it speaks to whether VA met its duty to assist and provide timely guidance under 38 CFR 21.1, even though EAA eligibility itself is not evaluated under the disability duty-to-assist framework.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →Separately, veterans should know that VR&E and Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) benefits generally cannot run concurrently for the same period; VR&E status must be closed out before GI Bill housing allowance and tuition benefits can be certified for the same enrollment. Delays in closing a VR&E case can directly delay GI Bill payments, which is a known administrative friction point, not something unique to one case.
If you are in this situation, gather every piece of written correspondence showing your attempts to get clarification before the deadline, then file a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review on the EAA denial while simultaneously contacting the VA's GI Bill (Education) call center to confirm your VR&E closure went through correctly.
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