How to File a Veterans Disability Claim

A veterans disability claim is a request for compensation for an injury or illness that is connected to military service. It could also be a claim for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for spouses of survivors and dependent children.

A veteran may have to provide documents to support a claim. The claimant can speed up the process by making appointments for medical examinations and submitting requested documents on time.

Identifying a condition that is disabling

Injuries and illnesses that result from serving in the military, like muscles and joints (sprains or arthritis etc. Veterans are more susceptible to respiratory issues and hearing loss, among other illnesses. These injuries and illnesses are considered to be disability-related more often than other conditions due to their long-lasting effects.

If you were diagnosed with an injury or illness during your time of service then the VA must have proof that it was due to your active duty service. This includes medical records from private hospitals as well as clinics related to the injury or illness aswell as statements made by friends and family about the symptoms you experience.

A crucial factor to consider is how serious your illness is. If you're a hard-working person, younger vets can recover from certain muscle and bone injuries. As you age however, the chances of recovering diminish. This is why it's important for a veteran to file a disability claim in the early stages, when their condition is not too severe.

People who have been classified as having a 100% permanent and total disability could be eligible to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance/Supplemental Security Income (SSI/SSDI). It can be helpful for the Veteran if they provide the VA rating notification letter that was sent by the regional office. The letter should state that the rating is "permanent" and that no further exams are scheduled.

Gathering Medical Evidence

If you'd like the VA to accept your disability benefits, you must provide medical evidence that a disabling condition is present and is severe. This could include private medical records, statements by a doctor or health care provider treating your condition, as well as evidence by way of photographs and videos that demonstrate the signs or injuries you have suffered.

The VA must make reasonable efforts in order to gather evidence relevant to your particular case. This includes both federal and non-federal records (private medical records, for example). The agency will continue to search for these records until it is fairly certain that they don't exist. Otherwise, further efforts will be futile.

After the VA has all the information required It will then draft an examination report. This is based upon the patient's history and the symptoms, Veterans Disability and is usually presented to a VA examiner.

This report is used to decide on the disability claim. If the VA determines that the condition is related to service the claimant will be awarded benefits. The veteran may appeal the VA decision in the event of disagreement by filing a written notice of disagreement and requesting that a higher level examiner review their case. This is referred to as a Supplemental State of the Case. The VA may also reopen an earlier denied claim if it receives new and relevant evidence that backs the claim.

The process of filing a claim

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

The search for medical records of civilians that can support your health condition is also essential. You can make this process faster by submitting complete addresses of medical care facilities where you've received treatment, submitting dates of treatment and being specific as possible about what records you are sending the VA. The location of any military medical records you have will allow the VA benefits division to get them as well.

Once you have completed all required paperwork and medical evidence after which the VA will conduct an C&P examination. It will include a physical exam of the affected area of your body. Also depending on the degree to which you're disabled testing with a lab or X-rays might be required. The examiner will write a report, which he or she will send to the VA.

If the VA determines that you're eligible to receive benefits, they will send you a decision letter which includes an introduction and a decision to either approve or deny your claim an assessment, and the specific amount of disability benefit. If you are denied benefits, they will describe the evidence they considered and why they made their decision. If you decide to appeal the decision, the VA will issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

Getting a Decision

During the gathering and reviewing of evidence it is crucial that claimants stay aware of all forms and documents that they must submit. The entire process could be slow if a document or document is not properly completed. It is imperative that claimants attend their scheduled exams.

The VA will make a final decision after reviewing all the evidence. This decision will either decide to approve or deny the claim. If the claim is denied, it is possible to submit a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) asking for an appeal of the decision.

The next step is to write the Statement of Case (SOC). The SOC is an account of all the evidence considered, actions taken, decisions made and the laws governing the decisions.

During the SOC, a claimant may also add additional details to their claim or request that it be reviewed. This is known as a Supplemental Claims or Higher-Level Review. It is also known as a Board Appeal. Making changes to an existing claim could assist in expediting the process. These types of appeals allow senior reviewers or a veterans disability lawyers law judge to go over the initial disability claim and even make a different decision.