How Can a Veterans Disability Lawyer Help Your VA Claim?
Friedman Law Firm: VA Disability Attorneys Practicing Nationwide
VA Disability Claims
Filing a claim for veterans disability benefits can take you through a complicated maze of paperwork, forms, and records. All too often, veterans who have served our country are denied VA disability benefits when in fact they are disabled due to a service related injury or illness. Or a veteran can be approved for benefits but receive a VA disability rating below 100%. In both of these cases, veterans are still expected to work, in spite of their disabling conditions, in order to support themselves. This is where a veterans disability lawyer can help.
In order to substantiate a veterans disability claim you need to prove the following:
- A currently existing, identified disability
- An illness or injury that occurred while in service
- A medical link, or nexus, connecting the condition to the incident
VA Disability Standards
It may seem simple enough but it is often the case that all above conditions are met but the case isn’t quite made convincingly according to the VA’s standards. A VA disability lawyer will be aware of the many pitfalls veterans routinely encounter when applying for benefits or having their claims reviewed. Common reasons are missing information, incomplete documentation, or not enough evidence. VA disability lawyers know how meticulous the VA can be when it comes to veterans claims, especially having the right information on the right forms. Your attorney will also make sure that doctors' records and documentation support your claim for VA benefits.
Legal Strategies for VA Claims
Veterans may often receive service-connected ratings that don't produce enough income to live on but still have difficulty finding or maintaining employment. In some cases, a veteran may have received a VA disability rating that is lower than it should be. In other cases, a veteran's condition may have worsened over time. These are situations that call for an attempt to have your VA rating increased. As experienced VA attorneys, we know how to implement the strategies that can raise your VA rating including:
- Directly seeking to have your VA rating increased - we can petition the VA to reconsider its rating for your condition or to demonstrate with updated medical records how your condition has worsened since your last evaluation.
- Explore the possibility of a combined VA rating - sometimes veterans have more than one condition that is service-connected or you might have developed a secondary condition that was caused or worsened by the condition you receive benefits for.
- Seeking a finding of Individual Unemployability - Sometimes a condition may receive a rating that assumes a veteran can still work yet there may be circumstances under which they might be capable of doing the job, but cannot function in the workplace. These are often associated with a rating for PTSD. In these cases, a finding of Individual Unemployability, also known as Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU). Under a TDIU finding, a veteran can receive benefits in the amount received for a 100% rating while not actually achieving this rating.
Choosing a Veterans Disability Law Firm
The right veterans disability attorney will have experience with navigating VA’s disability system, including the complex ratings system. The attorneys of Friedman Law Firm have that experience. If it turns out that you have a secondary condition, we can explore the best strategies to increase your rating and maximize your benefits.
Whether your initial claim has been denied or you received a below 100% rating, but cannot find or maintain employment, we will want to know how much time has passed since then. Has your condition worsened since that time? The answers to these questions, and more, could make a considerable difference in the success of an appeal or a request for a VA rating increase.
No Money Down, Contingency Fee Basis
Friedman Law Firm operates their fee structure on a contingency basis. This means that you don't pay us at all unless we are successful with your benefits claim or appeal. You will not have to pay any legal fees upfront, including consultation fees.
Contact the Friedman Firm, Experienced VA Disability Attorneys
Contact us today if you have any questions regarding VA disability benefits. We practice in all 50 states and we offer a free consultation or case review.