Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer will guide you through the entire process of claiming. From gathering evidence of medical and other service to filing an appeal against a claim that has been denied.

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

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only grant disability benefits only if you prove that the condition you suffer from is related to your military service. This is referred to as a nexus. There are a variety of evidence you can demonstrate this connection, such as medical records, independent medical examinations (IME) and nexus letters from current health professionals or therapists (especially for mental health conditions). There are times when veterans have medically determinable disabilities, but they cannot be service connected because of missing or incomplete records. These cases require the help of experienced New York disability lawyers who know how to present a complete claim and present evidence that is supported by independent experts.

It is much easier to establish an immediate connection with your service to illnesses or injuries that occurred while in the military. If you were injured in the military and you now suffer from headaches and concussions it is much easier to prove a direct service connection.

However, it's more difficult to get service connected if you suffer from a pre-existing medical condition that worsened while you were in the military. In order to prove that your military service worsened or aggravated a pre-existing illness, you must supply expert medical evidence that is at the level of "clear and undeniable" proof.

Appealing a denied application

After filing an application and providing medical evidence The VA will review the case. It usually issues a ruling that either approves or denies benefits. If the decision is unfavorable the veteran is given one year to file a Notice of Disparagement. A veterans disability lawyer can help the claimant navigate the three options for review including the supplemental claim, the higher-level review, or direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

When selecting the right New York veterans disability lawyer Take into consideration whether they can understand your military experiences and the traditions of the armed forces. This will make the process more comfortable and eliminate the need for you to talk about your experiences and circumstances in plain English.

You want a company that will take on your case throughout the multi-year appeals process. Beware of firms that only help you with the initial stages of your claim and then disappear.

An experienced New York veterans disability attorney can help you through all phases of your claim and appeals, including the appeals procedure. They can assist you in submitting additional medical evidence, request an official hearing, and represent you at any Board meetings so that your case will be dealt with in a fair manner. They can also assist you to get your benefits, including monetary compensation, aid and Veterans Disability Lawyer attendance, education benefits or unemployment benefits.

Achieving a Higher Rating

There might come a time when your disability becomes more serious or your symptoms become broader or more challenging. It makes sense in this scenario to ask for a higher rating. A veterans disability lawyer can help with that process, and they can assist you in locating evidence to support your request.

It's not unusual for the VA make mistakes, resulting in receiving a lower score than you deserve. It's a good idea to hire an expert to examine your records for veterans disability lawyer mistakes. They might have missed an injury or left out the issue that could be combined with another disability to receive a higher rating.

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

It's also worth seeking an additional claim or higher-level review if you're arguing that you are entitled to a disability rating of 100 percent or greater. A disability lawyer can help you create a compelling argument for this type of rating, which is reserved for extremely severe disabilities. A mental health problem for instance, might make you eligible for a 100% rating of disability because it can hinder employment or result in frequent hospitalizations that are not typically triggering this level of a cardiovascular problem or other medical issues.

Getting Help with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what many believe Contrary to what some may believe, contrary to what some may believe, a VA denial of disability benefits doesn't mean that an individual is not eligible for benefits. Former service members 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 ways to appeal is the best option for their situation. They can also help an individual in assembling the evidence needed to convince a higher-level reviewer that their prior decision was incorrect. They can even assist a veteran with a more formal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The best thing about having a New York veteran disability attorney handle your appeal is that they are able to give you the individual attention your claim requires. They will also have extensive experience in managing VA disability claims, and they understand the rules and procedures in detail. Additionally, some attorneys are veterans themselves, which means that they are aware of the difficulties disabled veterans face. This can create a distinct kind of empathy that can improve the outcome of an appeal for veterans' disability.

Sullivan & Kehoe can review your VA disability claim at no cost to determine if we are able to help you. Contact us today to arrange your free assessment.