Veteran Advocacy
Far too many veterans do not understand their rights as it pertains to their disability eligibility compensation. To qualify for VA disability compensation, one must have served in the United States military hence, being a veteran, who has been on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training.
WHAT YOU MUST PROVE
- Proof of Active-duty status (Get your DD214)
- Eligible discharge or a discharge that is not dishonorable (Also in your DD214)
- Current disability related to your service for this you will need the following:
- A current diagnosed disability
- An in-service event, injury, disease, or stressor
- A medical connection (“Nexus Letters”) between the current disability and service
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The veteran can now initiate his/her disability claim through the VA to get their rating decisions. Your rating reflects the extent of your service disability and determines the benefit payment you receive.
Countless veterans’ disability claims are denied at first due to mishaps from the VA, which in turn will prolong the process. Persistence and patience are the keys to getting your desired ratings, but sometimes outside help is needed. We provide pro-bono services to help vets get the disability benefits they’ve earned.
Ways in which the VA can prolong disability ratings
- Inability to provide you with a medical examination
- Issue an unfair service connection
- Deliver the wrong rating
- Assign the wrong effective date
- Overlook additional benefits to which you might be entitled too
You earned your benefits and we will actively work to see that receive them.
Once the Department of Veterans Affairs has granted the said veteran his or her ratings, an email will be sent to that veteran informing them of their ratings and disability compensations. In most cases, the VA would also reward back pay to eligible and qualified veterans. Veterans must ensure the following:
- Have access to a valid email
- Have a postal address to receive mail
- Have a bank account to receive benefits as a direct deposit or to deposit checks
These requirements can be extremely challenging for homeless veterans. Though they need the help more than most, the inability to meet those requirements can cost them the benefits due them.
Over 40,000 veterans are homeless on any given night
FIVE WAYS TO INCREASE YOUR DISABILITY RATINGS
- Focus on high-value VA disability claims (a disability or condition with a high likelihood of getting a rating of 30% or higher e.g., sleep apnea, heart-lung conditions, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD)
- Get DBQ forms completed for conditions that are already service-connected A DBQ is a standardized pdf form created by the Department of Veterans Affairs to give veterans more control of their VA claim
- File for Secondary Service Connection with Medical Nexus Letters A showing of causation requires that the secondary disability be shown to be “proximately caused by” or “proximately aggravated by” another service-connected disability in your body.
- Obtain a Buddy Letter from a First-Hand Witness A credible written statement, completed by a competent individual 18 years of age or older, who has direct, first-hand knowledge of an event or injury, and offers an account of what they witnessed or are witnessing in support of your VA disability claim.
- Nail your Compensation and Pension Exam Know what’s in your medical records! Read through your records in the days before your C&P exam. There is no substitute for knowing what’s in your service treatment records, VA medical records, or any private medical records.