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Puerto Rico has a long and proud military tradition, with residents serving in every major U.S. conflict since World War I. This has led to more than 30% of Puerto Rico’s veterans receiving VA disability compensation according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Beyond federal benefits, Puerto Rico’s commonwealth programs help disabled veterans save on property taxes, vehicle fees, education costs and more.

The biggest financial benefits include a full property tax exemption for veterans with a 100% disability rating, free tuition at public universities, and a 100% exemption on military retirement pay under Ley 191-2024.

This guide helps disabled veterans and their families learn about the programs and resources available in Puerto Rico. It explains the requirements for each benefit and how to access them.

Tax Exemptions and Financial Assistance

Puerto Rico offers a tiered property tax exemption system for veterans based on disability rating. Veterans also receive income tax benefits, including a full exemption on military retirement pay and additional personal exemptions.

Property Tax Exemptions for Disabled Veterans

Puerto Rico provides property tax exemptions through CRIM (Centro de Recaudacion de Ingresos Municipales) based on disability rating. All three tiers apply to the veteran’s primary residence and up to 1,000 square meters of land in urban areas or 1 cuerda in rural areas. The veteran must occupy the home as of January 1 of the tax year.

  • 100% service-connected disability: Complete property tax exemption on the home.
  • 50% or greater service-connected disability: Exemption on the first $50,000 of appraised value of the home.
  • All veterans (any rating): Reduction of $5,000 in appraised taxable value of the home.
  • If a qualifying veteran passes away, the unremarried surviving spouse continues to receive the same property tax exemption.

Income Tax Benefits for Veterans

Puerto Rico resident veterans receive an additional personal income tax exemption of $1,500. Married couples where both spouses are veterans receive a combined $3,000 exemption. VA disability compensation is completely exempt from Puerto Rico income tax.

Under Ley 191-2024, signed on August 29, 2024, military retirement pay is 100% exempt from Puerto Rico income tax beginning with the 2025 tax year. This applies to retired members of all branches, including Reservists and National Guard members receiving retirement pay. Veterans can claim both the $1,500 personal exemption and the retirement pay exclusion simultaneously. Find out more.

Other Tax Benefits

War surplus property acquired by veterans for personal use (not exceeding $5,000 in total value) is exempt from all taxes and duties. Low-income veterans and surviving spouses can also exclude VA Aid & Attendance and Housebound Allowance payments when determining eligibility for public assistance programs.

All Puerto Rico government agencies provide copies of official documents free of charge to veterans, their spouses, minor children, and a deceased veteran’s surviving spouse and minor children.

Transportation Benefits

Do Veterans Get Special License Plates in Puerto Rico?

Yes. Every honorably discharged veteran certified by the VA or holding a DD-214 who owns a motor vehicle for private use receives special veteran license plates (tablillas de veterano). One plate is issued free of charge. Additional veteran plates cost $10 per the statute.

Vehicle Tax Exemptions for Disabled Veterans

Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability are exempt from vehicle taxes and all licensing fees, including license plate fees and driver’s license fees. VA-provided vehicles are also tax-exempt, and replacement vehicles qualify if the original was owned for at least four years for personal use.

Veterans over age 60 are exempt from vehicle taxes and fees for license plates and driver’s licenses, regardless of disability status. If a VA-provided vehicle is lost due to unforeseen causes not attributable to the owner’s negligence, the four-year holding requirement is waived for the replacement vehicle.

Education Benefits

Do Veterans Get Free Tuition in Puerto Rico?

Yes. Puerto Rican veterans who do not have VA education benefits (or whose benefits have expired) receive free tuition at the University of Puerto Rico and all its academic units, as well as any postgraduate educational institution of the commonwealth government.

Dependents (spouses and children) of veterans receive a 50% discount on tuition, fees, books, and materials at any public postsecondary institution in Puerto Rico, including UPR and all commonwealth or municipal colleges.

Surviving spouses and children of service members killed in action (or whose death is service-related) receive a total exemption of tuition, fees, books, and materials at any Puerto Rico public higher education institution, at the undergraduate, technical-professional, and graduate levels.

65th Infantry Regiment Scholarship (Beca 65 Infanteria)

The Beca 65 Infanteria scholarship provides funding for children of honorably discharged veterans pursuing higher education. The scholarship covers up to 12 credits per semester for bachelor’s degree students and 6 to 9 credits per semester for master’s or doctoral students.

  • The applicant must be a Puerto Rico resident and under age 26 (no age limit for children with physical or mental disabilities).
  • The applicant must not be eligible for VA education benefits and must have no outstanding government debt.
  • Only one child per family may participate at a time.
  • Contact: Beca65@opv.pr.gov or (787) 758-5760.

Employment Benefits

Puerto Rico Veterans Hiring Preference

Veterans applying for employment, reinstatement, or promotion in the Puerto Rico commonwealth government receive 10 points or 10% (whichever is greater) added to their passing examination scores. This applies to all types of positions: regular, temporary, permanent, full-time, part-time, and fixed-term.

Puerto Rico government employees called to active duty (not voluntary enlistees) are entitled to be reinstated to the same or similar position if they apply within 180 days after receiving an honorable discharge. Veterans hired for the first time in the commonwealth government can also purchase up to 5 years of military service credit toward the government retirement system, paying both individual and employer contributions plus 6% simple annual interest.

Ley 26-2025 expanded the veteran employment preference to cover all types of work opportunities and now requires both government entities and private employers to notify the Oficina del Procurador del Veterano (OPV) of competitive employment opportunities. Veterans may also qualify for federal veterans’ preference for federal positions.

Recreation Benefits

Do Puerto Rico Parks Offer Discounts to Veterans?

Yes. Veterans, their spouses, and minor or disabled children receive a 10% discount on fees charged at Puerto Rico parks, beaches, zoos, aquariums, vacation centers, camping areas, and other recreational facilities operated by the commonwealth.

This benefit is transferable to the surviving spouse and to minor or disabled children upon the veteran’s death.

Healthcare Benefits

The VA Caribbean Healthcare System serves veterans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The main facility is the San Juan VA Medical Center, a full-service teaching hospital with 402 operating beds (280 acute care and 122 nursing home beds). Services include open heart surgery, rehabilitation, spinal cord injury care, nursing home care, PTSD treatment, and substance abuse programs.

The VA also operates nine community-based outpatient clinics across Puerto Rico in Arecibo, Ceiba, Comerio, Guayama, Hato Rey, Mayaguez, Ponce, Utuado, and Vieques. Low-income veterans and families meeting Federal Medical Assistance Program (Title 19) thresholds receive free medical care, hospitalization, and medications. Learn more about the VA Caribbean Healthcare System.

  • San Juan VA Medical Center: 10 Calle Casia, San Juan, PR 00921 | (787) 641-7582
  • Ponce VA Clinic (Euripides Rubio): 1010 Paseo Del Veterano, Ponce, PR 00716 | (787) 812-3030
  • Mayaguez VA Clinic: 345 Avenida Hostos, Mayaguez, PR 00680 | (787) 834-6900
  • Arecibo VA Clinic: Avenida Victor Rojas II, Zona Industrial Carrizal 9, Arecibo, PR 00616 | (787) 816-1818
  • Guayama VA Clinic: 850 Calle Arnaldo Bristol, FISA Building, 1st Floor, Suite 1, Guayama, PR 00784 | (787) 866-8886
  • Ceiba VA Clinic: PR-3, Km 54.9, Lot 3, Pueblo Ward, PR 00735 | (787) 522-2662
  • Comerio VA Clinic: Jose de Diego Street, Suite 15, Comerio, PR 00782 | (787) 522-2660
  • Utuado VA Clinic: Calle Isaac Gonzalez Esq. Ledesma, Hospital de la Montana, Utuado, PR 00641 | (787) 522-2650
  • Vieques VA Clinic: Road 997, Centro de Salud Susana Centeno, Vieques, PR 00765 | (787) 522-2690
  • Hato Rey VA Clinic: 653 Munoz Rivera, San Juan, PR 00918 | (787) 641-7582

Casa del Veterano (Veterans Home)

Puerto Rico operates one state veterans home, the Casa del Veterano in Juana Diaz. The facility has 240 beds (120 skilled nursing and 120 domiciliary care). It is currently administered by Ambassador of Veteran Services of PR, LLC (AVS).

Eligible residents include honorably discharged veterans, spouses of veterans, widows of veterans, and Gold Star Parents of veterans who died in combat. Contact (787) 837-6574 for admissions information.

Burial and Survivor Benefits

Puerto Rico veterans have access to three cemetery options for burial: two federal national cemeteries and one commonwealth-operated veterans cemetery.

  • Puerto Rico National Cemetery (Bayamon): 50 Avenida Cementerio Nacional, Bayamon, PR 00961 | (787) 798-8400. This cemetery is closed to all new gravesites. Subsequent interments in existing occupied gravesites may still occur. Established in 1948, it spans 108.2 acres.
  • Morovis National Cemetery: 900 Carretera 137, Morovis, PR 00687. Dedicated December 12, 2020, with first interments on July 12, 2021. This 247-acre cemetery was built to replace the Bayamon facility and is designed to serve more than 150,000 veterans and eligible family members. Find out more.
  • Atlantic Garden Veterans Cemetery (Aguadilla): Carr. 110, KM 6.6, Bo. Montana, Aguadilla, PR 00603 | (787) 221-6858 | agvcaguadilla@gmail.com. Inaugurated in 2014, this 17.48-acre commonwealth-operated cemetery has capacity for 23,000 burials. Eligibility requires Puerto Rico residency at the time of death or for 10 years prior.

For eligible veterans, the VA covers the cost of the grave plot, opening and closing of the grave, and an inscribed headstone or marker at national cemeteries.

Surviving spouses and dependents of Puerto Rico veterans are eligible for death and burial benefits, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, and accrued benefits. Learn more about getting survivor benefits.

Federal Benefits Available to Puerto Rico Veterans

In addition to Puerto Rico’s specific benefits, disabled veterans also 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 disabled veterans can get with a rating of 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, etc.

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits

Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico commonwealth resources

Benefits for Toxic Exposure

Veterans who served at contaminated military bases or who were exposed to environmental hazards while deployed abroad may qualify for additional VA benefits. Military bases in Puerto Rico with known toxic exposure issues include:

  • Fort Buchanan (Guaynabo)
  • Naval Station Roosevelt Roads (Ceiba)
  • Vieques Naval Training Range (Vieques)
  • Muniz Air National Guard Base (Carolina)
  • Camp Santiago (Salinas)
  • Ramey Air Force Base (Aguadilla)

If you served at a different base or in a different state, check the Military Base Toxic Exposure Map.

Getting VA Disability in Puerto Rico

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 VA services, veteran organizations, and disability attorneys.

How to Apply for VA Benefits in Puerto Rico: 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 ebook for easy, immediate access.

Puerto Rico Assistance and Resources

Help from Experienced Lawyers

Our VA-accredited lawyers proudly represent Puerto Rico veterans 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!