Veterans Disability Lawyers
A veteran disability lawyer can help you throughout the claims process. From collecting medical and service proof to filing an appeal against a denied claim.
Choose a veterans disability attorney (what is it worth) who is specialized in handling these cases and knows the VA’s system inside and out. This will ensure 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 suffer from is linked to your military service. This is known as a nexus. There are different types of evidence you can demonstrate this connection, including medical records or independent medical exams (IME), and letters from current healthcare providers or therapists (especially for mental health issues). There are times where veterans are diagnosed with medical disabilities, but are unable to be considered service-connected due to insufficient or missing documents. These cases require the assistance of experienced New York disability lawyers who know how to make a complete claim and submit evidence that is backed up by experts who are impartial.
It is easier to prove the direct connection between your service and illnesses or injuries which occurred while in the military. For instance, if you suffered head injuries during service and now suffer from concussions and headaches, there is a clear link between the events that led to your current condition.
It is more difficult to be connected to the military if you suffered from an existing condition that deteriorated during your military service. In order to prove that your time in military service worsened or aggravated an existing illness, you must supply expert medical evidence that rises to the level of “clear and irrefutable” evidence.
Appealing a denied application
After filing an application and providing medical evidence after which the VA will review the application. It usually makes a decision that either approves or denies benefits. If the decision is deemed unfavorable the veteran has one year to make a notice of disagreement. A disability attorney for veterans can guide the claimant through the three decision review options: either a supplemental claim or a more advanced review, or an direct appeal before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
When selecting a New York veterans disability lawyer Make sure you consider whether they understand your military background and traditions of the armed forces. This will make it easier for you and reduce the need to explain your situations and experiences in a layman’s way.
You should also find a firm who will continue to work on your case for the entire multi-year appeals process. Beware of firms that assist you in the initial stages of your case, and then go away.
An experienced New York veterans’ disability attorney can assist you through all stages of the claim, including appeals. They can help you submit more medical evidence, request an official hearing, and also represent you in any Board sessions to ensure that your case is handled in a fair manner. They can also assist you to claim benefits like monetary compensation aid and attendance, education benefits or unemployability benefits.
Achieving a Higher Rating
There could be a point where your disability gets more severe, or your symptoms get broader or more challenging. It is logical in this instance to seek a higher rating. A veteran disability lawyer can assist you with this process, Veterans disability attorney and also help you collect evidence to prove your claim.
It’s not common for the VA to make mistakes that lead to being denied a disability rating lower than you’re entitled. It’s a good idea to hire an expert to look over your records for mistakes. They might have missed an injury or omitted an issue that could be added to another condition to get an increase in rating.
Even when it’s been over one year since the initial rating decision, you can file an additional review or claim. These are a thorough examination of your file and can result in the change of your effective date or an entirely new rating that’s more accurate to what you really feel.
If you believe that you are entitled to a rating of 100 percent, or more, it’s worth making a claim for supplemental benefits. A disability lawyer can assist you in putting together an argument that supports this type of rating, which is reserved for extremely severe disabilities. For instance mental health issues could qualify you for an absolute disability rating because it can cause a significant interruption to work or periods of hospitalization. These don’t normally trigger such an assessment for a cardiovascular illness or other medical issues.
Helping with the Appeals Process
Despite what some people may think, veterans disability attorney the denial of an appeal for disability by the VA isn’t the end of an individual’s chances to get benefits. In fact, a former veteran has one year from the date that the local veteran’s hospital or office sends them a denial to file an appeal.
A skilled veteran disability lawyer can help a veteran decide which of the three appeals options is most suitable for their case. They can also help an individual vet put the evidence needed to convince a higher-level reviewer that their previous decision was not correct. They may even be able to provide veterans with a more formal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.
A New York veteran disability lawyer will give you the individualized attention your claim requires. They also have a wealth of experience in handling VA disability claims and are aware of the rules and procedures from top to bottom. Some attorneys are veterans, so they are aware of the difficulties that disabled veterans face. This creates a unique kind of empathy that can help improve the outcome of a disability claim for veterans.
Sullivan & Kehoe can review your VA disability claim free of charge to determine if we can assist you. Call us today to set up your free evaluation.