Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer can help you throughout the entire claims process. From collecting medical and service evidence to filing an appeal for a denied claim, a veteran disability lawyer can assist you throughout the entire claims process.

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

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only approve disability benefits if you prove that the condition you are suffering from is linked to your military service. This is known as a nexus. There are many types of evidence to prove this connection. This includes medical records, independent health assessments (IME), or an nexus letter from your current healthcare providers (especially in the cases of mental health issues). Sometimes veterans have medically determinable disabilities but are not connected because of missing or insufficient military treatment records. These cases require the assistance of experienced New York disability attorneys who know how to present an entire claim and submit evidence backed by unbiased experts.

It is simpler to prove that there is a direct connection to your service for illnesses or injuries that occurred while you were in the military. For instance, [Redirect-302] if were hit in the head in the course of your service and suffer headaches and concussions there is a direct link between these events and the current condition you are suffering from.

However, it's more difficult to get service connected if you suffer from an existing medical condition that worsened while you were in the military. To prove that your time in the military caused or aggravated a pre-existing condition, you'll need to present medical evidence that is "clear and undeniable".

Appealing a Denial

After filing an application and providing medical evidence The VA will review the application. It usually makes a decision which either approves or denies benefits. If the decision is deemed unfavorable, the veteran has one year to file a Notice of Disparagement. A veterans disability lawyer can assist the claimant through the three decision review options including an additional claim, a higher-level review or a direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

When selecting the right New York veterans disability lawyer Take into consideration whether they can understand your military experiences and the military's culture. This can make the process more enjoyable and eliminate the need for you to explain your experience and situations in plain language.

You should also find a firm who will remain on your case throughout the entire duration of your appeal. Beware of companies that will only help you with the initial stages of your claim, and then disappear.

A seasoned New York veterans disability attorney can help you through all phases 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 treated fairly. They can also help win you benefits such as assistance, monetary compensations and attendance benefits, education benefits, or even unemployment.

How can you get a better rating

There may be a point when your disability gets worse or your symptoms become more complex or broader. In this case it is sensible to ask for a higher rating. A veterans disability lawyer can assist in that procedure, and help you find evidence to back your request.

It's not uncommon for the VA make mistakes, resulting in a lower rating than you deserve. It's worth contacting an expert to examine your records for any errors. They could have missed an injury or left out the issue that could be added to another condition to get an even higher rating.

You can still make a higher-level claim, or review if you've been assessed for more than a calendar year. These are a thorough examination of your file, and could result in a change to your effective date or an updated rating that is more in line with how you really feel.

It's also worth pursuing an additional claim or a higher-level review if you're trying to argue that you deserve a disability rating of 100 percent or greater. A disability lawyer can assist you to develop a compelling argument for this rating which is only available for the most debilitating disabilities. For instance, a mental health condition could be a reason to get an 100% disability rating because it can cause a significant disturbance to your job or frequent periods of hospitalization, which don't normally trigger such the rating for a heart illness or other medical issues.

Assistance with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what some may believe Contrary to what some may believe, the fact that a VA denial of disability benefits doesn't mean that an individual isn't eligible to receive benefits. In fact, a former military member has one year from the date their local veterans hospital or office mails them a denial to appeal.

An experienced veterans disability lawsuits disability lawyer can assist a veteran in determining which of the three appeals routes is the best option for their situation. They can also assist veterans put all the evidence required to convince a higher-level reviewer that their previous decision was not right. They can even provide veterans with a formal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer will give you the individual attention your claim requires. They also have years of experience dealing with VA disability claims, and they know the rules and procedures in and out. Additionally, some attorneys are veterans themselves, which means they understand the challenges that disabled veterans face. This creates a distinct type of empathy that can help improve the outcome of a veterans disability case.

Sullivan & Kehoe can review your VA disability claim for free to determine if we are able to help you. Call us today to schedule your free evaluation.