Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer will guide you through the entire claim process. From gathering medical and service proof to filing an appeal for a denied claim A veteran disability lawyer can assist you throughout the claims process.

Choose a veterans disability attorney who limits their practice to handling these cases and knows the VA's system inside and out. This will ensure your case receives the care it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only grant disability benefits only if you prove that the condition you suffer from is a result of your military service. This is called a nexus. There are different types of evidence that you could demonstrate this connection, such as medical records or independent medical exams (IME), and nexus letters from current healthcare providers or therapists (especially for mental health conditions). There are instances when veterans have medically determinable disabilities, but they cannot be service connected because of the absence of or insufficient documents. These cases require the help of experienced New York disability attorneys who know how to present an entire case and submit evidence backed by impartial experts.

It is easier to prove that there is a direct connection to your service for illnesses or injuries that occurred while in the military. For instance, if were hit in the head during your time in service and you are suffering from concussions and headaches, there is a strong connection between the two events and your current condition.

It is harder to get connected to the military if you suffered from a pre-existing condition that worsened during your military service. To prove that your service caused or aggravated a pre-existing condition, you'll need to provide expert medical evidence that is "clear and undisputed".

Appealing a Denial

After submitting an application and submitting medical evidence, the VA will examine the case. The VA usually issues a decision approving or denying benefits. If the decision is not in favor the veteran is given one year to submit a Notice of Disagreement. A veterans disability attorney can guide the claimant through the three decision review options: the supplemental claim, or a higher-level review, or an direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

When choosing a New York veterans disability lawyer Be sure to think about whether they can understand your military experience and culture of the armed forces. This will make the process more relaxed and less demanding for you to describe your experiences and situations in plain language.

You want a company that will handle your case throughout the long appeals process. Be wary about firms that assist you in the first stages of your case, only to then vanish.

An experienced New York veterans disability attorney can assist with all stages of your claim including the appeals process. They can help you submit additional medical evidence or request a formal hearing, and represent you at any Board meetings to ensure your case is treated fairly. They can also help win you benefits, such as assistance, monetary compensations and education benefits, attendance benefits, or even unemployment.

How to get a higher rating

It could happen that your disability becomes worse or your symptoms are more severe. It makes sense in this instance to seek an increase in the rating. A lawyer for veterans' disability can assist in that process, and they can assist you in locating evidence to back your request.

It's not uncommon for the VA to make mistakes that lead to a lower disability rating than you're entitled to. In the event that they fail to notice an injury or overlook a problem that could be a combination of other disabilities to receive a higher rating It's worthwhile to have an expert look over your records to find any errors.

Even if it's been more than a year since your initial rating decision, you have the option of filing a higher-level review or supplemental claim. This involves a thorough review of your dossier and may result in the change of your effective date or an updated rating that is more accurate to how you feel.

It's also worth looking into an additional claim or a higher-level review if you're trying to argue that you're entitled to a disability rate of 100 percent or greater. A disability lawyer can help you create a compelling argument for this kind of rating, which is reserved for very severe disabilities. A mental health issue for instance, might be a reason to get a 100 percent disability rating, as it could hinder your employment or cause frequent hospitalizations that don't normally trigger this level for a cardiovascular issue or other medical condition.

Need Help with the Appeals Process

Contrary to what some believe, contrary to what some may believe, a VA denial of disability benefits doesn't mean that an individual isn't eligible to receive benefits. In fact, a former servicemember can wait one year from date their local veterans hospital or office mails them an unfavorable determination to file an appeal.

An experienced veterans disability attorney can help a vet determine which of the three appeal options is best for his particular case. They can also help a vet get all the evidence required to convince a higher-level reviewer that their previous decision was not correct. They may also give a veteran an extra formal hearing before an Veterans Law judge.

A New York veteran disability lawyer can give you the personalized attention your claim requires. They are also likely to have a vast experience handling VA disability claims, and they know the rules and procedures both inside and outside. Additionally, some attorneys are veterans themselves, which means they understand the challenges disabled veterans face. This creates a unique kind of empathy that may help improve the outcome of a veterans disability case.

The Sullivan & Kehoe team of experienced lawyers can evaluate your VA disability claims free of charge to determine whether we can assist you. Contact us today to set up an evaluation for free.