“Veteran”, for the sole purpose of Priority of Service, means a person who served at least one day of active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
Active duty includes full-time Federal service in the National Guard or a Reserve component. This definition of “active service” does not include full-time duty performed strictly for training purposes (i.e., that which often is referred to as “weekend” or “annual” training), nor does it include full-time active duty performed by National Guard personnel who are mobilized by State rather than Federal authorities (State mobilizations usually occur in response to events such as natural disasters).
“Eligible Veteran” applies if you have served at least 180 federal active duty days and fall in one or more of the below target groups. (Exclusions to 180 day minimum active duty requirement: a) was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability b) was a member of a reserve component under an order to active duty during a period of war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge is authorized and was discharged or released from such duty with other than a dishonorable discharge or c) was discharged or released from active duty by reason of a sole survivorship discharge.)
“Eligible spouse” means the spouse married to any of the following:
1. Any veteran who died of a service-connected disability;
2. Any member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who, at the time of application for the priority, is listed in one or more of the following categories and has been so listed for a total of more than 90 days:
a. Missing in action;
b. Captured in line of duty by a hostile force; or
c. Forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government;
3. Any veteran who has a total disability resulting from a service connected disability, as evaluated by the Department of Veterans Affairs
4. Any veteran who died while a service-connected disability was in existence (whether or not
that disability was the cause of death). A spouse whose eligibility is derived from a living veteran or service member (i.e., categories b. or c. above) would lose his or her eligibility if the veteran or service member were to lose the status that is the basis for the eligibility (e.g. if a veteran with a total service-connected disability were to receive a revised disability rating at a lower level). Similarly, for a spouse whose eligibility is derived from a living veteran or service member, that eligibility would be lost upon divorce from the veteran or service member.
“Other Eligible Persons” applies to spouses of: 1) a totally disabled or deceased veteran whose disability or death was service-connected, or 2) a service member who was listed for 90 or more days as missing in action or forcibly detained by a foreign power while serving on active duty OR “Family Caregiver” Individual who provides personal care services to the veteran. The term family caregiver, with respect to an eligible veteran, means a family member who is a caregiver of the veteran. The term family member, with respect to an eligible veteran, means an individual who a) Is a member of the family of the veteran, including i. A parent ii. A spouse iii. A child iv. A step-family member v. An extended family member, or b) Lives with, but is not a member of the family of the veteran.