A protected veteran is a veteran who is covered under the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA). According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a veteran may be classified as a "disabled veteran," "recently separated veteran," "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran," or "Armed Forces service medal veteran" under VEVRAA

. The act prohibits discrimination against protected veterans and requires employers doing business with the Federal Government to take steps to recruit, hire, and promote protected veterans

. There are specific criteria that determine a veteran's status as a protected veteran, such as being entitled to compensation or having been discharged or released from service under certain conditions