How to Qualify For Veterans Disability Compensation

If you're a former soldier suffering from an injury or illness brought on by military service, you may be eligible for compensation for veterans' disability. The process can be a bit complicated.

It is recommended that you send all your documents promptly. VA requires time to review them and determine a rating for your condition.

Disabilities that are related to service

Disabilities that are related to service are those that were suffered or worsened through military service. They include physical health issues like chronic knee injuries, Lou Gehrig's disease and mental health problems such as PTSD. This includes skin conditions that require frequent VA visits for specialized applications or ointments. Veterans of this type are usually qualified for compensation and other services. This includes no-cost healthcare, prescription medications and other benefits.

To prove that a connection to service exists the veteran must present clear medical evidence that links their condition to their service in the military. This typically comes from documents related to treatment, however independent medical opinions and nexus letters may assist, too.

The VA uses a set of ratings that are based on Congressional laws to determine which conditions are eligible for compensation and in what proportion. Generally, the higher the disability rating is and the higher the benefits will be available.

A 100 percent permanent and total disability rating is the highest one can get rating, which means that a disabled veteran cannot pursue any type of job that is lucrative. If they are rated this high may be eligible to receive additional monthly benefits known as Aid and Attendance. This is a way for veterans with a disability or their surviving spouse to receive assistance for daily life tasks like washing, dressing, feeding, cleaning and attending to nature's needs. This can include arranging transportation and making modifications to the home to make the home more accessible.

Disabilities that last a lifetime and are total

For many Veterans who are disabled, a VA determination of disability is an important lifeline. The additional income derived from a disability check is tax-free which makes it affordable and extremely beneficial. It may not cover your mortgage, but it can get food on the table and send your kids to college. It can make the difference between poverty and having a house and car.

Once a veteran's claim has been approved at the Regional Office the veteran will receive an Rating Decision. The Rating Decision outlines the veteran's conditions related to service and assigns a score to each. In some cases a single condition is rated at 100 percent, while in other instances, multiple conditions, the two are combined to create what's known as a Total Disabled Individual Unemployment (TDIU) rating. TDIU means that the combined effects of all of your conditions prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, and this is a permanent designation.

If you have an TDIU rating, you can request that it be upgraded to a permanent, total rating by filing an application for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). This is a bonus benefit that the VA pays to veterans who are permanently and totally disabled because of an impairment or loss of use of organs or body components. This is a permanent distinction, but the C&P examiner may reduce the rating if they determine your limitations have improved or are likely to improve in the near future.

Service-Related Disabilities

Many veterans suffer from conditions which have a significant impact on their ability to work or live an active lifestyle, such as chronic pain, mental health issues (like PTSD) and injuries. Disability compensation is a way to help veterans disability law firms deal with the financial burden of these ailments. These conditions can be severe and can last for a long time.

The VA utilizes an assessment system for disabilities to determine their severity and determine benefit amounts. The ratings range from 0% to percent with higher percentages suggesting higher levels of disability. The criteria for determining this rating is based on a variety of factors, including the effect the injury or illness affects the veteran's daily activities as well as lifestyle.

Veterans may be able show an unambiguous connection between their service and their condition in some instances. If there is proof that the illness or injury was caused by military service, the head injury that is traumatic or paralysis could be deemed a direct service connection. However, some ailments such as tinnitus, anxiety or depression could be considered to be secondary conditions that are not directly connected to the veteran's military service.

To be eligible for benefits, veterans must submit as as much medical evidence and other documentation as they can. This can include private documents of medical treatment as well as service treatment. A County Veterans Service Office, or Veterans Service Representative, can help speed up the process of filing claims. It is essential to be as precise as possible when reporting dates of treatment and to send requested information to the VA promptly.

PTSD

If you've had a difficult incident, it could have lasting effects on your mind and body. It can result in nightmares and flashbacks, problems concentrating at work or school or at work, feelings of fear and anxiety, and a decline in the interests you used to enjoy. It can also trigger anxiety or depression and may cause you to abuse substances.

There are effective treatments for PTSD. They can assist you in getting your life back on track and lessen the symptoms. The majority of the time they involve psychological treatments like counseling or talk therapy. However, medication can also be utilized.

Research on PTSD indicates that it is not just a result of trauma, but also due to changes in the brain's functioning. It could also be caused by certain environmental and personal circumstances, such as living in an area of war, or having a family history of mental illness.

Mental health issues, like PTSD are deemed "high-value" claims by the VA because they are more difficult to disprove by medical evidence than other ailments like skin, neurological and musculoskeletal, or auditory. Furthermore, veterans who suffer from chronic mental health issues are much more likely be granted a disability rating of 30% or higher than those who suffer from other ailments.