westfield veterans disability lawyer Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer will guide you through the entire claim process. From collecting medical and service proof to filing an appeal of a claim that has been denied.

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 gets the attention it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only grant disability benefits if it can be confirmed that your illness is connected to your military service. This is referred to as a nexus. You can make use of various types of evidence to prove this connection. This includes medical documents, independent health examinations (IME), or the nexus letters from current healthcare providers (especially in the cases of mental health issues). There are times when orland park veterans disability Law firm have medically determined disabilities, but they are not able to be service connected because of insufficient or missing documents. These cases require the help of skilled New York disability lawyers who are able to present a complete claim and submit evidence that is confirmed by experts who are independent.

It is much easier to prove direct service connection for injuries or illnesses that occurred while in the military. If you've been injured while during your military service and now suffer from headaches or concussions, it is easier to prove a direct service connection.

However, it is more difficult to get service connected if you have a pre-existing medical condition that got worse while you were in the military. To prove that your service time was a catalyst for the worsening or aggravation of a pre-exist condition, you will need to present medical evidence that is "clear and undeniable".

Appealing an Denial

The VA will review your application after you have submitted your application and provided evidence of medical necessity. It usually issues a decision that either approves or denies benefits. If the decision isn't favorable, the veteran has a year to make a formal complaint. A disability lawyer for veterans can help the claimant navigate the three decision review options that include a supplemental claim, higher-level review, or direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

When selecting when choosing a New York veterans disability lawyer Be sure to think about whether they can understand your military experiences and the army's culture. This can make it easier for you and decrease the requirement to explain your situation and experiences in a layman's way.

You also need a company that will work on your case for the duration of the appeals process over a period of years. Be wary of firms that help you with the initial stages of your case, only to then vanish.

An experienced New York veterans' disability attorney can help you with all phases of the claim and appeals. They can help you submit additional medical evidence and request a formal hearing and represent you at any Board meetings to ensure that your case is dealt with fairly. They can also assist you in obtaining you benefits, such as financial compensations, aid and attendance benefits, educational benefits, or unemployedness.

Earning a higher rating

It could be that your disability becomes worse or your symptoms are more severe. It is logical in this scenario to ask for an increase in the rating. A veteran disability lawyer can help you with this process and assist you to collect evidence to back your claim.

It's not unusual to see the VA make mistakes, which can result in a lower rating than you deserve. It's worth contacting an expert to examine your records for any errors. They may have missed an injury or left out an issue that could be combined with another disability to receive an improved rating.

You are still able to make a higher-level claim, or review if you have been given a rating for more than one calendar year. This could include a thorough review of your entire file that could lead to changes to the effective date of your claim and the creation of a new rating that is more precise to your personal feelings.

If you believe you deserve an assessment of 100 percent or higher, consider requesting a supplemental claim. A disability lawyer can help build a strong case for this rating that is reserved for the most debilitating of disabilities. A mental health condition for instance, might qualify you for a 100 percentage disability rating since it can interfere with employment or cause frequent hospitalizations that would not normally trigger this level for a cardiovascular problem or any other medical condition.

Getting help with the Appeals Process

Despite what some people may think that denying claims for disability by the VA isn't the end of an individual's ability to collect benefits. In fact, a former veteran has one year from the date that the local veteran's hospital or office sends them a decision that is not favorable to file an appeal.

An experienced veterans disability attorney can assist a veteran to determine which of the three pathways for appeal is best for his particular case. They can also help an individual vet put the evidence together needed to convince a higher-level reviewer that their previous decision was not correct. They may also give a veteran a more formal hearing in front of an Veterans Law judge.

The benefit of having an New York veteran disability attorney handle your appeal is that they will provide the personal attention your claim demands. They also have a wealth of experience managing VA disability claims, and they know the rules and procedures completely. In addition, some attorneys are veterans themselves, which means that they understand the challenges disabled veterans face. This creates a unique type of empathy that can improve the outcomes of a case involving a disabled veteran.

Sullivan & Kehoe can review your VA disability claim at no cost to determine if we are able to help you. Call us now to schedule an evaluation for free.