If You Were Injured In The Camp Lejeune Water Contamination. Contact Us Now!
At Veterans Benefits Law Group, PLLC, we salute men and women like you who have dedicated their lives to protecting and serving our country. In return for this sacrifice, our country has a duty to provide and care for you when you need it the most. However, if you have a service-related disabling condition, getting the veteran’s disability benefits you’re entitled to can be challenging and frustrating for many applicants.
The process of applying for VA disability benefits is often wrought with red tape, complicated paperwork, medical documentation, and rejection. Many veterans are left wondering why it is so difficult to get the benefits they’re entitled to.
At Veterans Benefits Law Group, PLLC, we pride ourselves on aggressively fighting for the rights of those who so bravely fought for us. Our experienced legal team understands the ins and outs of the VA benefits system. With a combined 45 years of experience helping people nationwide, our veterans’ benefits attorneys are ready to help you cut through the confusion and secure the benefits deserve.
The VA has a rating schedule that breaks down veterans’ disabilities into categories. This complex system uses things like diagnosis and codes to assign your disability a rating on the severity and what impact it has on your life.
The less severe the disability, the lower the rating. Ratings are measured in 10 percent increments from zero percent to 100 percent.
How does this rating impact you and your claim? Your monthly disability benefit will vary depending on your rating. The higher your rating, the higher the amount of your benefit.
The VA has a chart that outlines the amount of compensation you may expect to receive, depending on your rating and whether you have dependents. The formula for determining a disability rating is extremely complicated and can get more complex, depending on the nature of your injury or if you have multiple injuries. If you disagree with your rating, you may file an appeal.
You’ve served your country, and now your life has changed because of it. You deserve the benefits that the federal government is supposed to provide for you, so why has your claim been denied?
It is a hard pill to swallow, but a number of claims are rejected. Bureaucratic red tape is complicated. Not only is there a large volume of information that needs to be submitted, but even small mistakes or discrepancies could be grounds for rejection.
First, don’t give up. You have options for appealing a denied claim. To begin the process, you will need to submit a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the regional VA office that denied your benefits claim. A Notice of Disagreement is simply a letter that explains that you disagree with the decision and that you are going to appeal. This notice must include the date of the denial letter, and you must use the exact phrase “Notice of Disagreement.”
Next, choose the type of appeal. You can request a decision review officer appeal either with or without a hearing. You also have the ability to appeal directly to the Board of Veterans Appeals. If you opt for a decision review officer appeal and do not agree with the outcome, you may still take your case to the Board of Veterans Appeals later.
Remember, the clock is ticking. You have only one year from the date of denial to file an appeal. It may feel like there are a lot of hoops to jump through just to get an appeal heard if you try to handle it on your own. However, an experienced VA disability attorney can help you prepare your Notice of Disagreement and strengthen your appeal case. We have a track record of handling veterans’ cases and will aggressively work to help you secure the benefits you deserve.
Military members have a wide range of duties that could lead to an injury or illness. According to statistics from the VA’s Annual Benefits Report, here are some of the most common disabilities that impact veterans:
While these may be the most common problems, there are other illnesses and injuries that might qualify you to receive VA benefits. If you are curious about whether your injury or illness makes you eligible for benefits, discuss your case with an experienced VA claims lawyer right away.
Let’s be honest, when has completing paperwork for the government ever been easy? Bureaucratic red tape isn’t made to be easily understood, and trying to navigate this system on your own can be daunting.
VA applications are notoriously difficult to complete, and even if you do manage to get through it, your claim might get rejected if you make even the smallest error. There is a unique process involved in how applications are evaluated and processed. Attorneys who are experienced with disability benefits for veterans nationwide can help you gather the necessary information and evidence to strengthen your claim.