Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer can assist you through the entire claims process. From gathering medical and service proof to submitting an appeal for a denied claim, a veteran disability lawyer can help you through the entire claims process.

Choose a veteran disability attorney who is specialized in these types of cases and is familiar with the VA system. 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 related to your military service. This is called a linkage. You can use different types of evidence to prove the connection. These include medical records, independent health exams (IME) or a an nexus letter from your current healthcare providers (especially in the case of mental health problems). Sometimes, veterans have medically determined disabilities but are not connected because of incomplete or missing military treatment records. These cases require the assistance of skilled New York disability lawyers who are able to present a complete claim and present evidence that is supported by independent experts.

It is much easier to establish the direct connection between your service and injuries or illnesses which occurred while in the military. For veterans disability lawyer instance, if received a head injury in the course of your service and suffer from concussions and headaches, there is a direct link between the events that led to your current condition.

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

Appealing a Denied Application

After submitting an application and submitting medical evidence after which the VA will review the application. The VA will typically issue an opinion either approving or denial of benefits. If the decision is not favorable, the veteran has one year to submit a Notice of Disagreement. A veterans disability attorney can guide the claimant through the three review options - a supplemental claim or higher-level review, or a direct appeal before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

When selecting a New York veterans disability lawyer Take into consideration whether they understand your military experience and the culture of the armed forces. This can make the process more comfortable and less requiring you to explain your experience and situations in layman's terms.

You want a firm who will be working on your case throughout the lengthy appeals procedure. Be wary of companies that assist you in the initial stages of your case, only to then vanish.

A seasoned New York veterans' disability attorney can assist you at all stages of the claim and appeals. They can help you submit more medical evidence, request an official hearing and veterans disability lawyer represent you at any Board meetings to ensure your case will be handled in a fair manner. They can also help you win your benefits, such as monetary compensation, aid and attendance, education benefits or unemployed benefits.

How do I obtain a higher rating

There may come a time when your disability gets worse, or your symptoms get more difficult or wider. It is logical in this instance to seek an increase in the rating. A veteran disability lawyer can help you with this process and help you collect evidence to back your claim.

It's not common for the VA to make mistakes that lead to being denied a disability rating lower than you're entitled to. It's a good idea to hire an expert to review your records for errors. They may have overlooked an injury or omitted an issue that could be combined with another disability to get an improved rating.

Even even if it's been more than one year since your initial rating decision, you have the option of filing an additional review or claim. This involves a thorough review of your dossier and may result in changes to your effective date or an updated rating that is more accurate to what you really feel.

If you believe you deserve a rating of 100 percent or higher, you should consider making a claim for supplemental benefits. A disability attorney can help you develop a convincing argument for this type of rating which is reserved for extremely severe disabilities. A mental health issue for instance, might make you eligible for a 100% rating of disability because it can hinder employment or cause frequent hospitalizations which would not normally trigger this level for a cardiovascular problem or any other medical condition.

Help with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what many people believe that denial of a disability claim by the VA isn't the end of an individual's chance to receive benefits. Former veterans have one year to appeal an outcome that is not favorable.

A skilled veterans disability lawyer can assist a veteran to determine which of the three appeals options is the best option for their situation. They can also help a vet in gathering the evidence required to convince a higher-level reviewer that the previous decision was not right. They can even provide veterans with a formal hearing before an Veterans Law Judge.

The most appealing aspect of having an New York veteran disability attorney handle your appeal is that they are able to provide the personalized attention your claim demands. They also have a wealth of experience in dealing with VA disability claims, and they are aware of the rules and procedure in detail. Additionally, some attorneys are veterans themselves, which means they are aware of the difficulties disabled veterans have to face. This creates a unique type of empathy that can sometimes improve the outcomes of a disability claim for veterans.

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