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How to Qualify For Veterans Disability Compensation

You could be qualified for compensation if are a veteran and have suffered an impairment due to an illness or injury that was sustained while serving in the military. However, the process can be complex.

It’s best to file your claims as soon as you can. VA requires time for these documents to be assessed and to determine an assessment.

Disabilities related to service

Service-related disabilities are those that were incurred or worsened in military service. Physical health conditions like Lou Gehrig’s Disease, chronic knee injuries, along with mental health issues such as PTSD are also included. Also, it includes recurring disorders like chronic skin disorders, which require frequent visits to the VA for special ointments and appliances. Veterans with this kind of condition are usually eligible for compensation and services. This includes no-cost healthcare, prescription medications and other benefits.

To prove service-connection Veterans must have medical evidence that ties their condition to their military service. This usually comes from the records of treatment for service, however independent medical opinions and nexus documents can help, too.

The VA uses a rating schedule, based on Congressional law to determine which ailments are entitled to payment and at what percentage. Generally, the higher the disability rating is then the more benefits are available.

The highest rating possible is 100% permanent and total disabilities. This means that the person who is disabled cannot seek any kind of a lucrative job. People with a rating this high are eligible for additional monthly benefits called Aid and Attendance. This lets a veteran with a disability or their surviving spouse receive assistance in daily activities like dressing, bathing and eating, cleaning and attending to the needs of nature. This includes organizing transportation and modifying the home to make the environment more easily accessible.

Permanent and Total Disabilities

For a lot of Veterans the VA determination of disability is an essential lifeline. The extra income that comes from a disability grant can be extremely helpful and affordable since it is tax-free. It may not cover your mortgage, but you can get food on the colony veterans disability attorney dinner table and send your kids to college. It could be the difference between being poor and having a roof over your head and a car in the garage.

When a claim for a veteran is approved at the Regional Office level the veteran is sent a Rating Decision. It lists their service-related conditions and assigns a disability score to each. In some cases a single condition is evaluated 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 is a permanent designation which means that the combination of your ailments prevent you from retaining substantially gainful employment.

If you have an TDIU rating and you wish to request it be upgraded to a permanent and complete rating by submitting a claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). The VA provides this benefit to veterans who are completely and permanently disabled due to an amputation, loss of organs or body parts or the combination of both. This is a permanent distinction, however, the C&P examiner can reduce the score if they decide that your impairments have improved or could improve in the near future.

Disabilities that are a result of Service

Many veterans suffer from conditions which have a significant impact on their ability to work and live an active lifestyle, including chronic physical pain, mental health issues (like PTSD) and injuries. Disability compensation may help veterans to offset the financial consequences of these conditions which can be serious and last for a long time.

The VA utilizes a rating system to determine disability severity and benefit amounts. The ratings vary from 0% and 100% with higher percentages indicating greater levels of disabilities. The criteria for determining this rating is based on various factors, such as the impact that the injury or illness had on the veteran’s life and daily activities.

In some instances there are instances where veterans are able to demonstrate direct service connection to their disability. If evidence is available that the illness or injury was a result of military service for example, a head injury resulting in trauma or paralysis could be considered as a direct connection to service. However, some ailments such as tinnitus or anxiety disorders or depression, might be considered secondary conditions that aren’t directly related to the veteran’s military service.

Veterans should provide as many medical records and other proof as they can to be eligible for benefits. This could include personal records of medical treatment and service treatment. A County Veterans Service Office, or Veterans Service Representative, can assist in speeding up the process of filing claims. It is important to be as precise as possible when reporting dates of treatment, and to provide requested information to the VA in the earliest time possible.

PTSD

If you’ve had a difficult event, it may have lasting effects on your body and mind. This could include flashbacks and nightmares, difficulty in concentrating at school or work or at school, feelings of anxiety and horror, and a loss of interest in the things you used to enjoy. It can also cause anxiety or depression and could lead to substance abuse, especially among teens and young adults.

There are effective treatments for PTSD. They can aid you in getting back to normal and help reduce the symptoms. Most involve psychological treatment such as talking therapy or counseling but medicines are also available.

Research on PTSD has shown that it is not just caused by trauma, but also due to changes in brain function. It can also be exacerbated by environmental and personal factors such as living in war zones or having a history of mental illness.

Mental health issues such as PTSD are deemed “high value” claims by VA because they are more difficult to prove with medical evidence than other conditions like skin, neurological or auditory issues. Niles Veterans Disability Lawyer suffering from disabling mental disorders are more likely to be awarded a disability rating that is higher than 30 percent than those with no.