How to File a Veterans Disability Claim

A veterans disability claim is a claim for compensation for an injury or illness related to military service. It could also be a claim for dependent spouses or children who are dependent.

Veterans may be required to submit evidence to support their claim. Claimants can speed up the process by keeping appointments for medical examinations and submitting documents requested promptly.

Identifying the Disabling Condition

Injuries and illnesses that can result from serving in the military, including muscles and joints (sprains, arthritis etc. Veterans are at risk of respiratory issues as well as hearing loss and other illnesses. These ailments and firm injuries are approved for disability benefits more often than others because they have lasting effects.

If you've been diagnosed with an illness or injury during your service or during your service, the VA must prove that it was the result of your active duty service. This includes both medical clinic records and private hospital records that relate to your injury or illness, and also the statements of friends and family regarding your symptoms.

A key consideration is how serious your condition 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 recovery diminish. This is why it's essential for veterans to file a claim for disability in the early stages, when their condition is not too severe.

Those who receive a rating of 100% permanent and total disability are able to apply for Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI/SSDI). To expedite the SSA application process, it's beneficial to have the Veteran provide their VA rating notification letter from the regional office. It identifies the rating as "permanent" and also states that no further exams are scheduled.

Gathering Medical Evidence

If you want your VA disability benefits approved it will require medical evidence to prove that the condition is severe and disabling. This could include private records, a letter from a physician, or a different health care provider, who treats your condition. It could include videos or images that demonstrate your symptoms.

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 must continue to look for these records until it can be reasonably certain that they do not exist. Otherwise, further efforts will be in vain.

The VA will then prepare an examination report once it has all the required details. The report is based on claimant's medical history and symptoms and is typically submitted to an VA examiner.

This report is used to determine if there is a need for a decision on the disability claim. If the VA finds that the condition is due to service, the applicant may be entitled to benefits. Veterans can appeal a VA decision in the event of disagreement by submitting a notice of disagreement and asking that an examiner at a higher level review their case. This is known as a Supplemental State of the Case. The VA can also reconsider an earlier denied claim if it receives new and relevant evidence to support the claim.

How to File a Claim

To prove your claim for disability, the VA will need all of your medical records and service records. You can submit these by completing the eBenefits website application or in person at a local VA office or via mail using Form 21-526EZ. In some instances you will need to submit additional forms or statements.

Tracking down civilian medical records that confirm your condition is also important. You can speed up the process by submitting complete addresses for medical care facilities where you have received treatment, including dates of treatment, and being as specific as you can about the documents you're sending to the VA. Identifying the locations of any military medical records you have will allow the VA benefits division to access them as well.

Once you have submitted all necessary paperwork and medical proof After you have submitted all the required paperwork and medical evidence, the VA will conduct an C&P examination. This will involve an examination of the body part affected and Firm dependent on your disability it could include lab work or X-rays. The examiner will then prepare the report and send it to the VA for review.

If the VA determines that you're entitled to benefits, they will send an official decision letter which includes an introduction the decision they made to approve or deny your claim and a rating and a specific disability benefit amount. If you are denied benefits, they will explain what evidence they reviewed and the reason they came to their decision. If you seek to appeal, the VA sends an Supplemental Case Statement (SSOC).

Make a Decision

It is important that claimants are aware of the forms and documents required during the gathering and reviewing evidence. The entire process could be reduced if a form or document is not properly completed. It is essential that the claimants attend their scheduled exams.

After the VA evaluates all the evidence, they'll come to the final decision. The decision can either decide to approve or deny it. If the claim is rejected, you can file a Notice of Disagreement to request an appeal.

If the NOD is filed then the next step in the process is to have a Statement of the Case (SOC) completed. The SOC is an official record of the evidence of the case, the actions taken the decisions made, and the laws that govern those decisions.

During the SOC process, it is also possible for Firm a claimant to include new information or have certain claims re-adjudicated. This is referred to as Supplemental Claims, Higher-Level Review, or Board Appeal. Making changes to an existing claim can assist in expediting the process. These appeals allow an experienced or senior law judge to look over the initial claim for disability and make a new decision.