Veterans Disability Lawyers

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

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

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only grant disability benefits when it can be established that your condition is directly related to your military service. This is referred to as relationship. You can use a variety of evidence to prove this connection. These include medical documents, independent health examinations (IME), or an nexus letter from your current healthcare providers (especially in the situation of mental health conditions). There are times where veterans are diagnosed with medical disabilities, but they are not able to be considered service-connected due to the absence of or insufficient documents. These cases require the assistance of skilled New York disability lawyers who know how to make an accurate claim and submit evidence that is backed by unbiased experts.

It is much easier to establish direct service connection for injuries or illnesses which occurred while in the military. If you suffered injuries in the military, and now suffer from headaches or concussions, it is easier to prove a direct service connection.

It is harder to get connected to the military if you suffered from an existing medical condition that was worsened during your military service. To prove that your service caused or aggravated a pre-existing health condition, you'll have to present medical evidence that is "clear and undeniable".

Appealing to a Denial

The VA will review your application after you have submitted your application and provided medical proof. It usually issues a decision which either approves or denies benefits. If the decision isn't 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 before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Take note of whether the lawyer is familiar with your military experiences and the military's culture when selecting a New York veterans' disability lawyer. This can make it simpler for you to understand and reduce the necessity to explain your circumstances and experiences in layman's language.

You also need a company that will continue to work on your case throughout the entire multi-year appeals process. Be wary about firms that help you with the initial stages of your case, only to then go away.

An experienced New York veterans disability attorney can assist with all stages of your claim and appeals, including the appeals procedure. They can help you submit additional medical evidence and request a formal hearing and represent you at any Board meetings to ensure that your case is handled in a fair manner. They can also help you obtain benefits including monetary compensation, aid and attendance, educational benefits or unemployability benefits.

How to get a higher rating

It may happen that your disability gets worse or your symptoms are more severe. It makes sense in this scenario to ask for an increase in your rating. A lawyer for veterans can assist you in this process, and they can assist you in locating evidence to support your request.

It's not uncommon for the VA to make mistakes that lead to a lower disability rating than you're entitled. It's worth getting an expert to review your records for mistakes. They may have missed an injury or missed a problem which could be in conjunction with another condition to get an increase in rating.

You are still able to file a higher-level claim and review if you've been rated for more than a calendar year. These include a review of your entire record, which may result in modifications to your effective date as well as a new rating more accurate to the feelings you have.

It's also advisable to file an additional claim or higher-level review if you're trying to argue that you deserve a disability rating of 100 percent or more. A disability lawyer can help you create a convincing argument for this type of rating that is reserved for those with difficult to treat 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 this type of the rating for a heart disease or other medical issue.

Assistance with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what some believe Contrary to what some may believe, 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 the decision if it is not favorable.

An experienced attorney for veterans can help a vet determine which of the three appeals options would be the most appropriate for his situation. They can also help veterans gather the evidence they need to convince a higher level reviewer that their previous decision was wrong. They can even assist a veteran with a formal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer can provide you with the personal attention your claim requires. They also have a vast experience dealing with VA disability claims and know the rules and procedures from top to bottom. Some attorneys are veterans disability lawsuits, so they are aware of the difficulties faced by disabled veterans. This creates a unique kind of empathy that can sometimes make a difference in the outcome of a case involving a disabled veteran.

Sullivan & Kehoe can review your VA disability claim at no cost to determine if we are able to assist you. Contact us today to arrange your free evaluation.