Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer will guide you through the entire claim process. From gathering evidence of medical and other service to filing an appeal against a claim that has been denied.

Select a veteran disability lawyer that is experienced in these kinds of cases and is acquainted with the VA system. This will ensure your case receives the attention it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only approve disability benefits if you prove that the condition you are suffering from is connected to your military service. This is known as a nexus. You can use a variety of evidence to prove this connection. This includes medical records, independent health examinations (IME), or the nexus letters from current healthcare providers (especially in the cases of mental health issues). There are instances when veterans have medically determinable disabilities, but cannot be considered service-connected due to incomplete or omitted documents. These cases require the help of experienced New York disability attorneys who know how to present an entire case and submit evidence backed by impartial experts.

It is simpler to prove the direct connection between your service and injuries or illnesses that occurred while you were in the military. For Vimeo example, if you were hit in the head while serving and are now suffering headaches and concussions, there is a clear link between the two events and your current condition.

It is a lot more difficult to become connected to the military if you suffered from an existing condition that deteriorated while you were in military service. To show that your time in service caused or aggravated a pre-existing health condition, you'll have to provide medical evidence from a professional that is "clear and undeniable".

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 which either approves or denies benefits. If the decision is unfavorable the veteran has one year to file a Notice of Disparagement. A veterans disability lawyer can assist the applicant navigate the three review options -- the supplemental claim, the higher-level review or an appeal directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Make sure the lawyer is knowledgeable of your military experience and the military's culture when selecting the New York veterans' disability lawyer. This will make the process more comfortable and less demanding for you to describe your experiences and the circumstances in layman's terms.

You want a firm who will handle your case throughout the multi-year appeals procedure. Beware of firms that assist you in the initial stages of your claim and then vanish.

A seasoned New York veterans' disability attorney can help you with every stage of your claim including appeals. They can help you submit additional medical evidence, request an official hearing and represent you in any Board sessions to ensure that your case is handled in a fair manner. They can also help you win you benefits like monetary compensations, aid and education benefits, attendance benefits, or unemployment.

Getting a Higher Rating

There may be a point when your disability becomes more serious or your symptoms become more complicated or broad. In that situation, it makes sense to seek an increase in your rating. A veteran disability lawyer can help you with this process and help you collect evidence to support your claim.

It's not unusual to see the VA make mistakes, resulting in an under-rated rating than you deserve. It's recommended to consult an expert to examine your records for any errors. They could have missed an injury or missed a problem which could be in conjunction with another disability to earn a higher rating.

Even when it's been over one year since you made your initial rating decision, you have the option of filing an additional review or claim. This includes a review of your entire file which can result in changes to the effective date of your claim and a new rating more accurate to the feelings you have.

It's also worth pursuing 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 develop a compelling argument for this rating that is reserved for the most debilitating of disabilities. For instance, a mental health condition could be a reason to get 100% disability ratings because it can cause marked disturbance to your job or frequent periods of hospitalization. These don't usually trigger this level of an assessment for a cardiovascular condition or other medical problem.

Need Help with the Appeals Process

Despite what some people may believe the denial of an appeal for disability by the VA isn't the end of an individual's chance to get benefits. In fact, a former soldier can wait one year from date their local veterans hospital or office sends them an unfavorable determination to file an appeal.

An experienced attorney for veterans can help a vet determine which of the current three appeals options is best for his particular situation. They can also help veterans gather the evidence they need to convince a higher-level reviewer that their previous decision was not right. They may also give a veteran a more formal hearing in before an Veterans Law judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer will give you the individual attention to your claim that you require. They also have a lot of experience in managing VA disability claims, and they understand the rules and procedure completely. Some lawyers are rhinelander veterans disability law firm, and therefore know the challenges faced by disabled veterans. This can create a distinct kind of empathy that could help in the resolution of an issue involving veterans' disability.

The team at Sullivan &Kehoe of experienced lawyers can evaluate your VA disability claims for free to determine whether we can assist you. Call us now to schedule an evaluation for free.