Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer can help you through the entire claims process. From gathering medical and service evidence to submitting an appeal of an appeal denied.

Choose a veterans disability attorney who limits their practice to handling these cases and knows the VA system from head to toe. This will ensure that your case receives the attention it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only award disability benefits if it can be proved that your condition is directly related to your military service. This is known as a relationship. There are various types of evidence that you could use to show this connection, such as medical records and independent medical examinations (IME) and the nexus letter from your current health professionals or therapists (especially for mental health issues). There are occasions that veterans suffer from medically-determined disabilities, but they cannot be service connected because of insufficient or missing documents. These cases require the help of experienced New York disability attorneys who are skilled at presenting an entire claim and provide evidence backed by unbiased experts.

It is easier to prove an immediate connection with your service to illnesses or injuries which occurred while in the military. If you have been injured in the military, and now suffer from headaches and concussions it is much easier to establish a direct connection to the service.

However, it is more difficult to get connected if you suffer from a pre-existing medical condition that got worse while you were in the military. In order to prove that your time in service worsened or aggravated an existing medical condition it is necessary to provide expert medical evidence that reaches the level of "clear and unmistakable" proof.

Appealing a Denial

The VA will review your case after you have submitted your application and provided medical proof. The VA usually issues the decision of approving or disapproving benefits. If the decision is unfavorable the veteran is given one year to file a Notice of Disagreement. A veterans disability lawyer can assist the applicant navigate the three decision review options which include a supplemental claim, higher-level review, or direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

When deciding on a New York veterans disability lawyer Make sure you consider whether they can understand your military experiences and the culture of the armed forces. This can make the process more enjoyable and less demanding for you to describe your experiences and situations in layman's terms.

You need a firm that will take on your case throughout the lengthy appeals process. Beware of firms who only assist you in the initial stages of your claim and then vanish.

An experienced New York veterans disability law firm disability attorney can assist you in all stages of your claim, including the appeals process. They can help you submit additional medical evidence or 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 assist you in obtaining you benefits such as financial compensations, aid and education benefits, attendance benefits, or unemployability.

Receiving a Better Rating

There may come a time where your disability gets more severe, [Redirect-301] or your symptoms get broader or more challenging. It makes sense in this instance to seek a higher rating. A veterans disability lawyer can assist with this process, and they can help you dig up evidence to support your request.

It's not uncommon for the VA to make mistakes that lead to an lower disability rating than you deserve. It's a good idea to hire an expert to look over your records for mistakes. They may have missed an injury or left out an issue that could be combined with another condition to get a higher rating.

You can still file a higher-level claim or review if you have been rated for more than a calendar year. This includes a review of your entire dossier, that could lead to changes to your effective date, as well as a new rating that is more corresponding to your feelings.

It's also worth seeking an additional claim or a higher-level review if you believe you're entitled to a disability grade of 100 percent or higher. A disability attorney can assist you in putting together a compelling argument for this type of rating that is reserved for those with difficult to treat disabilities. A mental health condition like this one, for instance, may qualify you for a 100% rating of disability because it could affect your job or cause frequent hospitalizations which do not normally trigger this level for a heart problem or other medical issues.

Assistance with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what some may believe the fact that an VA denial of disability benefits does not mean that a person is not eligible for benefits. In fact, a former veteran has a year from the date that their local veterans hospital or office mails them an unfavorable determination to file an appeal.

An experienced veterans disability lawyer can help a veteran decide which of the three ways to appeal is most suitable for their case. They can also help a vet in gathering the evidence required to convince a higher-level reviewer their previous decision was wrong. They can even provide veterans with a formal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer can provide you with the personal attention that your claim needs. They also have a wealth of experience in handling VA disability claims and understand the rules and procedures both inside and outside. Some attorneys are veterans, HomePage and therefore are aware of the difficulties faced by disabled veterans. This creates a distinct type of empathy that may make a difference in the outcome of a veterans disability case.

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