Veterans Disability Attorneys
Summary
Do you need a veterans disability attorney? If so, this section will help you understand more about your veterans disability claim.
Disability benefits are paid to qualifying veterans who can show that they have a service-connected disability arising from injuries that occurred while actively serving, or existing conditions that were aggravated due to service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Veterans that have become disabled should consult with a veterans disability Attorney.
Veterans who are disabled as a result of the VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) healthcare system may also qualify for veteran’s disability.
VA Compensation Eligibility
Veterans’ disability benefits may be paid if a veteran can show they have a service-connected disability and they were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.
A “service-connected disability” means the disability was “incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in active military, naval or air service. The successful veteran claimant will need to show that there was at least a 50% chance of incurrence, occurrence, or aggravation of a disease or injury during service. A current disability must exist to receive benefits and there must be a link between the current disability and the claimed in-service injury or disease.
To qualify for benefits the veteran must also have been “discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.” It should be noted that this classification does not necessarily correspond to the discharge descriptions on the veteran’s DD-214 discharge papers, so veterans should consult an experienced disability attorney or the VA regarding questionable discharge classifications.
Ratings
Disability ratings are based on “the average impairments of earning capacity resulting from such injuries in civil occupations” and range in 10s from 0%-100% (e.g. you may be rated 10% disabled, or 80% disabled).
The amount of benefits paid out depends on the rating a veteran receives upon application to the VA. Benefits can range from $117 a month for a minor injury to over $2,527 a month for a very serious injury or disease.
Additional benefit amounts may be paid if the veteran can show they have:
- Severe disability of loss of limb
- Spouse, children or dependent parent
- Seriously disabled spouse
Benefits Application Process
Veterans can file an application for disability benefits with the VA by:
If you are denied benefits or receive a rating lower than you expected, you can and should appeal the VA’s decision.
The process of applying and possibly appealing an adverse decision by the VA can be time-consuming and complex.
An experienced veterans disability attorney can help you navigate the intricacies of the appeals process and assist you in getting the benefits you earned after selflessly sacrificing your life and serving your country.
For more information on veterans’ disability benefits, you can visit the Department of
Veterans Affairs’ website.