Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer can help you through the entire claim process. From gathering medical and service proof to filing an appeal against a denied claim, a veteran disability lawyer can help you throughout the entire claim process.

Select a veteran disability lawyer that specializes in these cases and Veterans Disability Lawyers 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 you can prove that the condition you are suffering from is a result of your military service. This is called a connection. There are a variety of evidence you can demonstrate this connection, including medical records and independent medical examinations (IME), and the nexus letters of current health professionals or therapists (especially for mental health issues). Sometimes, veterans have medically determined disabilities but cannot get service connected because of incomplete or missing military treatment records. These cases require the assistance of skilled New York disability attorneys who know how to present an entire claim as well as submit evidence that is backed up by independent experts.

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

However, it's harder to get connected if you suffer from a pre-existing medical condition that grew worse while in the military. In order to prove that your time in military service worsened or aggravated an existing medical condition You must present expert medical evidence that is at the level of "clear and undeniable" proof.

Appealing an Denial

The VA will review your application after you have submitted your application and provided medical proof. The VA will usually issue an opinion either approving or denial of benefits. If the decision is not favorable the veteran is given one year to submit a Notice of Disagreement. A disability attorney for veterans can help the claimant navigate through the three decision review options - an additional claim or a higher-level review, or an direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Take note of whether the lawyer is familiar with your military experiences and the culture of the armed services when choosing the New York veterans' disability lawyer. This can make the process more enjoyable and less requiring you to explain your experiences and circumstances in plain English.

You want a company that will work on your case throughout the lengthy appeals procedure. Be wary about firms that assist you with the initial stages of your claim and then go away.

A seasoned New York veterans' disability attorney can help you with all stages of the claim, including appeals. They can assist you in submitting additional medical evidence, request a formal hearing and represent you at any Board meetings to ensure that your case is treated fairly. They can also help you get your benefits, such as monetary compensation, aid and attendance, educational benefits or unemployability benefits.

Achieving a Higher Rating

It is possible that your disability becomes worse or your symptoms are more severe. In this case it's logical to ask for a higher rating. A veterans disability lawyer can assist with this process, and assist you in finding evidence to prove your claim.

It's not unusual for the VA to make mistakes that result in a lower rating than you deserve. If they overlook an injury you've suffered or overlook a problem that could be linked with other disabilities in order to get higher ratings, it's worth having a professional look over your records to look for errors.

You can still file a higher-level claim or review if you have been assessed for more than a calendar year. This involves a thorough review of your file, and could result in a change to your effective date or a new rating that's more accurate to what you feel.

It's also advisable to file an additional claim or a higher-level review if you're trying to argue that you're entitled to a disability rate of 100 percent or greater. A disability lawyer can assist you to create a compelling case for this rating that is reserved for the most debilitating disabilities. A mental health issue, for example, may be a reason to get a 100% rating of disability because it could affect your job or trigger frequent hospitalizations that don't normally trigger this level for a cardiovascular problem or any other medical condition.

Helping with the Appeals Process

Despite what some believe the denial of an appeal for disability by the VA is not the end of an individual's chances to recover benefits. Former service members have one year to appeal an outcome that is not favorable.

An experienced veterans disability attorneys disability lawyer can assist a veteran in determining which of the three current appeals options is the best option for their situation. They can also assist veterans put the evidence needed to convince a higher level reviewer that their previous decision was not correct. They can even assist a veteran with a formal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer can give you the personalized attention to your claim that you require. They also have a lot of experience in managing VA disability claims, and they know the rules and procedure completely. Additionally, some attorneys are veterans themselves, which means that they are aware of the difficulties disabled veterans face. This can create a special kind of empathy that can improve the outcome of the case of a disabled veteran.

Sullivan and Kehoe's team highly trained lawyers will review your VA disability claims free of charge to determine whether we can help you. Call us today to set up your complimentary evaluation.