How to File a Veterans Disability Claim

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

Veterans could be required to submit proof in support of their claim. The claimant can speed up the process by ensuring they keep appointments for medical examinations and sending requested documents promptly.

Identifying an impairment

Injuries and illnesses that can result from serving in the military, like muscle and joint disorders (sprains or arthritis and so on. Veterans are susceptible to respiratory problems hearing loss, respiratory problems and other ailments. These illnesses and injuries are usually approved for disability compensation at a much higher rate than other ailments because they cause long-lasting effects.

If you were diagnosed with an injury or illness during your time of service then the VA must be able to prove it was due to your active duty service. This includes medical documents from private hospitals and clinics relating to the illness or injury as well statements from friends and family about the symptoms you experience.

The severity of your illness is a key aspect. The younger vets are able to recover from some muscle and bone injuries when they put their efforts into it, but as you get older, the chances of recovery from these kinds of ailments decrease. It is crucial that veterans make a claim for disability even if their condition is grave.

If you have been assessed as having a permanent 100% and total disability could be eligible to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance/Supplemental security Income (SSI/SSDI). To expedite the SSA application process, it's beneficial for the Veteran to submit their VA rating notification letter from the regional office. This letter confirms the rating as "permanent" and also indicates that no future exams are scheduled.

Gathering Medical Evidence

If you'd like to have your VA disability benefits approved, it will need medical evidence that the medical condition is severe and incapacitating. This could include private documents, a letter from a physician, or other health care provider who treats your condition. It can include videos or images showing your symptoms.

The VA is legally required to make reasonable efforts to collect relevant evidence on behalf of you. This includes both federal and non-federal records (private medical records for example). The agency must continue to look for these records until it is reasonably certain that they do not exist. Otherwise, further efforts will be futile.

The VA will then prepare an examination report after it has all the required details. This is based upon the patient's history and the symptoms, and is typically submitted to an VA examiner.

The report of the examination is used to determine if there is a need for a decision on the disability benefit claim. If the VA determines the condition is service-related, the claimant may be eligible for benefits. Veterans can appeal against a VA decision in the event of disagreement by submitting a notice of disagreement, and requesting an inspector at a higher level look into their case. This process is referred to as a Supplemental Statement of the Case. The VA can also reconsider an earlier denied claim if it receives new and relevant evidence to back the claim.

How to File a Claim

The VA will need all your medical documents, military and service records to support your disability claim. You can provide these by filling out the eBenefits application on the web, in person at a local VA office or by sending them to the VA using Form 21-526EZ. In some cases you may need to provide additional forms or statements.

It is also important to search for any medical records of a civilian that may support your health condition. This process can be accelerated by providing the VA with the exact address of the medical facility where you received treatment. Also, you should provide the dates of your treatment.

After you have provided all required paperwork and medical documentation, the VA will conduct an C&P exam. It will include physical examination of the affected part of your body. Moreover, depending on how you are disabled the lab work or X-rays could be required. The examiner will draft a report, which he or she will forward to the VA.

If the VA determines that you're eligible for benefits, they will send you a decision letter that includes an introduction, a decision to approve or deny your claim, an assessment, and the specific amount of disability benefit. If you are denied benefits, they will explain the evidence they analyzed and the reasons behind their decision. If you decide to appeal then the VA will send an Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

Make a Choice

It is vital that the claimants are aware of all the forms and documents that are required during the gathering and review of evidence. If a form hasn't been completed correctly or the correct kind of document isn't submitted the entire process could be delayed. It is crucial that applicants attend their scheduled tests.

After the VA reviews all the evidence, they will make an informed decision. This decision will either decide to approve or deny the claim. If the claim is denied, it is possible to submit a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) asking for an appeal against the decision.

The next step is to create a Statement of Case (SOC). The SOC is a record of all the evidence considered, actions taken, the decisions made, and the laws that govern those decisions.

During the SOC process it is also possible for a claimant to add additional information or get certain claims re-judged. This is referred to as Supplemental Claims or Higher-Level Review, also known as a Board Appeal. It is possible to add new information to an appeal. These types of appeals permit a senior reviewer or a veteran law judge to look over the initial disability claim and even make a different decision.