Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer will guide you through the entire claim process. From collecting medical and service evidence to submitting an appeal for a denied claim, a veteran disability lawyer can help you throughout the claims process.

Select a veteran disability lawyer that is experienced in these cases and is well-versed with the VA system. This will ensure that your case receives the care it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only approve disability benefits if they can prove that the condition you have is related to your military service. This is known as a "nexus. There are many types of evidence to prove this connection. This includes medical records, independent health examinations (IME) or a nexus letter from current healthcare providers (especially in the situation of mental health conditions). There are times when veterans have medically determinable disabilities, but they cannot be considered service-connected due to incomplete or omitted documents. These cases require the assistance of skilled New York disability lawyers who know how to make an accurate claim and submit evidence that is supported by experts who are independent.

It is simpler to prove an immediate connection with your service to injuries or illnesses that occurred while in the military. If you suffered injuries in the military and now suffer from headaches and concussions, it's easier to prove a direct service connection.

However, it is more difficult to get service connected if you have an existing medical condition that grew worse when you were in the military. To prove that your military service worsened or aggravated a pre-existing illness, you must supply expert medical evidence that reaches the level of "clear and irrefutable" proof.

Appealing a Denied Application

After submitting an application and providing medical evidence, the VA will review the case. The VA will usually issue a decision approving or denying benefits. If the decision is not favorable, the veteran is given a year to file a notice of disagreement. A lawyer for veterans' disabilities can assist the applicant navigate the three options for review that include an additional claim, a more extensive review, or direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Make sure the lawyer is knowledgeable of your military experience and the traditions of the armed forces when selecting a New York veterans' disability lawyer. This will make the process more comfortable and less demanding for you to describe your experiences and circumstances in plain English.

You also need a company who will remain on your case throughout the entire appeals process of several years. Beware of firms that only assist you in the first stages of your claim and then disappear.

An experienced New York veterans disability law firm' disability attorney can assist you at all stages of the claim and appeals. They can assist you in submitting 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 help you win you benefits, such as assistance, monetary compensations and attendance benefits, educational benefits, or unemployability.

How can I get a better rating

It may happen that your disability becomes worse or your symptoms get more severe. It is logical in this situation to ask for an increase in the rating. A lawyer for veterans can assist with this process, and they can assist you in finding evidence to justify your request.

It's not uncommon for the VA make mistakes, resulting in a lower rating than you deserve. In the event that they fail to notice an injury or ignore a condition that could be combined with other disabilities to get a higher rating, it's worth having an expert review your records to spot any mistakes.

You are still able to make a higher-level claim, or review if you've been rated for more than a calendar year. These require a complete review of your file and can result in changes to your effective date or an updated rating that is more in line with how you really feel.

It's also advisable to file an additional claim or a more thorough review if you deserve a disability rating of 100 percent or higher. A disability lawyer can assist you to create a compelling case for this rating, which is reserved only for the most debilitating of disabilities. A mental health condition like this one, for instance, may make you eligible for a 100% rating of disability because it could affect your job or result in frequent hospitalizations that are not typically triggering this level of severity for a heart problem or other medical conditions.

Getting Help with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what many believe, the fact that a VA denial of disability benefits does not mean that an individual has no chance of recovering benefits. In fact, a former servicemember has one year from the date the local veterans disability law firm' hospital or office sends them an unfavorable determination to appeal.

A skilled veterans disability attorney can assist a veteran in determining which of the current three options for appeal is best for his situation. They can also help an individual in assembling the evidence needed to convince a higher-level reviewer their previous decision was wrong. They can give a veteran a more formal hearing in front of a Veterans Law judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer will give you the individual attention you require for your claim. They also have a wealth of experience in handling VA disability claims, and are familiar with the rules and procedure inside out. Some lawyers are veterans, so they know the challenges that disabled veterans face. This creates a unique type of empathy, which can make a difference in the outcome of a disability claim for veterans.

Sullivan & Kehoe's team of highly trained lawyers can review your VA disability claims free of charge to determine if we are able to assist you. Contact us today to set up an evaluation for free.