What Does A VA Disability Lawyer Do?

Are you a veteran with a service-connected disability? You’re not alone.

In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics report of August 2020, 4.7 million veterans, or 26 percent of total Veterans, had a service-connected disability that qualified for benefits assistance. 
Among veterans with a service-connected disability, 27 percent reported a disability rating of less than 30 percent, while 44 percent had a rating of 60 percent or higher. 

Among veterans who served during Gulf War-era II, 40 percent (1.8 million) reported a service-connected disability. Among Gulf War-era II veterans with a service-connected disability, 19 percent reported a disability rating of less than 30 percent and 54 percent reported a disability rating of 60 percent or higher in August 2020.

These statistics tell their own story—a story of veterans who put their bodies and minds on the line while serving and who must seek benefits to help them and their families once their service is complete.

Yet, according to the Veterans Affairs (VA) website, 75 percent of initial applications for disability benefits are denied. Denials may come as a result of insufficient medical evidence or incorrectly filed paperwork. However, denials or low disability ratings may also occur through no fault of your own, due to missteps by VA employees in considering the evidence, invalid VA medical exams, and other mistakes outside of your control.

 If a veteran is denied benefits or assigned a disability rating lower than the severity of their disability, they should strongly consider filing an appeal of their decision.

Defining VA Disability

VA disability is a monthly, tax-free compensation program for former U.S. military service members injured or suffering from a chronic disability related to their time in service, or whose pre-existing condition their duties exacerbated.

Veterans will receive a combined disability rating between 0 and 100 percent disabled based on the severity of all service-connected conditions. Unlike other disability benefits, programs such as Social Security, your ability to work is not a relevant factor in determining if you’re disabled. Note: If your disability prevents you from working and you meet other specific qualifications, you may be awarded Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). This means the VA finds that you are unemployable based on your service-connected conditions, and will pay those who qualify at the 100% benefits rate even though your rating is not 100%.

Veterans may qualify for benefits stemming from physical or mental conditions developed during or after their service. Physical injuries during service are common, as are mental conditions brought on by the rigors of active duty, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Chronic and pre-existing conditions made worse by your military service are also covered by VA disability in some situations where the connection to your time in service is established.

Here's a breakdown of how the VA determines that a disability is service-connected, and therefore qualifies: A service-connected disability is defined as one of the following:

Direct Service Connection: This means you got sick or injured while serving in the military and can link your current condition to the illness or injury, or you suffer a chronic condition that began during service and later developed into a current disability.

Secondary Service Connection: Secondary disabilities are those caused or aggravated by an existing service-connected disability. For instance, common secondary disabilities include certain types of nerve and heart damage, renal complications, and degenerative arthritis of the spine, among others.

Aggravated Disability: You had an illness or injury before you joined the military, and serving worsened the condition. You may have to prove the worsening of the condition is connected to your military service and not caused by the natural progression of the disease.

Presumptive disability: Some Veterans may be presumed disabled based on the specific nature of their service, such as if they served in Vietnam and were exposed to Agent Orange, or were a POW. Learn more about presumptive disabilities here.

You may also file a claim for increased compensation for an approved disability, additional benefits, or new evidence for a denied claim.

If you received a discharge other than honorable, were discharged for bad conduct, or were given a dishonorable discharge, you may need to apply for a rating discharge upgrade in order to apply for VA compensation.

How Do I Apply for VA Disability?

You can file for VA disability benefits at any time including up to 180 days prior to leaving the service. However, filing as soon as possible after the disability first appears is preferable. This is because the longer you wait, the harder it can be to prove a medical connection to your service.

You can file your claim online with the VA. Alternately, you can visit your local VA office, or send the appropriate paperwork to:

Department of Veterans Affairs

Claims Intake Center

PO Box 4444

Janesville, WI 53547-4444

You will need to provide the proper forms and medical evidence to prove your disability. A trained VA attorney-representative should be able to assist you with gathering and submitting this information. This may include:  

• VA Form 21-526EZ
• VA records related to your claimed conditions or that show your rated disability has gotten worse
• Private medical records and hospital reports related to your claimed conditions that show your disability has gotten worse
• Service records
• Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ)
• VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam
• Nexus letter (written opinion establishing service connection) from VA or private doctor
• Supporting written statements (Buddy Statements) from people who know you well, or with whom you served

Special Circumstances

In certain circumstances, you may need to file additional forms, listed here.

These circumstances can include those filing as National Guard or Reserve members, those suffering PTSD, or those seeking special benefits such as specially adapted housing or an automobile allowance.