Does being accepted into a paid apprenticeship or OJT program automatically disqualify me from VR&E (Chapter 31) benefits?

No single fact — such as being admitted to or already earning a salary in an apprenticeship — automatically disqualifies a veteran from Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) under Chapter 31. Eligibility for VR&E services hinges on two separate determinations: (1) whether you have a service-connected disability rating and an "employment handicap" or "serious employment handicap" under 38 CFR 21.51 and 21.52, and (2) whether the specific program, including apprenticeships and on-the-job training, fits into a suitable, feasible rehabilitation plan under 38 CFR 21.53 and 21.35. VR&E can and often does support apprenticeship/OJT programs; that is one of the recognized training tracks under Chapter 31, not an automatic disqualifier. A counselor is expected to evaluate whether the apprenticeship, combined with your disability and vocational goals, constitutes an appropriate rehabilitation plan — not to close a case solely because you were accepted into a paid program.

Receiving a salary from an apprenticeship does not by itself end entitlement, though it can affect subsistence allowance calculations or how the plan is structured, since VR&E is meant to address barriers to suitable employment, not just any employment. If a counselor believes the apprenticeship alone resolves your employment handicap, that determination still needs to be documented and explained, and you have the right to see the written rationale.

As for GI Bill subsistence allowance while under VR&E, the two benefits generally cannot be drawn simultaneously for the same period of training, since VR&E has its own subsistence allowance under 38 USC 3108; a counselor unfamiliar with this interaction should still be able to research it or refer you to someone who can, since it is a fairly standard coordination-of-benefits question.

If you disagree with a VR&E case closure, you can request a review by a supervisor or the VR&E Officer at the regional office, and if unresolved, VR&E decisions can be challenged through the standard VA decision review process (Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, or appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals), since Chapter 31 benefits are adjudicated claims. Put your request for the decision and rationale in writing, and if the response confirms closure, request a supervisory review in writing right away to preserve your appeal timeline.