Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer will guide you through the entire claim process. From collecting medical and service evidence to filing an appeal against a denied claim, a veteran disability lawyer can assist you throughout the entire claim process.

Choose a veteran disability lawyer who limits their practice to dealing with these cases and who is familiar with the VA's system inside out. This will ensure that your case is given the attention it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only grant disability benefits if it is confirmed that your illness is directly related to your military service. This is known as a nexus. There are many types of evidence to prove the connection. This includes medical records, independent health examinations (IME) or a an nexus note from current health care providers (especially in the cases of mental health issues). There are occasions when veterans have medically determined disabilities, but cannot be considered service-connected due to incomplete or omitted records. These cases require the help of experienced New York disability lawyers who know how to make a complete claim and submit evidence that is confirmed by experts who are impartial.

It is simpler to prove 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 and concussions, it's easier to prove a direct service connection.

However, it is more difficult to be connected if you have a pre-existing medical condition that worsened when you were in the military. To prove that your time in service has aggravated or worsened a pre-existing illness it is necessary to provide expert medical evidence that rises to the level of "clear and undeniable" proof.

Appealing a Denied Application

The VA will review your case after you have submitted your application and provided medical evidence. It usually issues a decision that either approves or denies benefits. If the decision isn't favorable, the veteran has one year to submit a notice of disagreement. A veterans disability lawyer can help the claimant navigate the three possible review options which include an additional claim, a more extensive review or a direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

When choosing the right New York veterans disability lawyer Take into consideration whether they can understand your military experience and the traditions of the armed forces. This will make the process more comfortable and less demanding for you to describe your experiences and situations in layman's terms.

You want a company that will handle your case throughout the multi-year appeals procedure. Beware of firms who only help 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 more medical evidence, request an official hearing, and represent you in any Board meetings so that your case will be handled fairly. They can also assist in obtaining you benefits like cash compensations, aid or attendance benefits, educational benefits, or even unemployment.

Earning a higher rating

There could be a point when your disability gets worse or your symptoms become more complex or broader. It is logical in this scenario to ask for an increase in the rating. A veterans disability lawyer can assist you in this process, and assist you in locating evidence to justify your request.

It's not unusual for the VA make mistakes, which can result in receiving a lower score than you deserve. It's worth contacting a professional to check your records for errors. They could have missed an injury or missed any issue that could have been coupled with another disability to earn an improved rating.

Even the fact that it's been more a year since your initial rating decision, you have the option of filing a higher-level review or supplemental claim. These are a thorough examination of your file and can result in an amendment to your effective date or an updated rating that is more accurate to how you really feel.

If you believe you're entitled to a rating of 100 percent or higher, you should consider applying for a supplemental claim. A disability lawyer can help make a convincing case for this rating which is reserved for the most debilitating disabilities. A mental health issue such as depression, for instance, could make you eligible for a 100 percent disability rating, as it can interfere with employment or cause frequent hospitalizations which do not normally trigger this level for a heart problem or any other medical condition.

Need Help with the Appeals Process

Contrary what some believe Contrary to what some may believe, the fact that a VA denial of disability benefits does not mean that an individual is not eligible for benefits. Former service members have a year to appeal any decision that isn't favorable.

An experienced veterans disability lawyer can help a veteran decide which of the three pathways for appealing would be most appropriate for their particular situation. They can also help veterans put the evidence needed to convince a higher level reviewer that their previous decision was not correct. They can even provide veterans with a more formal hearing before an Veterans Law Judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer will give you the individual attention to your claim that you require. They also have extensive experience managing VA disability claims, and are familiar with the rules and procedure in detail. Some attorneys are veterans, and therefore are aware of the difficulties faced by disabled veterans. This creates a distinct type of empathy that can improve the outcomes of a case involving a disabled veteran.

The team at Sullivan &Kehoe of highly-trained lawyers can review your VA disability claims for free to determine if we can help you. Contact us today to arrange an appointment for a free evaluation.