Want free advice on your VA disability benefits claim? Our lawyers have helped thousands of veterans with their VA disability benefits claims.
If you have questions after reading the information below, give us a call. We never charge for VA disability benefits claim evaluations. Ask our law firm all the questions you want. To get help with your claim, please fill out the free consultation form or call toll-free (866) 232-5777.
The top 5 tips from VA claim lawyers:
- Tip #1: Don’t Take Bad Advice
- Tip #2: Provide Relevant Evidence
- Tip#3: Treating With Doctors Can Help
- Tip #4: Buddy Statements Can Help
- Tip #5: Hire an Experienced Lawyer
- FAQ: VA Disability Benefits Claim
- Finished reading these 5 tips for winning your VA Disability Benefits claim? Need more help? Get a free legal consultation.
Tip #1: Don’t Take Bad Advice
“But my friend at the VFW told me…” is very dangerous statement. Your friend at the VFW may not be a qualified source for VA law. Relying on statements from friends about VA law has earned many veterans a denial from the Veterans Administration. VA law is complicated and there are thousands of federal regulations that can affect your case. Do not take bad advice from a friend just because they receive benefits.
If you are denied VA disability benefits because you filed your claim wrong, you may consider a VA appeal. We warn you, VA disability benefits appeals can be lengthy. That is why it is so important not to take bad advice when you are applying. Submitting your claim correctly the first time is going to make this entire process easier for you.
Tip #2: Provide Relevant Evidence
Many veterans do not fully understand how medical evidence fits into their VA disability benefits claim. Rule of thumb: you are going to have to prove you (1) have this medical condition and (2) how it is service-connected. Never assume the Decision Review Officer (DRO) at the Veterans Administration is actually going to read through every page of your Claims File (C-File). The VA employees are overworked and often under-trained.
If you are trying to obtain Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) benefits you are going to have to submit evidence to show that you are unemployable. Things such as your work history can help. When applying, flat out explain to the VA why you can’t work from your service-connected impairments. Don’t assume they are going to link your unemployability to your conditions.
Remember, you need to tell the story of how you are disabled and why you are entitled to VA disability benefits to the Veterans Administration through your evidence.
Tip#3: Treating With Doctors Can Help
Seeking treatment from a doctor for your service-connected conditions can help your claim. Consider the viewpoint of the Veterans Administration; if you are not being treated for your conditions, they must not be that bad, and you must not need VA disability benefits.
Another reason treating with a doctor helps is that you are creating a record of your medical condition. The Veterans Administration wants evidence! Your treating physician’s record can be submitted to the VA when you are applying for benefits. You will get a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam, but we highly suggest you do not let that be your only medical evidence.
Many veterans prefer to treat with doctors outside the VA system. That is fine. You can submit those medical records too. If you have more than one doctor, submit all of their records that pertain to your condition.
Tip #4: Buddy Statements Can Help
Sometimes veterans have to prove that their military service made their conditions worse or caused them. It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint when a medical condition started. However, if you can prove that you were different when you entered the service than when you left, it can help your claim. Statements from your friends and family can be considered by the Veterans Administration. These statements are called VA disability benefits buddy statements.
You can also get buddy statements from people you served with. Suppose a traumatic event like an IED was not on your military records. You could get statements from people you served with to prove it happened. Many Vietnam veterans have used buddy statements to prove they were exposed to Agent Orange or in a shootout with the Viet Cong.
Tip #5: Hire an Experienced Lawyer
Some of our clients have come to us after fighting the VA alone or after working with a Veterans Service Organization (VSO). If you want your VA disability benefits claim handled right, hire an experienced lawyer.
The initial claim process and the appeals process are confusing. It’s easy to get denied because you made a mistake in a claim or submit the wrong evidence. We can help.
FAQ: VA Disability Benefits Claim
What is a VA disability benefits claim? Veterans who have mental or physical impairments that are service-connected can receive monthly compensation from the Veterans Administration. You can file a VA disability benefits claim years after you left the service. If you were previously denied, you can re-apply. If your appeal period has not collapsed, you could appeal your denial.
How much can I get from a VA disability benefits claim? Some veterans are receiving more than $3,737.85 monthly from the Veterans Administration. You can also receive extra monthly compensation for dependent children and parents. When some veterans file a VA disability claim, they find that they have years of missing back pay they didn’t even know existed.
What are the requirement for VA disability benefits claims? To receive monthly compensation from the Veterans Administration, you must have served active duty, not had a dishonorable discharge, and have some sort of service-connected mental or physical impairment. Some impairments do not occur for years after leaving the service and you can still file a VA disability claim for them.
Are VA disability benefits claims hard to prove? VA disability law is extremely complex. There are lots of federal regulations that govern VA disability law. Your local Veterans Service Officer or VFW may not be able to offer the research and resources a law firm can. We highly suggest you hire a VA disability attorney. Woods and Woods has the resources to hire doctors, psychologists, and vocational experts to help you win your claim.
Can I afford a VA disability benefits lawyer? Yes! Woods and Woods never charges a penny unless we win your VA disability claim. We never charge upfront or bill by the hour. Our fee is a percentage of your back pay and case expenses. Woods and Woods will never touch your future benefits.
In this video, one of our VA disability lawyers talks about the VA Rating Formula for Mental Disorders and Disabilities like PTSD.
Finished reading these 5 tips for winning your VA Disability Benefits claim? Need more help? Get a free legal consultation.
Woods & Woods offers free VA disability benefits claim evaluations. We want you to know your legal rights. For no cost, you can call us and ask all the questions you have about VA disability benefits. There is never a charge to talk to our law firm. For help, fill out the online contact form or call toll-free (866) 232-5777.