Veterans Disability Lawyers

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

Select a veteran disability attorney who is specialized in dealing with these cases and who is familiar with the VA's system from top to bottom. This will ensure that your case receives the attention it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only award disability benefits only if you prove that the condition you are suffering from is related to your military service. This is known as a "nexus. There are a variety of evidence you could use to show this connection, including medical records and independent medical examinations (IME), and letters from current health professionals or therapists (especially for mental health conditions). Sometimes, veterans have medically determined disabilities but are not connected because of missing or insufficient military treatment records. These cases require the assistance of experienced New York disability attorneys who are skilled at presenting an entire claim and provide evidence backed by impartial experts.

It is much easier to prove the direct connection between your service and illnesses or injuries that you sustained while in the military. If you were injured in the military, and now suffer from headaches or concussions, it's easier to prove a direct service connection.

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

Appealing an Denial

The VA will review your case after you have submitted your application and provided medical proof. The VA usually issues an approval or denial of benefits. If the decision isn't favorable, the veteran has one year to submit a notice of disagreement. A lawyer for veterans' disability can help the claimant navigate the three possible review options which include a supplemental claim, higher-level review or a direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Take note of whether the lawyer is familiar with your military experiences and the culture of the armed services when selecting the New York veterans' disability lawyer. This can help you feel more comfortable and reduce the need for you to explain your experiences and situations in layman's terms.

You should also choose a firm who will continue to work on your case throughout the duration of the appeals process over a period of years. Beware of firms that only assist you with the initial stages of your claim and then vanish.

A seasoned New York veterans disability attorney can help you through all phases of your claim including the appeals process. They can assist you in submitting 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 to get your benefits, like monetary compensation aid and attendance, education benefits or unemployed benefits.

Achieving a Higher Rating

It may happen that your disability becomes worse or your symptoms become more severe. In that case it's logical to ask for a higher rating. A veteran disability lawyer can assist you with this process and help you collect evidence to prove your claim.

It's not uncommon for the VA to make mistakes that lead to a lower disability rating than you're entitled. It's worth getting an expert to review your records for mistakes. They might have missed an injury or omitted the issue that could be added to another disability to receive an even higher rating.

You may still make a higher-level claim, or review if you have been evaluated for more than a calendar year. These can include a review of your entire record, which may result in changes to your effective date and an updated rating that is more true to your personal feelings.

If you believe you deserve an assessment of 100 percent, or higher, you should consider seeking a supplemental claim. A disability lawyer can help you create a compelling argument for this type of rating which is reserved for very severe disabilities. For example an illness that is mental might qualify you for a 100% disability rating because it could cause significant disruption to your work or frequent periods of hospitalization that do not typically trigger this kind of rating for cardiovascular disease or other medical problems.

Help with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what many believe, an VA denial of disability benefits does not mean that a person is in no position to claim benefits. In fact, a former veteran has a 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 attorney for veterans disability law firms can assist a veteran to determine which of the current three appeal options is the best option for his situation. They can also assist veterans disability law firms put the evidence they need to convince a higher level reviewer that their previous decision was not correct. They can even provide veterans with a more formal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer can provide you with the personal attention to your claim that you require. They are also likely to have a wealth of experience in handling VA disability claims and know the rules and procedures in and out. In addition, some attorneys are veterans themselves, which means that they understand the challenges disabled veterans face. This creates an unique type of empathy, which can improve the outcomes of a case involving a disabled veteran.

Sullivan & Kehoe's team of highly-trained lawyers can review your VA disability claim for free to determine if we are able to help you. Call us today to set up your complimentary evaluation.