Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer can help you through the entire claim process. From gathering evidence of medical and other service to filing an appeal against a denied claim.

Select a veteran disability lawyer who specializes in these cases and is familiar with the VA system. This will ensure that your case gets the attention it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only approve disability benefits if they can prove that the condition you are suffering from is a result of your military service. This is referred to as a nexus. There are different types of evidence that you could prove the connection, such as medical records as well as independent medical examinations (IME) and the nexus letters of current healthcare providers or therapists (especially for mental health issues). There are occasions that west st paul veterans disability law firm suffer from medically-determined disabilities, but are unable to be considered service connected due to insufficient or missing records. These cases require the assistance of experienced New York disability lawyers who know how to make an accurate claim and submit evidence that is confirmed by independent experts.

It is simpler to establish a direct service connection when illnesses or injuries occurred while you served in the military. If you have been injured during your military service and now suffer from headaches and concussions, it's easier to prove a direct service connection.

However, it is more difficult to get service connected if you suffer from an existing medical condition that grew worse when you were in the military. In order to prove that your service has aggravated or worsened a pre-existing illness you must provide a doctor's medical evidence that rises to the level of "clear and unmistakable" proof.

Appealing a denied application

The VA will review your application after you have submitted your application and provided evidence of medical necessity. It usually issues a ruling that either approves or denies benefits. If the decision is deemed unfavorable the veteran has one year to file a Notice of Disagreement. A veterans disability attorney can guide the claimant through the three review options - an additional claim or a higher-level review, or a direct appeal before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Make sure the lawyer is knowledgeable of your military experiences as well as the traditions of the armed forces when choosing a New York veterans' disability lawyer. This will make it easier for you and reduce the necessity to explain your circumstances and experiences in layman's language.

You should also choose a firm that will continue to work on your case throughout the entire multi-year appeals process. Beware of firms that only assist you in the first phases of your case and then vanish.

A seasoned New York waterbury veterans disability lawyer disability attorney will assist you with every stage of your claim and appeals, including the appeals procedure. They can assist you in submitting additional medical evidence, request a formal hearing and represent you at any Board meetings to ensure that your case is handled fairly. They can also assist you to obtain benefits like monetary compensation aid and attendance, education benefits or unemployed benefits.

Achieving a Higher Rating

There may come a time when your disability gets worse, or your symptoms get more difficult or wider. In such a case it's logical to seek a higher rating. A veterans disability lawyer can assist you in this process, and can assist you in locating evidence to prove your claim.

It's not uncommon to see the VA make mistakes, resulting in an under-rated rating than you deserve. It's worth getting an expert to look over your records for mistakes. They may have overlooked an injury or left out the issue that could be in conjunction with another disability to receive a higher rating.

Even if it's been more than one year since your initial rating decision, you have the option of filing a higher-level review or supplemental claim. This could include a thorough review of your entire dossier, that could lead to changes to your effective date as well as a new rating more accurate to your feelings.

If you believe you're entitled to an assessment of 100 percent, or more, it's worth applying for a supplemental claim. A disability lawyer can help develop a compelling argument for this rating that is reserved for the most debilitating disabilities. For example, a mental health condition could qualify you for an 100% disability rating because it can cause a significant interruption to work or periods of hospitalization, which don't normally trigger such an assessment for a cardiovascular disease or other medical problems.

Getting Help with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what some believe, an VA denial of disability benefits doesn't mean that an individual has no chance of recovering benefits. In fact, a former servicemember has one year from the date their local veterans hospital or office mails them a decision that is not favorable to file an appeal.

A skilled veterans disability lawyer can assist a veteran to determine which of the three current appeals routes is most appropriate for their particular situation. They can also assist an individual vet put the evidence together needed to convince a higher-level reviewer that the previous decision was incorrect. They can even provide veterans with a more formal hearing before an Veterans Law Judge.

The greatest benefit of having a New York veteran disability attorney handle your appeal is that they'll give you the attention and care that your claim demands. They also have extensive experience in managing VA disability claims, and they know the rules and procedures inside and out. Some lawyers are veterans, so they are aware of the difficulties that disabled villa hills veterans disability attorney face. This can result in a unique kind of empathy that could help in the resolution of a veterans' disability case.

The team at Sullivan &Kehoe of highly-trained lawyers can review your VA disability claims for free to determine if we can help you. Call us today to set up an appointment for a free evaluation.