Veterans Disability Lawyers

A veteran disability lawyer will guide you through the entire claim process. From collecting medical and service evidence to submitting an appeal for a denied claim A veteran disability lawyer can assist you throughout the claims process.

Choose a veterans disability attorney that is solely dealing with these cases, and who knows the VA's system inside out. This will ensure that your case receives the attention it deserves.

Proving Service Connection

The VA will only award disability benefits if you prove that the condition you are suffering from is linked to your military service. This is known as a connection. There are different types of evidence that you could demonstrate this connection, such as medical records, independent medical examinations (IME) and letters from current health professionals or therapists (especially for mental health conditions). There are times when veterans suffer from medically determinable disabilities, but are not able to be connected due to missing or incomplete military treatment records. These cases require the help of experienced New York disability lawyers who know how to make a complete claim and present evidence that is supported by experts who are impartial.

It is easier to prove a direct connection when injuries or illnesses were sustained while serving in the military. If you suffered injuries in the military, and now suffer from headaches and concussions, it's easier to prove a direct service connection.

It is difficult to be connected to the military if you suffered from an existing medical condition that was worsened during your military service. In order to prove that your service aggravated or made worse an existing illness, you must supply expert medical evidence that is at the level of "clear and undeniable" proof.

Appealing a Denied Application

The VA will review your application after you have submitted your application and provided evidence of medical necessity. The VA will usually issue a decision approving or denying benefits. If the decision is not favorable, the veteran is given a year to file a notice of disagreement. A veterans disability lawyer can assist the applicant navigate the three review options which include the supplemental claim, the higher-level review, or direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

When selecting when choosing a New York veterans disability lawyer Be sure to think about whether they are familiar with your military background and traditions of the armed forces. This can make things easier for you to understand and reduce the need to explain your situations and experiences in layman's terms.

You should also find a firm that will continue to work on your case for the entire appeals process of several years. Be wary of companies that assist you in the initial stages of your case, only to then disappear.

A seasoned New York veterans disability attorney can assist with all stages of your claim including the appeals process. They can help you submit additional medical evidence and request a formal hearing, and represent you at any Board meetings to ensure that your case is treated fairly. They can also help win you benefits like financial compensations, aid and attendance benefits, education benefits, or unemployability.

Earning a higher rating

It may happen that your disability becomes more severe or your symptoms become more severe. In that situation, it makes sense to ask for a higher rating. A veterans disability lawsuits disability lawyer can assist you in this process, and can assist you in locating evidence to justify your request.

It's not unusual for the VA to make mistakes that lead to an lower disability rating than you're entitled. Whether they accidentally miss an injury you've suffered or overlook a problem which could be linked to other disabilities in order to get a higher rating it's important to have an expert look over your records to identify any mistakes.

You may still submit a higher-level claim or review if you've been given a rating for more than one calendar year. This could include a thorough review of your entire record, which may result in modifications to the effective date of your claim and a new rating more accurate to your personal feelings.

It's also worth pursuing an additional claim or higher-level review if you believe you deserve a disability rating of 100 percent or more. A disability lawyer can assist you to develop a compelling argument for this rating which is only available for the most serious disabilities. For instance the mental health issue might qualify you for 100% disability ratings because it could cause significant interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization that do not usually trigger this level of rating for cardiovascular disease or other medical issue.

Need help with the Appeals Process

Contrary what some believe, the fact that a VA denial of disability benefits does not mean that a person isn't eligible to receive benefits. In fact, a former soldier has one year from the date that the local veteran's hospital or office sends them a negative decision to appeal.

An experienced veterans disability lawyer can assist a veteran to determine which of the three current appeals routes is best for their case. They can also assist veterans put the evidence needed to convince a higher level reviewer that the previous decision was incorrect. They may also give a veteran an opportunity to have a formal hearing front of a Veterans Law judge.

The benefit of having an New York veteran disability attorney handle your appeal is that they can give you the individual attention your claim demands. They will also have extensive experience managing VA disability claims, and are familiar with the rules and procedure inside out. Some attorneys are veterans, and therefore are aware of the difficulties faced by disabled veterans. This creates a unique type of empathy that may enhance the outcome of a veterans disability case.

Sullivan and Kehoe's team highly trained lawyers can review your VA disability claims free of charge to determine if we are able to assist you. Contact us today to arrange your free evaluation.