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 through the entire claims process.

Select a veteran disability lawyer who is specialized in these types of cases and is familiar with the VA system. This will ensure that your case is given the attention it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only award disability benefits if it can be confirmed that your illness is directly related to your military service. This is referred to as a connection. There are a variety of evidence you could prove this connection, such as medical records or independent medical exams (IME) and letters from current healthcare providers or therapists (especially for mental health issues). There are occasions that veterans suffer from medically-determined disabilities, but cannot be considered service-connected due to missing or incomplete records. These cases require the assistance of skilled New York disability lawyers who are able to present a complete claim and present evidence that is confirmed by experts who are impartial.

It is easier to prove a direct connection when illnesses or injuries were sustained while serving in the military. If you have been injured in the military and you now suffer from headaches and concussions it is much easier to establish a direct connection to the service.

It is difficult to be connected to the military if you suffered from an existing condition that got worse while you were in military service. In order to prove that your service aggravated or made worse a pre-existing illness, you must supply expert medical evidence that reaches the level of "clear and unmistakable" evidence.

Appealing an Denial

After filing an application and providing medical evidence after which the VA will review the case. It usually issues a ruling which either approves or denies benefits. If the decision isn't favorable, the veteran has a year to file a complaint. A lawyer for veterans' disability can help the claimant navigate the three review options including the supplemental claim, the higher-level review, or direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

When selecting when choosing a New York veterans disability lawyer, be sure to consider whether they understand your military background and culture of the armed forces. This can make things easier for you and decrease the need to explain your situations and experiences in a layman's way.

You'll want a firm that will work on your case through the lengthy appeals process. Beware of firms that only assist you in the initial stages of your claim, and then disappear.

A seasoned New York veterans' disability lawyer can assist you in all phases of the claim and appeals. They can help you submit additional medical evidence, request an official hearing and assist you at any Board meetings to ensure that your case will be dealt with in a fair and fair manner. They can also help you claim benefits including monetary compensation, aid and attendance, educational benefits or unemployed benefits.

How to get a higher rating

There could be a point when your disability becomes more serious or your symptoms become broader or more challenging. In that case, it makes sense to request an increase in your rating. A veteran disability lawyer can help you with this process, and also help you gather evidence to support your claim.

It's not uncommon to see the VA make mistakes, which can result in being awarded a lower rating than what you deserve. It's worth getting an expert to look over your records for mistakes. They may have overlooked an injury or neglected to mention a problem which could be in conjunction with another disability to receive an increase in rating.

You can still file a higher-level claim and review if you have been given a rating for veterans disability lawyers more than one calendar year. This includes a review of your entire dossier, which could result in changes to your effective date and the creation of a new rating that is more precise to your feelings.

It's also worth looking into an additional claim or a higher-level review if you're arguing that you deserve a disability rating that is 100 percent or more. A disability attorney can help you put together a convincing argument for this kind of rating, that is reserved for those with serious disabilities. For example an illness that is mental might qualify you for an absolute disability rating because it can cause a significant disturbance to your job or frequent periods of hospitalization, which don't normally trigger such the rating for a heart illness or other medical issues.

Getting help with the Appeals Process

Despite what some people may believe that denial of claims for disability by the VA is not the end of a person's chances to receive benefits. Former veterans have one year to appeal the decision if it is not favorable.

An experienced veterans disability attorney can assist a veteran in determining which of the three pathways for appeal is the best option for his particular situation. They can also help a vet get the evidence they need to convince a higher level reviewer that their previous decision was not correct. They may even be able to provide a veteran with a more formal hearing before an Veterans Law Judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer will give you the individual attention your claim requires. They also have a vast experience dealing with VA disability claims and know the rules and procedures in and out. Some attorneys are veterans, and therefore are aware of the difficulties faced by disabled veterans. This creates a distinct type of empathy, which can enhance the outcome of a case involving a disabled veteran.

The Sullivan & Kehoe team of experienced lawyers can evaluate your VA disability claims for free to determine if we are able to help you. Contact us today to arrange your free evaluation.