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How to File a Veterans Disability Claim

A claim for disability benefits for veterans is a request for compensation due to an injury or disease related to military service. It can also be a claim for dependency and indemnity payment (DIC) for spouses who have died and dependent children.

A veteran may have to submit evidence to support the claim. The claimant can speed the process by ensuring they keep appointments for medical exams and submitting requested documents on time.

Identifying a Disabling Condition

The possibility of ill-health and injuries that result from serving in the military, such as muscle and joint disorders (sprains and arthritis etc. Veterans are at risk of respiratory issues as well as hearing loss and other illnesses. These conditions and injuries are typically approved for disability compensation at a much more hefty 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 need proof that this was the result of your service. This includes both medical clinic and private hospital records related to your injury or illness, and also the statements of relatives and friends regarding your symptoms.

The severity of your problem is a key aspect. If you are a hard worker younger vets are able to recover from certain muscle and bone injuries. As you age however, your chances of regaining your health diminish. It is essential that veterans submit a claim for disability while their condition is still serious.

If you have been assessed as having a permanent 100% and total disability might be eligible to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance/Supplemental Security Income (SSI/SSDI). In order to speed up the SSA application process, it is beneficial for the Veteran to submit their VA rating notification letter from the regional office. It confirms the rating as “permanent” and states that no future exams are scheduled.

Gathering Medical Evidence

If you are seeking to get your VA disability benefits to be approved you must provide medical evidence to prove that the condition is severe and disabling. This could be private medical records, Vimeo a letter from a doctor or other health care provider treating your illness, as well as evidence in the form of pictures or videos that display the signs or injuries you have suffered.

The VA is legally required to make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant evidence on behalf of you. This includes both federal and non-federal records (private medical records, for instance). The agency is required to look for these kinds of records until it is reasonably certain they don’t exist or further efforts would be ineffective.

The VA will prepare an examination report once it has all the required details. It is based on the claimant’s history and symptoms and is typically submitted to an VA examiner.

This report is used to decide on the disability benefit claim. If the VA determines the condition is service-related, the claimant may be eligible for benefits. If the VA disagrees, the person may appeal the decision by filing an Notice of Disagreement and asking a higher-level examiner to review their case. This is referred to as a Supplemental Statement of the Case. The VA may also reopen the claim that was denied previously when it receives new and relevant evidence that backs the claim.

Making a Claim

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

It is also essential to search for any civilian medical records that can support your condition. This process can be speeded up by providing the VA with the complete address of the medical care facility where you received treatment. You must also give the dates of your treatment.

After you have provided all the necessary paperwork and medical documentation After you have submitted all the required paperwork and medical evidence, the VA will conduct an C&P exam. It will include a physical exam of the affected part of your body. Additionally depending on how you are disabled testing with a lab or X rays may be required. The examiner will write a report, which he or she will submit to the VA.

If the VA determines you are entitled to benefits, they will issue an official decision letter which includes an introduction and their decision to accept or deny your claim. It also includes a rating and specific disability benefit amount. If you are denied, they’ll explain what evidence they reviewed and why they made their decision. If you decide to appeal the decision, the VA will send an additional Statement of the Case (SSOC).

Making a Decision

During the gathering and review of evidence phase, it is important for claimants to stay aware of all forms and documents that they must submit. The entire process could be reduced if a form or document is not completed correctly. It is also important that claimants keep appointments for exams and attend the exams as scheduled.

The VA will make a final decision after reviewing all evidence. This decision will either accept or deny the claim. If the claim is denied, you can make a notice of Disagreement to make an appeal.

If the NOD is filed, the next step in the process is having an Statement of the Case (SOC) completed. The SOC is an official document of the evidence of the case, the actions taken the decisions made, and the laws that govern those decisions.

During the SOC an applicant can also include additional information to their claim or get it re-judged. This is referred to as a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review, also known as a Board Appeal. It is a good idea to add new information to an appeal. These types of appeals permit senior reviewers or a lawrence veterans disability attorney law judge to go over the initial disability claim again and even make a different decision.