How to Qualify For Veterans Disability Compensation
You could be entitled to compensation if you are a veteran and have suffered a disability as a result of ill health or an injury that was sustained while serving in the military. The process can be complicated.
It is recommended to submit your claims as quickly as possible. VA requires time to review them and determine a rating for your claim.
Service-Connected Disabilities
Service-connected disabilities are those that have been incurred or worsened in military service. They include physical health issues like chronic knee injuries or Lou Gehrig's disease, and mental health issues such as PTSD. Additionally, there are recurring illnesses, such as chronic skin conditions that require frequent visits to the VA for special ointments, appliances and other products. Veterans with this kind of condition are often entitled to compensation and services. This includes free health care, prescription medications and other benefits.
To prove connection to service Veterans must have medical evidence linking their medical condition to their military service. This is usually based on service treatment records. However, independent medical opinions and an nexus document can also help.
The VA uses a set of ratings which is based on Congressional laws to determine what conditions are eligible for compensation and in what proportion. In general the higher the rating for disability, the more benefits available.
A 100% permanent and total disability rating is the highest possible, and it means that a disabled veteran cannot pursue any kind of lucrative employment. Those who are rated this high could be eligible for additional monthly benefits known as Aid and Attendance. This helps veterans with disabilities or their surviving spouse receive assistance in daily activities like dressing, bathing, and feeding, cleaning and taking care of the needs of nature. This includes arranging for transportation as well as making home modifications to make the surroundings more accessible.
Permanent and Total Disabilities Permanent and Total
For many Veterans, a VA determination of disability is an essential lifeline. The additional income derived from an income from a disability check is tax free which makes it affordable and extremely beneficial. It might not be enough to pay for your mortgage, but it can get food on the dinner table and send your children to college. It can be the difference between being poor and having a home and car.
After a claim from a veteran has been approved at the Regional Office level after which they are sent a Rating Decision. It lists their service-related conditions and assigns a disability score to each. In certain instances conditions, a condition is graded 100%, and multiple conditions could be combined to produce a rating known as Total Disabled Unemployment (TDIU). TDIU is the term used to describe the effects of all your ailments hinder you from holding a job that is essentially lucrative work, and is an indefinite designation.
If you have a TDIU rating, you can request that it be upgraded to a permanent and complete rating by filing an application for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). This is a bonus benefit that the VA provides to
veterans disability attorney who are permanently totally disabled because of an amputation or loss of use of organs or body components. This is a permanent distinction but the C&P examiner could reduce your rating if they find that your impairments have improved or could improve in the future.
Disabilities Associated with Service
Many veterans suffer from illnesses which have a profound impact on their ability to live an active and productive lifestyle. These include chronic pain, mental issues (like PTSD), and injuries. Disability compensation can help veterans deal with the financial effects of these conditions which can be serious and lasting.
The VA utilizes a system for assessing disabilities to determine their severity of the condition and determine the benefit amount. The ratings range between 0% and 100% and higher percentages indicating higher levels of disability. This rating is based on many factors, including the effect the injury or illness impacts the veteran's daily activities as well as lifestyle.
Veterans may be able to demonstrate an unambiguous connection between their service and their disability in some cases. If there is proof that the injury or illness occurred during military service, then a traumatic head injury or paralysis might be considered as a direct connection to service. Certain conditions, for example, depression, tinnitus, or anxiety disorders could be considered secondary and not directly connected to military service.
To be eligible for benefits, veterans must submit as as much medical evidence and other documentation as is feasible. This could include personal records of medical treatment and treatments for service. A County Veterans Service Office, or Veterans Service Representative, can assist in speeding up the process of claiming. It is important to be as accurate as you can when reporting dates of treatment and to forward requested information to the VA in the earliest time possible.
PTSD
It is possible to have long-lasting effects on your body and mind after an experience that was traumatic. It can cause flashbacks and nightmares, difficulties concentrating at work or school as well as feelings of fear and horror, and a loss of interest in things that you used to enjoy. It can also cause anxiety or depression, and may lead to abuse substances.
There are effective treatments available for PTSD. They can help you get your life back on track and lessen your symptoms. Most times they require psychological therapies such as counseling or talking therapy. However, medication are also available.
Research on PTSD has shown that it is not just caused by trauma, but also by changes in the brain's function. It could also be caused by certain personal and environmental circumstances, such as living in an area of war or having an ancestral history of mental illness.
Mental health issues like PTSD are regarded as "high value" claims by VA because they are more difficult to disprove with medical evidence than other conditions such as skin, neurological or auditory problems. Moreover, veterans disability law firms (
www.moaprint.com) who have chronic mental health issues are more likely to receive a disability rating of 30% or more than those who suffer from other ailments.