How to File a Veterans Disability Claim

A veterans disability claim is a request for compensation based on an illness or injury that is connected to military service. It can also be a request for dependency and indemnity payments (DIC) for spouses who have died and dependent children.

Veterans could be required to submit proof in support of their claim. Claimants can speed up the process by attending their appointments for medical examinations and submitting the required documents on time.

Identifying a Disabling Condition

The military can lead to injuries and Veterans Disability illnesses, such as arthritis, musculoskeletal conditions, and strains. ) respiratory disorders, and loss of hearing are frequent among veterans. These ailments and injuries are deemed to be eligible for disability benefits at a higher percentage than other conditions due to their long-lasting effects.

If you've been diagnosed with an injury or illness during your service and you were unable to prove it, the VA must prove it was due to your active duty service. This includes medical documents from private hospitals and clinics related to the injury or illness as well in statements from family and friends regarding the symptoms you experience.

The severity of your issue is a key factor. Younger vets can usually recover from a few bone and muscle injuries when they are working at it, but as you get older the chances of recovering from these types of conditions diminish. It is essential that veterans make a claim for disability even if their condition is serious.

Those who receive a rating of 100 percent permanent and total disability are eligible to apply for Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI/SSDI). To expedite the SSA application process, it is helpful for the Veteran to submit their VA rating notification letter from the regional office. It confirms the rating as "permanent" and indicates that there are no future tests scheduled.

Gathering Medical Evidence

If you wish the VA to approve your disability benefits, it must have medical evidence that proves that a disabling condition is present and is severe. This could be private documents, a letter from a doctor or another health care provider who treats your illness. It could also include photos or videos that demonstrate your symptoms.

The VA must make reasonable efforts in order to gather evidence relevant to your particular case. This includes federal records as well as non federal records (private medical records, for example). The agency should continue to look for these records until it is reasonably certain that they do not exist. Otherwise, any further efforts will be futile.

The VA will then prepare an examination report after it has all the necessary details. The report is based on claimant's past and present symptoms and is typically submitted to an VA examiner.

This report is used to make a decision regarding the claim for disability benefits. If the VA finds the condition to be due to service, the applicant may be qualified for benefits. The veteran can appeal the VA decision in the event that they disagree, by filing a notice of disagreement, and requesting a higher level examiner review their case. This is known as a Supplemental State of the Case. The VA can also reconsider an earlier denied claim if they are provided with new and relevant evidence to justify the claim.

How to File a Claim

To support your claim for disability, the VA will require all your medical records and service records. You can submit these documents by filling out an eBenefits application on the VA website, in person at the VA office near you or by mail using Form 21-526EZ. In some cases you will need to submit additional documents or statements.

Tracking down civilian medical records which support your medical health condition is also essential. This process can be made easier by providing the VA with the full address of the medical care facility where you received treatment. You should also provide the dates of your treatment.

Once you have completed all required paperwork and medical evidence after which the VA will conduct the C&P exam. This will involve a physical examination of the body part affected and depending on the severity of your disability it could include lab work or X-rays. The examiner will then create an assessment report and then send it to the VA for review.

If the VA decides that you are eligible for benefits, they will send an approval letter that contains an introduction and their decision to accept or deny your claim. It also includes a rating and specific disability benefit amount. If you are denied benefits, veterans disability they will discuss the evidence they looked over and the reasons behind their decision. If you seek to appeal, the VA sends a Supplemental Case Statement (SSOC).

Getting a Decision

It is vital that the claimants are aware of the forms and documents required during the gathering and reviewing of evidence phase. The entire process could be slowed down if a form or document is not completed correctly. It is also essential that claimants keep appointments for their exams and be present at the time they are scheduled.

The VA will make an official decision after reviewing all the evidence. This decision will either decide to approve or reject it. If the claim is denied you may make a notice of Disagreement to make an appeal.

If the NOD is filed then the next step in the process is to obtain a Statement of the Case (SOC) completed. The SOC is an official record of the evidence as well as the actions taken, the decisions made, as well as the laws that govern the decisions.

During the SOC process it is also possible for a claimant to include new information or have certain claims re-adjudicated. This is known as a Supplemental Claims, Higher-Level Review, or Board Appeal. It is possible in bringing new information into a claim. These appeals allow a senior judge or veteran law judge to review the initial claim for disability again and perhaps make a different decision.