Colorado Benefits Guide for Disabled Veterans 

One vehicle registered with a disabled veteran plate is exempt from registration and ownership taxes. This applies to passenger cars, trucks that do not exceed 16,000 pounds empty weight, noncommercial (not available for any vehicle registered Tax Class A- International Registration Plan- IRP) or recreation vehicles, motor homes and motorcycles. Find out more. 

How to Get a Disabled Veteran License Plate in Colorado 

Veterans with a 50% or greater disability rating, or who receive special adaptive equipment grants, may apply for the Disabled Veteran Handicapped plate through the DMV. See the official list of requirements for disabled veteran tags. Disabled veterans may also have certain parking privileges. 

Colorado Disabled Veteran Tag Cost 

One set of Disabled Veteran Handicapped plates is issued free of registration fees and specific ownership tax. Standard plate replacement fees may apply for additional sets. Disabled veteran tags require Colorado residency and proof of service-connected disability from the VA.  

Can a Disabled Veteran Get Free Tuition in Colorado? 

Colorado does not offer free tuition to the veteran, but dependents (spouses and children) of disabled veterans may qualify for VA education benefits. The Dependent Tuition Assistance Program provides stipends for tuition, fees, and on-campus housing at public colleges in Colorado for children and spouses of National Guard personnel disabled in the line of duty. 

Veteran Hiring Preference in Colorado 

Colorado law gives hiring preference for eligible veterans and their spouses applying for state employment (this does not apply to promotions). Preference is granted by adding points to the applicant’s score on competitive state job exams. Honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability who are receiving VA compensation or disability retirement receive 10 preference points. 

5 preference points are awarded to non-disabled veterans and to the surviving spouses of veterans who would have qualified for the preference or who died due to a service-connected condition. 

Career Assistance for Colorado Veterans 

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) offers free job services through Veteran Employment Specialists at Workforce Centers across the state. These services are available to veterans who served at least one day of active duty and received a discharge other than dishonorable, as well as their spouses.  

Veterans and eligible spouses receive priority service at Colorado Workforce Centers. This includes one‑on‑one support with job search, training, and career navigation, especially helpful for veterans with disabilities who may face extra barriers. Workforce Center staff and Veteran Employment Specialists help with: 

• Resume and cover letter writing 
• Interview coaching 
• Translating military experience to civilian jobs 
• Matching training/education requirements 
• Targeted job search by industry 
• Guidance on job boards and career fairs 

Yes. Vehicles with Colorado Disabled Veteran or Purple Heart license plates may enter Colorado state parks free of charge year‑round, without any additional pass. The owner of the tags must be present in the vehicle for the exemption to apply.  

Camping Discounts at State Parks for Disabled Veterans 

The Disabled Veterans and Purple Heart license plates do not provide camping discounts, but highly disabled veterans who are 64 years of age or older can apply for the free Independence Pass and benefit from a $3 camping discount per night from Sunday through Thursday. Photo identification with proof of age is required when using the pass for camping and the discount does not apply on Fridays, weekends and holidays or for cabins or yurts. 

The Independence Pass for Disabled Veterans and Purple Heart Recipients  

The Independence Pass is a free annual state parks pass that provides unlimited access to all Colorado state parks to certain veterans disabled or wounded while serving. It is transferable between vehicles (so long as the pass holder is present) and available to Colorado veterans with: 

• service‑connected disabilities rated at 50% or more, or 
• permanent loss of vision in both eyes, or 
• loss of use of one or both hands or feet, or 
• a Purple Heart Award 

Getting the Independence Pass requires Colorado residency, honorable discharge (“conditions other than dishonorable”), documentation from the VA showing the qualifying disability rating or qualifying impairment; or, for Purple Heart recipients, proof of award (DD214 showing Purple Heart) and residency. 

The Veteran’s Lifetime Small Game and Fishing Combination License 

Colorado resident veterans who received either the Purple Heart or a service‑connected disability rating of 50% or more can get a free lifetime license that covers both small game hunting and fishing. This hunting and fishing combination license counts as a qualifying license for both the primary and secondary draws. To apply, veterans can submit their application electronically at disability.apps@state.co.us or mail the application to the address listed on the form.

In addition to VA health care, Colorado veterans can benefit from programs such as the Veterans Assistance Grant from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, which offers veterans with limited income and no insurance up to $2,000 in dental care at student and approved resident clinics. 

VA Medical Centers and Clinics 

• Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center (VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System): 1700 N Wheeling ST, Aurora, CO 80045 | Phone: 303-399-8020 
• VA Western Colorado Health Care System: 2121 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501 | Phone: 970-242-0731 
• Community Resource & Referral Center (CRRC) – York Street VA Clinic: 3836 York Street, Denver, CO 80205-3540 | Phone: 303-294-5600 

Veterans Community Living Centers 

Colorado operates five long‑term care and supportive living facilities dedicated exclusively to honorably discharged veterans, their spouses or widows, and Gold Star parents of service‑members who died in the line of duty. These homes provide services including skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory care (for Alzheimer’s and dementia), assisted‑living cottages, hospice or respite care, and individualized care plans. 

• Fitzsimons Veterans Community Living Center – 1919 Quentin St., Aurora, CO 80045 | Phone: 720-857-6400 
• Bruce McCandless Veterans Community Living Center – 903 Moore Dr., Florence, CO 81226 | Phone: 719-784-6331 | Fax: 719-784-5335 
• Homelake Veterans Community Living Center – 3749 Sherman Ave., Monte Vista, CO 81144 (P.O. Box 97, Homelake, CO 81135) | Phone: 719-852-5118 | Toll-Free: 888-838-2687 | Fax: 719-852-3881 
• Rifle Veterans Community Living Center – Rifle, CO (contact details available via facility page) 
• Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center – 23500 U.S. Highway 160, Walsenburg, CO 81089 | Phone: 719-738-4565 | Fax: 719-738-5147 

Eligibility requires the veteran (or spouse/widow/Gold‑Star parent) to be honorably discharged and meet the medical admission criteria. Colorado residency is not always required for some homes. Payment options include Medicaid, private pay, and in some cases VA benefits. See rates and how to apply.

The Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado offers free burial to eligible veterans and their dependents. The benefits include the gravesite or niche, opening and closing of the gravesite/niche, an upright granite headstone or granite niche marker with approved inscriptions, a concrete vault (grave liner) for most casketed remains, and perpetual care. Cremated remains are buried or inurned with the same honors as casketed remains. 

Surviving spouses and dependents are also eligible for death benefits, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and more. See how to get survivor benefits. 

In addition to Colorado’s specific benefits, disabled veterans get a wide range of federal VA disability benefits, including: 

• Monthly tax-free compensation payments based on disability rating (calculate it here) 
• Medical care, including mental health services and counseling  
• Home loans and housing benefits  
• Vocational rehabilitation and employment services  
• Education benefits through the GI Bill  
• Survivor benefits  
• Federal hiring preference  

Eligibility for some of these benefits depends on the disability rating percentage. Use the links below to see what federal benefits Colorado veterans can get with a rating of 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, etc. 

• 50% VA disability benefits
• 60% VA disability benefits
• 70% VA disability benefits
• 80% VA disability benefits
• 90% VA disability benefits

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits

Colorado veterans with a 100% disability rating receive the highest level of federal VA benefits, including:

• Full monthly VA compensation
• Full VA healthcare coverage
• Dental care
• Adaptive equipment grants

See all federal benefits for a 100% disabled Colorado veteran → 

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits for Spouse and Dependents

Spouses and family members of 100% disabled veterans may also be able to get several benefits:

• CHAMPVA healthcare  
• DIC eligibility  
• Education benefits  
• Continued property tax exemption  
• Access to Colorado state resources  

Veterans who served at contaminated military bases or who were exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits, or other environmental hazards may qualify for additional VA benefits. Bases in or near Colorado with known toxic exposure issues include: 

• Buckley Space Force Base (Aurora, CO) 
• Fort Carson (Colorado Springs, CO) 
• Lowry Air Force Base (Denver, CO) 
• Peterson Space Force Base (Colorado Springs, CO) 
• Air Force Plant Peter J. Kieweit and Sons (Jefferson County, CO) 
• Schriever Space Force Base (Colorado Springs, CO) 

If you served at a base in a different state, you can find yours on our toxic exposure map: www.hillandponton.com/toxic-exposure/. 

Getting through the VA disability claims process can be tricky, but there are local and national resources to help guide you. These resources include local veteran groups, state-supported VA services, and experienced disability attorneys. 

How to Apply for VA Benefits in Colorado – Free Guide 

Attorney Matthew Hill has written THE book on how to get VA disability compensation and benefits. And it’s yours free of charge. We also offer a free online course for easy, immediate access.

Colorado State Assistance and Resources 

• County Veterans Service Offices 
• Information for Women Veterans 
• Veterans Clearing House 
• Grants for Veterans 

Help from Experienced Lawyers 

Our Colorado Springs VA-accredited lawyers proudly represent veterans throughout the state of Colorado who were denied or underrated by the VA, with no upfront costs. Contact us for a free evaluation – even if we don’t take your case, we’ll point you in the right direction!