To be protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act, a veteran with a disability must meet the statutory definition of "special disabled veteran" for contracts and subcontracts entered into with the Federal government before December 1, 2003 and "disabled veteran" for those contracts entered into on or after December 1, 2003.

The term "special disabled veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military ground, naval, or air service and (1) who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability, or (2) who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) for certain disabilities under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (i.e. disabilities rated at 30 percent or more, or at 10 or 20 percent if the veteran has been determined to have a serious handicap). See Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 41 CFR 60-300.2(n).