Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer can help you through the entire claims process. From collecting medical and service evidence to filing an appeal on a denied claim, a veteran disability lawyer can assist you throughout the entire claim process.

Choose a veterans disability attorney who is specialized in handling these cases and is aware of the VA's system inside out. This will ensure that your case receives the attention it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only offer disability benefits if it can be confirmed that your illness is directly related to your military service. This is referred to as a nexus. There are many types of evidence to prove this connection. This includes medical records, independent health exams (IME) or a the nexus letters from current health care providers (especially in the situation of mental health conditions). Sometimes, veterans have medically determined disabilities, veterans Disability but are not able to be connected because of incomplete or missing military treatment records. These cases require the help of experienced New York disability lawyers who are able to present a complete claim and present evidence that is supported by experts who are independent.

It is simpler to prove a direct connection when illnesses or injuries occurred while you served in the military. For instance, if you were struck in the head while serving and are now suffering from concussions and headaches, there is a direct link between the two events and your current condition.

However, it's more difficult to be connected if you have an existing medical condition that worsened while in the military. To prove that your service time was a catalyst for the worsening or aggravation of a pre-exist medical condition, you'll need to present medical evidence from an expert that is "clear and undeniable".

Appealing a Denial

After submitting an application and providing medical evidence after which the VA will review the application. It usually issues a decision that either approves or denies benefits. If the decision is not favorable, the veteran has one year to make a notice of disagreement. A veterans disability lawyer can assist the claimant through the three possible review options which include a supplemental claim, higher-level review or a direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

When choosing a New York veterans disability lawyer Make sure you consider whether they understand your military experiences and the culture of the armed forces. This will make the process more relaxed and eliminate the need for you to talk about your experiences and circumstances in plain English.

You need a firm that will be working on your case throughout the long appeals process. Beware of firms who only help you with the initial phases of your claim and then go away.

An experienced New York veterans disability attorney can assist with all stages of your claim and appeals, including the appeals procedure. They can assist you in submitting additional medical evidence and request a formal hearing, and represent you at any Board meetings to ensure that your case is handled in a fair manner. They can also assist you in obtaining you benefits like cash compensations, aid or attendance benefits, education benefits, or unemployedness.

Receiving a Better Rating

There might come a time where your disability gets more severe or your symptoms become more complex or broader. In this case it is sensible to seek an increase in your rating. A veterans disability lawyer can assist you in this procedure, and help you dig up evidence to support your request.

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 worth getting an expert to look over your records for mistakes. They could have missed an injury or neglected to mention a problem which could be combined with another disability to earn an even higher rating.

Even when it's been over one year since your initial rating decision, you still can file an additional review or claim. These are a thorough examination of your file, and could result in the change of your effective date or an entirely new rating that's more accurate to how you truly feel.

It's also worth seeking an additional claim or a more thorough review if you're entitled to a disability grade of 100 percent or more. An attorney for disability can help you create an argument that is convincing for this kind of rating, which is reserved for very debilitating disabilities. A mental health problem, for example, may qualify you for a 100 percent disability rating because it could hinder your employment or trigger frequent hospitalizations that do not normally trigger this level for a heart problem or other medical issues.

Assistance with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what some believe contrary to what many may think, contrary to what some may believe, a VA denial of disability benefits does not mean that an individual is in no position to claim benefits. Former service members have one year to appeal an outcome that is not favorable.

An experienced veterans disability lawyer can help a veteran determine which of the three current appeals routes is most suitable for their case. They can also assist an individual vet put the evidence they need to convince a higher-level reviewer that their previous decision was not right. They can provide a veteran an extra formal hearing before a Veterans Law judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer will give you the individualized attention that your claim needs. They also have a wealth of experience in handling VA disability claims, and they are aware of the rules and procedure in detail. Some attorneys are veterans disability law firms, and therefore are aware of the difficulties that disabled veterans face. This creates a distinct type of empathy that can make a difference in the outcome of a veterans disability case.

Sullivan & Kehoe can review your VA disability claim at no cost to determine if we are able to help you. Contact us today to set up an evaluation for free.