How to File a Veterans Disability Claim

A claim for veterans disability is a request for compensation based on an injury or illness related to military service. It can also be a request for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for spouses of survivors and dependent children.

veterans disability law firms may be required to submit proof in support of their claim. Claimants can speed up the process by keeping medical exam appointments and sending requested documents on time.

Identifying the Disabling Condition

The possibility of ill-health and injuries that result from serving in the military, such as musculoskeletal disorders (sprains, arthritis, etc. Veterans are susceptible to respiratory issues as well as hearing loss and other ailments. These conditions and injuries are typically approved for disability compensation at a greater rate than other conditions because they can have lasting effects.

If you were diagnosed with an injury or illness while on active duty, the VA will require proof that this was caused by your service. This includes medical documents from private hospitals and clinics that relate to the illness or injury as well in statements from friends and family about your symptoms.

The severity of your issue is an important factor. Younger vets can usually recover from a few bone and muscle injuries when they are working at it, but as you get older the chances of recovering from these conditions diminish. It is essential that veterans make a claim for disability even if their condition is serious.

People who have been classified as having a 100% permanent and total disability could be eligible to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance/Supplemental Security Income (SSI/SSDI). In order to speed up the SSA application process, it is beneficial for the Veteran to submit their VA rating notification letter from the regional office. This letter declares the rating as "permanent" and indicates that no further exams are scheduled.

Gathering Medical Evidence

If you are seeking to get your VA disability benefits to be approved it will require medical evidence proving that the illness is severe and debilitating. This could include private medical records, a letter from a doctor or other health care provider treating your condition, as well as evidence that can be in the form pictures and videos that show your symptoms or injuries.

The VA is legally required to make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant evidence on behalf of you. This includes federal records and non-federal records (private medical records, for firm instance). The agency must continue to look for these records until it can be fairly certain that they don't exist. Otherwise, any further efforts will be futile.

When the VA has all the information required it will then prepare an examination report. The report is typically determined by the claimant's symptoms and past. It is usually submitted to a VA Examiner.

This report is used to make a final decision on the claim for disability benefits. If the VA decides that the illness is caused by service the applicant will be granted benefits. If the VA does not agree, the veteran may appeal the decision by filing a Notice of Disagreement and requesting a higher-level examiner to review their case. This process is referred to as a Supplemental Statement of the Case. The VA may also reopen a previously denied claim if it receives new and relevant evidence to back the claim.

The process of filing a claim

The VA will need all your medical records, service and military to prove your disability claim. You can submit these by filling out the eBenefits online application in person at a local VA office or via mail using Form 21-526EZ. In some cases you'll need to fill out additional documents or statements.

Finding civilian medical records that confirm your condition is also important. This process can be accelerated by providing the VA with the full address of the medical facility where you received treatment. You should also provide the dates of your treatment.

The VA will conduct an exam C&P after you have submitted the necessary documents and medical evidence. This will include an examination of the affected part of your body. Also depending on how you're disabled testing with a lab or X rays may be required. The doctor will create an assessment report, firm which he or she will forward to the VA.

If the VA decides that you are eligible for benefits, they will send you a letter of decision which includes an introduction and a decision to accept or deny your claim an assessment, and a specific disability benefit amount. If you are denied benefits, they will provide the evidence they considered and firm their reasoning behind their decision. If you file an appeal, the VA will send a Supplemental Case Report (SSOC).

Making a decision

It is crucial that claimants are aware of the forms and documents that are required during the gathering and reviewing of evidence. If a document isn't completed correctly or the correct type of document isn't presented, the entire process can be delayed. It is crucial that applicants attend their scheduled tests.

The VA will make the final decision after examining all evidence. This decision will either accept or reject it. If the claim is rejected, you can make a notice of Disagreement to request an appeal.

If the NOD is filed the next step in the process is to have an Statement of the Case (SOC) completed. The SOC is an accounting of all the evidence considered, actions taken, decisions made and the laws that govern the decisions.

During the SOC an applicant can also provide additional details to their claim or request that it be re-judged. This is called a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level review, or Board Appeal. The addition of new information to an existing claim could make the process easier. These appeals permit a senior judge or veteran law judge to review the initial claim for disability again and possibly make a different decision.