How to File a Veterans Disability Claim

A veterans disability claim is a request for compensation due to an injury or illness related to military service. It can also be for dependent spouses or children who are dependent.

Veterans may be required to submit evidence to support their claim. Claimants can speed up the process by making sure they attend their medical exam appointments and submitting requested documents promptly.

Identifying a disability

The possibility of ill-health and injuries that result from service in the military, like muscle and joint disorders (sprains arthritis, sprains etc. ) respiratory disorders and hearing loss are frequent among veterans. These illnesses and injuries are usually considered to be eligible for disability compensation at a much higher rate than other ailments because they can have lasting effects.

If you were diagnosed as having an injury or illness while on active duty and the VA will need proof that this was caused by your service. This includes both medical clinic and private hospital records relating to your illness or injury as well as the statements of friends and family regarding your symptoms.

The most important thing to consider is how severe your situation is. If you're active younger vets are able to recover from certain bone and muscle injuries. As you age however, the chances of recovering diminish. It is imperative that veterans apply for a disability claim while their condition is still serious.

The people who have been rated as having a permanent 100% and total disability may be eligible to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance/Supplemental security Income (SSI/SSDI). It can be helpful for the Veteran to present the VA rating notification letter that was sent by the regional office. This letter should indicate that the rating is "permanent" and that no further exams are scheduled.

Gathering Medical Evidence

If you wish to have your VA disability benefits approved you must provide medical evidence that proves the condition is severe and disabling. This could include private medical records, statements from a doctor or another health care provider who is treating your condition, as well as evidence that can be in the form pictures or videos that display your symptoms or injuries.

The VA must make reasonable efforts to obtain evidence relevant to your case. This includes both federal and non-federal records (private medical records, for instance). The agency should continue to look for these records until it is fairly certain that they don't exist. Otherwise, further efforts will be in vain.

When the VA has all the information required, it will prepare an examination report. This report is often determined by the claimant's symptoms and medical history. It is usually presented to an VA Examiner.

This report is used to make a decision on the disability benefit claim. If the VA decides that the condition is dependent on service, the claimant might be qualified for benefits. veterans disability lawyer can appeal the VA decision in the event of disagreement by filing a notice of disagreement and asking a higher level examiner review their case. This is known as a Supplemental Statement of the Case. The VA may also allow a reopening of an earlier denied claim when it receives new and relevant evidence to back the claim.

How to File a Claim

To prove your claim for disability, the VA will require all your medical and service records. You can provide them by completing the eBenefits application on the web or in person at a local VA office, or by post using Form 21-526EZ. In certain situations, you may need to submit additional documents or forms.

The search for medical records of civilians that can support your condition is also important. This process can be speeded up by providing the VA with the complete address of the medical facility where you received treatment. You should also provide the dates of your treatment.

Once you have completed all required paperwork and medical documentation and medical evidence, the VA will conduct a C&P examination. This will consist of a physical exam of the affected area of your body. Also depending on how you're disabled testing with a lab or X rays may be required. The examiner will write a report, which he or she will submit to the VA.

If the VA decides that you are eligible to receive benefits, they will send you a letter of decision that includes an introduction and a decision to either approve or reject your claim, a rating and a specific disability benefit amount. If you are denied, they will explain what evidence they reviewed and why they made their decision. If you file an appeal, the VA sends a Supplemental Case Statement (SSOC).

Get a Decision

During the gathering and reviewing of evidence it is essential for claimants to stay on top of the forms and documents they are required to submit. The entire process can be delayed if a form or document is not completed correctly. It is imperative that claimants attend their scheduled examinations.

The VA will make an official decision after reviewing all the evidence. The decision is either to approve or deny it. If the claim is denied, it's possible to make a Notification of Disagreement (NOD) in order to request an appeal against the decision.

The next step is to create the Statement of Case (SOC). The SOC is an account of all the evidence considered, actions taken, the decisions made, and the laws that govern those decisions.

During the SOC, a claimant may also add new information to their claim, or get it re-judged. This is referred to as a Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal. It can be helpful to add more information to a claim. These types of appeals permit an experienced reviewer or veteran law judge to look over the initial disability claim and even make a different decision.