Veterans Disability Legal Explained In Less Than 140 Characters

How to File a Veterans Disability Claim

A claim for disability from a veteran is a request for compensation due to an injury or a disease that is related to military service. It can also be a request for dependency and indemnity payment (DIC) for spouses of survivors and dependent children.

Veterans may have to submit evidence to support their claim. Claimants can speed up the process by making medical exam appointments and sending requested documents promptly.

Identifying a Disabling Condition

The possibility of ill-health and injuries that result from serving in the military, such as musculoskeletal disorders (sprains, arthritis, etc. veterans disability legal are prone to respiratory problems hearing loss, respiratory problems and other ailments. These illnesses and injuries are considered to be disability-related at a higher rate than other conditions due to their long-lasting effects.

If you were diagnosed with an injury or illness during your service, the VA must have proof that it was due to your active duty. This includes medical clinic and private hospital records relating to your injury or illness, as well as the statements of family and friends regarding your symptoms.

The most important thing to consider is how serious your condition is. The younger vets are able to recover from bone and muscle injuries, when they put their efforts into it, but as you get older the chances of recovering from these types of conditions diminish. This is why it is vital for veterans disability compensation to file a disability claim at an early stage, even if their condition is still severe.

If you have been assessed as having a permanent 100% and total disability may be eligible to apply for Veterans Disability Claim Social Security Disability Insurance/Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI/SSDI). In order to speed up the SSA application process, it's helpful for the veteran to provide their VA rating notification letter from the regional office. The letter identifies the rating as "permanent" and indicates that no further tests are scheduled.

Gathering Medical Evidence

If you wish to have your VA disability benefits to be approved the benefits will require medical evidence to prove that the condition is serious and limiting. This can be evidenced by private records, a letter from a doctor or a different health care provider, who treats your condition. It can also include photos or videos which show your symptoms.

The VA is legally required to make reasonable efforts to collect relevant evidence on behalf of you. This includes both federal and non-federal records (private medical records for example). The agency should continue to search for these records until it's reasonably certain that they are not there or veterans Disability Claim any further efforts would be useless.

The VA will prepare an examination report after it has all the relevant details. This report is often based on a claimant's symptoms and their history. It is usually sent to the VA Examiner.

This report is used to make a decision on the disability claim. If the VA finds the condition to be dependent on service, the claimant might be qualified for benefits. If the VA disagrees, the claimant can contest the decision by filing an Notice of Disagreement and requesting an examiner at a higher level to review their case. This is known as a Supplemental State of the Case. The VA can also decide to reopen an earlier denied claim if it receives new and relevant evidence to support the claim.

How to File a Claim

The VA will need all your medical documents, military and service records to support your claim for disability. You can submit these by filling out the eBenefits website application, in person at a local VA office, or by mail using Form 21-526EZ. In some cases you may need to submit additional documents or forms.

Tracking down civilian medical records that support your condition is equally important. You can speed up this process by submitting complete addresses of medical care facilities where you have received treatment, submitting dates of treatment and being as specific as you can about the records you're providing to the VA. Finding the location of any medical records from the military you have will allow the VA benefits division to have access to them as well.

The VA will conduct an examination C&P once you have submitted the necessary documentation and medical evidence. It will include a physical examination of the body part affected and dependent on your disability it may include lab tests or X-rays. The examiner will prepare a report, which he or she will then send to the VA.

If the VA determines you are entitled to benefits, they will send a decision letter with an introduction, their decision to approve or deny your claim. It also includes a rating and a specific disability benefit amount. If you are denied benefits, they will explain the evidence they analyzed and their reasoning for their decision. If you decide to appeal the decision, the VA will send an Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

Making a Decision

During the gathering and reviewing of evidence phase it is crucial for the claimant to be aware of all forms and documents that they are required to submit. The entire process could be reduced if a form or document is not properly completed. It is crucial that applicants attend their scheduled exams.

After the VA examines all the evidence, they will make the final decision. This decision will either approve or deny it. If the claim is denied, you can file a Notice of Disagreement to make an appeal.

If the NOD is filed the next step in the process is having an Statement of the Case (SOC) completed. The SOC is an official document of the evidence of the case, the actions taken the decisions made, as well as the laws that govern the decisions.

During the SOC process, it is also possible for a claimant provide additional information or to get certain claims re-judged. This is referred to as a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level review, or Board Appeal. The addition of new information to an existing claim can assist in expediting the process. These types of appeals permit a senior reviewer or a veterans disability case law judge to go over the initial disability claim and even make a different decision.