Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer can help you throughout the claims process. From collecting medical and service proof to filing an appeal of an appeal denied.

Choose a veteran disability attorney that specializes in these types of cases and Veterans is familiar with the VA system. This will ensure that your case gets the attention it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only award disability benefits if it is proven that your condition is linked to your military experience. This is referred to as a connection. There are many types of evidence to prove this connection. This includes medical records, independent health exams (IME), or the nexus letters from current healthcare providers (especially in the cases of mental health issues). There are instances that veterans suffer from medically-determined disabilities, but they cannot be considered service-connected due to incomplete or omitted documents. These cases require the help of experienced New York disability attorneys who are skilled at presenting an entire claim as well as submit evidence that is backed up by independent experts.

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

However, it's more difficult to get service connected if you suffer from an existing medical condition that became worse while you were in the military. In order to prove that your service aggravated or made worse an existing illness you must provide a doctor's medical evidence that rises to the level of "clear and undeniable" evidence.

Appealing a Denial

After submitting an application and submitting medical evidence, the VA will examine the case. The VA will usually issue an opinion either approving or denial of benefits. If the decision is not favorable the veteran has one year to submit a Notice of Disagreement. A veterans disability lawsuit disability attorney can help the claimant navigate through the three decision review options: either a supplemental claim or a more advanced review, or an direct appeal before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Take note of whether the lawyer is familiar with your military experiences and the traditions of the armed forces when selecting the New York veterans' disability lawyer. This will make it easier for you and lessen the need to explain your situations and experiences in layman's.

You should also find a firm who will remain on your case for the entire duration of your appeal. Beware of firms who only assist you with the initial stages of your case, and then vanish.

A seasoned New York veterans disability attorney will assist you with every stage of your claim including the appeals process. They can help you submit additional medical evidence or request a formal hearing and represent you at any Board meetings to ensure your case is dealt with fairly. They can also assist you to get your benefits, such as monetary compensation, aid and attendance, education benefits, or unemployment benefits.

How can I get a better rating

There could be a point where your disability gets more severe or your symptoms become more complex or broader. It is logical in this scenario to ask for a higher rating. A lawyer for veterans can assist you in this procedure, and assist you in finding evidence to support your request.

It's not uncommon to see the VA to make mistakes that result in being awarded a lower rating than what you deserve. If they miss an injury you've suffered or miss a condition that could be combined with other disabilities to get an improved rating It's worthwhile to have an expert review your records to find any errors.

Even the fact that it's been more a year since your initial rating decision, you can file a higher-level review or supplemental claim. These are a thorough examination of your file and can result in the change of your effective date or an entirely new rating that's more accurate to how you truly feel.

If you think you're worthy of an assessment of 100 percent or higher, it's worth requesting a supplemental claim. A disability lawyer can help make a convincing case for this rating that is reserved for the most debilitating of disabilities. For instance mental health issues might qualify you for a 100% disability rating because it could cause significant disturbance to your job or frequent periods of hospitalization that do not typically trigger this kind of an assessment for a cardiovascular disease or other medical issue.

Need Help with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what some believe the fact that the fact that a VA denial of disability benefits doesn't mean that the person has no chance of recovering benefits. Former service members have a year to appeal an outcome that is not favorable.

An experienced attorney for veterans can assist a vet in determining which of the three appeals options is best for his situation. They can also help veterans put the evidence they need to convince a higher level reviewer that their previous decision was not correct. They can also provide a veteran with a more formal hearing in front of a 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 inside and out. In addition, some attorneys are veterans themselves, which means they understand the challenges that disabled veterans have to face. This can create a distinct type of empathy which could help in the resolution of an appeal for veterans' disability.

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