Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer can assist you throughout the claims process. From assembling medical and service evidence to filing an appeal of a claim that has been denied.

Choose a lawyer for veterans that is solely dealing with these cases and who is familiar with the VA's system inside out. This will ensure that your case receives the attention it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only provide disability benefits if it is proved that your condition is connected to your military service. This is called a relationship. You can use a variety of evidence to prove the connection. This includes medical records, independent health assessments (IME) or a the nexus letters from current healthcare providers (especially in the cases of mental health issues). Sometimes, Veterans disability lawyer suffer from medically-determinable disabilities but aren't able to get connected because of incomplete or missing military treatment records. These cases require the assistance of experienced New York disability lawyers who know how to make a complete claim and submit evidence that is supported by independent experts.

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

It is difficult to be service-connected if you had an existing medical condition that was worsened while you were in military service. To prove that your time in military service worsened or aggravated an existing illness You must present expert medical evidence that reaches the level of "clear and undeniable" proof.

Appealing a Denied Application

After filing an application and providing medical evidence The VA will examine the case. It usually issues a decision which either approves or denies benefits. If the decision isn't favorable, the veteran has a year to submit a notice of disagreement. A lawyer for veterans' disability can assist the claimant through the three possible review options which include an additional claim, a more extensive review or an appeal directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Take note of whether the lawyer is familiar with your military experiences and the military's culture when selecting a New York veterans' disability lawyer. This can make it easier for you and decrease the need to describe your experiences and experiences in layman's language.

You also want a firm who will remain on your case for the entire multi-year appeals process. Beware of firms that assist you with the initial stages of your claim, and then vanish.

A seasoned New York veterans disability law firm' disability lawyer can assist you in all stages of the claim, including appeals. They can help you submit additional medical evidence and request a formal hearing and veterans disability lawyer represent you at any Board meetings to ensure that your case is dealt with fairly. They can also help you get your benefits, including monetary compensation, aid and attendance, educational benefits or unemployed benefits.

How to get a higher rating

There may come a time when your disability gets worse, or your symptoms get more complex or broader. In such a case it's sensible to seek a higher rating. A veteran disability lawyer can assist you with this process and help gather 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 could have missed an injury or left out an issue that could be added to another disability to get an increase in rating.

Even if it's been more than one year since the initial rating decision, you still can file a higher-level review or supplemental claim. These require a complete review of your file and veterans disability lawyer can result in changes to your effective date or an entirely new rating that's more accurate to how you really feel.

If you think you're worthy of a rating of 100 percent, or higher, consider applying for a supplemental claim. A disability lawyer can help you create a compelling case for this rating which is reserved for the most severe of disabilities. A mental health problem such as depression, for instance, could make you eligible for a 100 percentage disability rating since it can interfere with employment or result in frequent hospitalizations that do not normally trigger this level of a cardiovascular problem or other medical issues.

Need help with the Appeals Process

Despite what some people may think that denial of a disability claim by the VA isn't the end of an individual's ability to recover benefits. In fact, a former veteran is given one year from the date the local veterans' hospital or office sends them a negative decision to file an appeal.

An experienced attorney for veterans can assist a vet in determining which of the three appeals options is the best option for his case. They can also assist a vet in gathering the evidence required to convince a higher-level reviewer their prior decision was incorrect. They can even provide a veteran with a more formal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer will give you the individual attention to your claim that you require. They also have a lot of experience in handling VA disability claims, and they know the rules and procedures completely. Some attorneys are veterans disability law firm, so they are aware of the difficulties faced by disabled veterans. This creates a unique kind of empathy that may make a difference in the outcome of a disability claim for veterans.

Sullivan and Kehoe's team highly trained lawyers will review your VA disability claim for free to determine whether we can help you. Call us today to set up your free evaluation.