By clicking the "Accept" button or continuing to browse our site, you agree to first-party and session-only cookies being stored on your device to enhance site navigation and analyze site performance and traffic. For more information on our use of cookies, please see our Privacy Policy.
We study the effects of VA Disability Compensation for mental conditions. Leveraging quasi-random assignment to medical examiners with differing rating tendencies, we estimate the impacts of an additional $1,000 per year over a five-year horizon. Food insecurity and homelessness decline by 4.1 and 1.3 percent, and lower debt collections by 6.4 percent. Despite minimal cost-sharing, veterans increase healthcare use by 2.5 percent, with greater uptake of preventive care. Patient satisfaction improves. We detect no changes in most health measures and estimate precise null effects on mortality. Veterans whose claims are denied have worse outcomes and may benefit more from compensation.
