Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer can help you throughout the claims process. From collecting medical and service proof to submitting an appeal of an appeal denied.

Select a veteran disability lawyer who is specialized in these 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 provide disability benefits if you can prove that the condition you are suffering from is a result of your military service. This is referred to as a nexus. There are a variety of evidence you can prove the connection, including medical records and independent medical examinations (IME), and the nexus letter from your current healthcare providers or therapists (especially for mental health issues). Sometimes, veterans suffer from medically-determinable disabilities, but are not able to be 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 an accurate claim and submit evidence that is supported by unbiased experts.

It is much easier to establish direct service connection for illnesses or injuries that occurred while you were in the military. For instance, if you were struck in the head in the course of your service and suffer headaches and concussions there is a strong connection between the events that led to the current condition you are suffering from.

It is harder to get connected to the military if you suffered from an existing condition that deteriorated during your military service. In order to prove that your service worsened or aggravated an existing medical condition you must provide a doctor's medical evidence that reaches the level of "clear and irrefutable" evidence.

Appealing a Denial

After filing an application and submitting medical evidence, the VA will examine the case. The VA will usually issue a decision approving or denying benefits. If the decision is unfavorable the veteran has one year to file a Notice of Disagreement. A veterans disability lawyer can assist the applicant navigate the three possible review options including a supplemental claim, higher-level review, or a direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

When deciding on the right New York veterans disability lawyer Make sure you consider whether they have a good understanding of your military experiences and the military's culture. This will make the process more relaxed and reduce the need for you to talk about your experiences and situations in plain language.

You should also find a firm that will work on your case throughout the entire duration of your appeal. Beware of firms that only assist you in the initial stages of your claim, and then go away.

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

Receiving a Better Rating

There might come a time that your disability becomes more severe or your symptoms become broader or more challenging. It makes sense in this situation to ask for an increase in rating. A veterans disability lawyer can assist in that process, and they can help you dig up evidence to justify your request.

It's not uncommon to see the VA make mistakes, which can result in receiving a lower score than you deserve. In the event that they fail to notice an injury that you suffer from or miss a condition that could be linked with other disabilities in order to get an increase in rating It's worthwhile to have an expert look over your records to look for errors.

You may still make a higher-level claim, or review if you've been given a rating for more than one calendar year. These include a review of your entire file which may result in modifications to your effective date as well as a new rating more accurate to your personal feelings.

If you believe that you are entitled to an assessment of 100 percent, or higher, you should consider seeking a supplemental claim. A disability lawyer can assist you in putting together a compelling argument for this type of rating which is reserved for very serious disabilities. For example mental health issues could qualify you for an 100% disability rating because it can cause a significant disturbance to your job or frequent periods of hospitalization that do not usually trigger this level of the rating for a heart illness or other medical issues.

Help with the Appeals Process

Contrary what some believe the fact that contrary to what some may believe, a VA denial of disability benefits does not mean that an individual is not eligible for benefits. Former veterans have one year to appeal an outcome that is not favorable.

An experienced veterans disability lawyer can help a veteran decide which of the three current ways to appeal is most appropriate for their particular situation. They can also assist veterans in obtaining the evidence required to convince a higher-level reviewer the previous decision was not right. They can give a veteran a more formal hearing in front of a Veterans Law judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer can give you the personalized attention that your claim needs. They also have a wealth of experience dealing with VA disability claims, and they understand the rules and procedure completely. Some lawyers are veterans, so they are aware of the difficulties that disabled veterans face. This creates an unique type of empathy, which can help improve the outcome of a disability claim for veterans.

The team at Sullivan &Kehoe of highly-trained lawyers can review your VA disability claim for free to determine if we can assist you. Call us today to set up your free assessment.