Veterans Disability Lawyers

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

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

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only approve disability benefits if they can prove that the condition is connected to your military service. This is called a linkage. There are many types of evidence to prove this connection. These include medical records, independent health assessments (IME), or an nexus note from current health care providers (especially in the case of mental health problems). Sometimes, veterans have medically determined disabilities but aren't able to get connected due to missing or incomplete military treatment records. These cases require the assistance of experienced New York disability lawyers who are able to present a complete claim and present evidence that is supported by unbiased experts.

It is simpler to prove that there is a direct connection to your service for injuries or illnesses that occurred while you were in the military. If you've been injured while in the military, and now suffer from headaches or concussions, it's much easier to establish a direct connection to the service.

However, it's more difficult to get service connected if you suffer from a pre-existing medical condition that got worse while in the military. To prove that your service time has aggravated or exacerbated a pre-existing condition, you'll need to present medical evidence from an expert that is "clear and undisputed".

Appealing to a Denial

The VA will review your case after you have submitted your application and provided evidence of medical necessity. It usually makes a decision which either approves or denies benefits. If the decision is not in favor the veteran has one year to file a Notice of Disagreement. A veterans disability lawyer can assist the claimant through the three review options which include an additional claim, a more extensive review, or a direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

When selecting the right New York veterans disability lawyer, veterans disability lawyer be sure to consider whether they are familiar with your military experience and traditions of the armed forces. This can make it easier for you to understand and reduce the need to describe your experiences and experiences in layman's terms.

You should also find a firm that will work on your case for the entire multi-year appeals process. Be wary of firms that only assist you with the first phases of your claim and then disappear.

A seasoned New York veterans' disability lawyer can assist you in every stage of your claim including appeals. They can help you submit additional medical evidence or 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 help you obtain benefits such as monetary compensation, aid and attendance, education benefits or unemployment benefits.

How can I get a better rating

It could be that your disability becomes worse or your symptoms get more severe. It is logical in this instance to seek an increase in the rating. A veterans disability lawyer can assist with this process, and they can assist you in locating evidence to justify your request.

It's not common for the VA to make mistakes that lead to an under-reported disability rating than you deserve. In the event that they fail to notice an injury that you suffer from or overlook a problem which could be linked to other disabilities to receive an increase in rating It's worthwhile to have an expert review your records to find any mistakes.

You can still file a higher-level claim and review if you've been given a rating for more than one calendar year. These require a complete review of your file and can result in an amendment to your effective date or an updated rating that is more in line with how you truly feel.

It's also advisable to file a supplemental claim or higher-level review if you believe you deserve a disability rating of 100 percent or more. A disability lawyer can help you create a convincing argument for this type of rating which is reserved only for severe disabilities. A mental health issue such as depression, for instance, could be a reason to get a 100% rating of disability because it can hinder employment or cause frequent hospitalizations which do not normally trigger this level of severity for a heart problem or other medical conditions.

Need help with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what many believe the fact that the fact that a VA denial of disability benefits does not mean that a person has no chance of recovering benefits. In fact, a former veteran has one year from the date the local veterans' hospital or office sends them a denial to appeal.

An experienced veterans disability lawyer can help a veteran decide which of the three appeals routes is most appropriate for their particular situation. They can also assist a vet get the evidence needed to convince a higher level reviewer that their previous decision was not correct. They can give a veteran an extra formal hearing front of an Veterans Law judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer can give you the personalized attention that your claim needs. They also have years of experience handling VA disability claims and know the rules and procedures from top to bottom. Additionally, some attorneys are veterans disability attorney themselves, which means they understand the issues disabled veterans have to face. This can lead to a particular type of empathy which can improve the outcome of the case of a disabled veteran.

Sullivan & Kehoe can review your VA disability claim free of charge to determine if we can help you. Contact us now to schedule your free evaluation.