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Why Should I Have To Work So Hard To Prove My Disability Is Related To Military Service?
It seems that after you’ve put your life on the line for your country and returned home with a disabling condition, getting VA benefits should not be so difficult. You may be frustrated as the claims process takes months upon months, you’ve had to produce document after document, repeat medical evaluations, and you have been grilled about whether your health condition is connected to military service. Most likely, you know without a shadow of a doubt that it is.
But now, you are home from active duty and attempting to readjust to civilian life with a disabling condition. Many disabilities can make it hard to work. This in turn makes it challenging to support yourself and your family. And while worrying about all of these things, you also have to offer supporting evidence so that you can receive the VA compensation you deserve.
With millions of veterans currently entangled in the VA disability claims and appeals process, it’s obvious that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is not just handing out benefits.
No matter your condition, you will need to be prove it is connected to your military service. The burden of proof is easier if you have a condition that is considered presumptively due to service; for example, if you were exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam or elsewhere, or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. In these cases, VA is working with veterans to see that they receive disability benefits or at least automatic healthcare. And indeed, you do still have to prove you were in these locations at the designated time in order to be eligible for the presumption, and thus for benefits.
After you file your claim or after you appeal it, remember that the best thing you can do is to be organized, communicate, and make sure you attend all your medical exams and meetings. If there is one thing the VA disability claims process is known for, it’s how complicated it is. However, the process does not have to be as cumbersome and frustrating as other stories you may have heard, especially if you have an experienced attorney advocating on your behalf.
Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick has a team of experienced veterans lawyers and advocates who can evaluate your case and assist you on your appeal. We work with veterans around the country in helping them win the disability benefits they deserve. Call for immediate help at 401-331-6300 or contact us online.
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- “Evaluation of the Disability Determination Process for Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans” (2019)
- What is the Process at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals Under the New VA Appeals System?
- FAQ Friday: The Appeals Process & The CAVC
- How Long VA Appeals Process Can Take – Average Appeal Times for Disability Claims