How a Veterans Disability Attorney Can Help You Get the Benefits You Deserve
The process of submitting an application for benefits for veterans disability can appear overwhelming. A lawyer for ventura veterans disability lawsuit can help you navigate the process.
It’s important to choose a lawyer who restricts their law practice to disability cases and only handles these cases at every level of appeal. This will ensure that you get the most effective representation.
Appeal
If the VA refuses to approve a claim or does not approve benefits, it gives the veteran, or his or her surviving spouse to file an appeal. It is a difficult and lengthy process that could be complicated, even for the most basic disability claims. A veterans disability lawyer can help you understand all of your options and help you get the benefits you deserve.
The most common reason people are required to declare an application for disability benefits is that they are unhappy with their disability status. In this case, the lawyer can ensure that the evidence is in place to support an appropriate rating based on a debilitating condition caused by or aggravated by military service.
A lawyer for veterans may be required by those who have had to wait too long for their benefits. The lawyer can assist in determining the missing documents and submit a request the VA for the relevant records.
Having a veterans disability attorney can also relieve the burden of dealing with the VA away from you. This allows you to concentrate on your health and any other obligations that you may have. Some attorneys are veterans themselves which can give them a unique level of compassion for their clients and give them a greater stake in their cases. This can make a huge difference in the result of the appeal.
Higher-Level Reviews
Veterans can appeal VA decisions if they disagree. The Higher-Level Review option is a decision-review option that allows an experienced reviewer to examine the same evidence presented in the original claim and make a new determination. The senior reviewer has the option to either confirm or reverse the previous rating.
A veteran or their representative could arrange for an informal conference to discuss the case with the senior reviewer. However only one conference is permitted. For this meeting it is important to prepare and present your case’s facts in a clear manner. A lawyer for veterans may assist you in preparing and participate in the informal conference.
Higher-level reviews are typically utilized to correct errors made by the previous reviewer on the case of a disability claim, such as failing to interpret evidence or Vimeo.Com making mistakes in the law. Senior reviewers can correct these mistakes by changing a previous decision, but only when it is in the best interests of the claimant.
A personal hearing may be scheduled for the claimant as a result of the higher-level review. This is a chance for those seeking to be heard by the person who is reviewing their claim and to present their case. A veterans disability attorney can help determine whether an individual hearing is necessary and can also prepare and present the evidence during the hearing.
Notice of Disagreement
You may file a dispute within one year of the date the local office sent you the initial denial letter. The VA will then review your case once more and prepare a Statement of the Case.
To file a disagreement with the VA, you should fill out VA Form 21-958. A disability lawyer can help to fill out the form correctly to appeal the decision. You don’t have to include every reason why you are not with the decision. However, it is better to be specific so that the VA understands what exactly you believe is incorrect. Your attorney can provide guidance about the type of evidence you can submit with the NOD, including statements from medical professionals or the results of diagnostic tests.
If your appeal is rejected at this point, you have another chance to get it reviewed by a senior reviewer in form of an Higher-Level Review. This process can take up to 25 months, and you should be in contact with your lawyer at all times. If the VA refuses to accept your claim, your lawyer could request a hearing to be held before an Veterans Law Judge to present evidence and testimony in person. If your claim is granted, your attorney will prepare you for your check.
Statement of the Case
Congress has passed many laws to ensure that veterans receive compensation for injuries, illnesses and conditions they have suffered during their time of service. But, the VA is a massive bureaucracy and it’s easy to be lost within the system. A veteran disability lawyer can guide you through the process and offer much-needed assistance for claimants.
The VA must examine the case once the veteran has filed the Notice of Dispute to the local VA office. This includes reviewing the laws, regulations and the evidence used to make the original decision. It also involves examining the medical records of the veteran and when necessary lay statements. The VA must provide the claimant with a Statement of the Case which is a list of all evidence that it has looked over.
The declaration should be written in plain language and provide the reasoning for the decision, including the interpretation of the law and regulations that affect the case. It should address the allegations made by the plaintiff in his or her NOD.
The Statement of the Case is typically mailed to the veteran within 120 days of the date on which the NOD was filed. However, due to the VA backlog, the agency may take longer to issue this document. If you are a veteran seeking to appeal a decision on your rating or claim for benefits, you should contact a veterans disability lawyer from Fusco, Brandenstein & Rada, P.C.