Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer can help you throughout the claims process. From gathering medical and service proof to submitting an appeal for a denied claim A veteran disability lawyer can assist you through the entire claims process.

Choose a lawyer for veterans disability law firm veterans who focuses their practice on handling these cases and knows the VA system from head to toe. This will ensure that your case receives the care it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only award disability benefits if it's proven that your condition is related to your military service. This is known as a nexus. You can use a variety of evidence to prove this connection. This includes medical documents, independent health examinations (IME) or a an nexus note from current health care providers (especially in the cases of mental health issues). Sometimes, veterans suffer from medically-determinable disabilities but aren't able to get connected due to missing or incomplete military treatment records. These cases require the assistance of experienced New York disability lawyers who know how to present a complete claim and submit evidence that is backed up by independent experts.

It is simpler to prove an immediate connection with your service to illnesses or injuries that you sustained while in the military. For instance, if you received a head injury while serving and are now suffering headaches and concussions there is a clear link between the two events and your current health condition.

It is difficult to be connected to the military if you suffered from a pre-existing condition that worsened during your military service. To prove that your service was a catalyst for the worsening or aggravation of a pre-exist health condition, you'll have to provide expert medical evidence that is "clear and irrefutable".

Appealing to a Denial

The VA will review your case after you have submitted your application and submitted medical evidence. The VA usually issues a decision approving or denying benefits. If the decision is deemed unfavorable, the veteran has one year to file a Notice of Disagreement. A veterans disability attorney can guide the claimant through the three decision review options - the supplemental claim, or a higher-level review, or a direct appeal before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Take note of whether the lawyer is familiar with your military experience and the military's culture when selecting the New York veterans' disability lawyer. This will help you feel more comfortable and reduce the need for you to talk about your experiences and circumstances in plain English.

You should also choose a firm that will continue to work on your case for the entire multi-year appeals process. Beware of firms that only help you with the initial stages of your claim, and then go away.

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

How can you get a better rating

There may be a point when your disability becomes more serious, or your symptoms get more complex or broader. In that situation, it makes sense to ask for a higher rating. A lawyer for veterans can assist you in this process, and they can help you dig up evidence to justify your request.

It's not unusual for the VA to make mistakes that lead to an under-reported disability rating than you deserve. It's worth contacting a professional to check your records for any errors. They might have missed an injury or left out any issue that could have been in conjunction with another disability to receive an even higher rating.

You are still able to file a higher-level claim and review if you've been evaluated for more than a calendar year. These are a thorough examination of your file. It could result in an amendment to your effective date or an entirely new rating that's more accurate to how you feel.

If you believe you're entitled to an assessment of 100 percent or higher, consider seeking a supplemental claim. A disability lawyer can assist you to make a convincing case for this rating which is only available for the most debilitating of disabilities. For example an illness that is mental could qualify you for an 100% disability rating because it can cause marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization that do not typically trigger this kind of rating for cardiovascular disease or other medical issue.

Assistance with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what some believe the fact that contrary to what some may believe, a VA denial of disability benefits doesn't mean that the person is not eligible for benefits. Former military personnel have a year to appeal the decision if it is not favorable.

A skilled veteran disability lawyer can assist a veteran to determine which of the three current appeals options is best for their case. They can also assist veterans gather all the evidence required to convince a higher-level reviewer that their previous decision was wrong. They may even be able to provide a veteran with a more formal hearing before an Veterans Law Judge.

The greatest benefit of having a New York veteran disability attorney handle your appeal is that they can provide the personalized attention your claim needs. They are also likely to have years of experience dealing with VA disability claims and are aware of the rules and procedures both inside and outside. Some lawyers are veterans, so they are aware of the difficulties that disabled veterans disability law Firms face. This can create a distinct type of empathy which can improve the outcome of the case of a disabled veteran.

Sullivan & Kehoe can review your VA disability claim for free to determine if we are able to help you. Call us today to set up your free evaluation.