How to File a Veterans Disability Claim

A claim for disability benefits for veterans is a request for compensation for an illness or injury that is connected to military service. It can also be a request for dependency and indemnity payment (DIC) for surviving spouses and dependent children.

A veteran may need to submit documents to support an claim. Claimants can speed up the process by making medical exam appointments and sending the required documents promptly.

Identifying a condition that is disabling

The possibility of ill-health and injuries that result from service in the military, including muscular skeletal disorders (sprains and arthritis etc. Veterans are susceptible to respiratory problems and [Redirect-302] hearing loss, among other ailments. These illnesses and Veterans Disability Law Firms injuries are typically approved for disability compensation at a much higher rate than other conditions due to their long-lasting effects.

If you were diagnosed with an illness or injury while on active duty, the VA will require proof this was the result of your service. This includes medical documents from private hospitals and clinics related to the injuries or illnesses as well statements from friends and family about the symptoms you experience.

The severity of your condition is a significant factor. Veterans who are younger can generally recover from some muscle and bone injuries if they work at it, but as you get older, the chances of recovery from these conditions decrease. This is why it is vital for veterans to file a disability claim at an early stage, even if their condition isn't too severe.

Those who have been rated as having a 100% permanent and total disability could be eligible to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance/Supplemental security Income (SSI/SSDI). In order to speed up the SSA application process, it's beneficial for the veteran to provide their VA rating notification letter from the regional office. It confirms the rating as "permanent" and also indicates that there are no future tests scheduled.

Gathering Medical Evidence

If you wish to have your VA disability benefits to be approved it will require medical evidence proving that the medical condition is severe and incapacitating. This can include private medical records, statements from a doctor or another health care provider who treats your condition, and evidence by way of photographs or videos that display your symptoms or injuries.

The VA is legally required to make reasonable efforts to collect relevant evidence on behalf of you. This includes both federal and non-federal records (private medical records for example). The agency must continue to look for these kinds of records until it is certain that they are not there or else it would be in vain.

The VA will prepare an examination report once it has all of the required information. This is based upon the claimant's history and symptoms and is usually submitted to a VA examiner.

The examination report is used to decide on the disability claim. If the VA finds the condition to be due to service, the applicant may be entitled to benefits. Veterans can appeal the VA decision in the event of disagreement with the decision by submitting a formal notice of disagreement and requesting that a higher level examiner review their case. This is known as a Supplemental Statement of the Case. The VA can also reconsider an earlier denied claim if it receives new and pertinent evidence to back the claim.

The process of filing a claim

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

Finding medical records from civilians that confirm your condition is equally important. You can speed up the process by providing complete addresses to medical facilities where you've received treatment, submitting dates of treatment and being as precise as you can regarding the records you're providing to the VA. The location of any military medical records you have will allow the VA benefits division to access those as well.

The VA will conduct an exam C&P after you have submitted the necessary paperwork and medical evidence. It will include an examination of the body part affected and dependent on your disability, may include lab work or X-rays. The examiner will prepare the report and send it to the VA to be reviewed.

If the VA determines that you're eligible for benefits, they will send you a decision letter that includes an introduction and a decision to either approve or deny your claim a rating and an exact amount of disability benefits. If you are denied benefits, they will describe the evidence they considered and the reasons for their decision. If you appeal, the VA will send a Supplemental Case Statement (SSOC).

Make a Decision

It is vital that the claimants are aware of all the forms and documents needed during the gathering and reviewing of evidence. If a document isn't filled out correctly or if the correct kind of document isn't submitted, the entire process can be delayed. It is also crucial that claimants schedule appointments for their exams and attend them as scheduled.

The VA will make an ultimate decision after reviewing all the evidence. This decision will either approve or deny the claim. If the claim is denied, it is possible to submit a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) in order to request an appeal of the decision.

The next step is to complete the Statement of Case (SOC). The SOC is an account of all the evidence considered, the actions taken, the decisions made, and the laws governing those decisions.

During the SOC process, it is also possible for a claimant to add additional information or get certain claims re-judged. This is referred to as a Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal. It can be beneficial in bringing new information into the claim. These types of appeals allow an older reviewer or veterans law judge to go over the initial disability claim and potentially make a different decision.