ANSWERS TO COMMON VA DISABILITY QUESTIONS
Filing for VA disability benefits can be extremely confusing and overwhelming for people who are not familiar with the VA disability process. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is very strict when it comes to determining which veterans are eligible for disability benefits and which are not. If you have been disabled by an injury or disease that was caused or aggravated by your military service, you deserve compensation. Make sure that you understand your options fully by reading through some of the most frequently asked questions listed below and by exploring the rest of this website. It has many of the answers you need.
Am I eligible for VA disability benefits?
In order to be eligible for VA benefits, an individual must be serving or have served in the military and must have suffered a disabling injury or illness during service. That injury or illness must have been caused or aggravated by their military service. You must be able to prove that your disability is connected to your service so that the VA properly rates your disability. Only then will you receive the compensation that you deserve.
How much VA disability compensation will I receive?
The amount of benefits that you are awarded depends entirely on how the VA rates your disability – or disabilities – in combined disability rating cases. Veterans disabilities are rated on a scale of 0% – 100% based on the information the veteran provides, as well as any additional information the VA gathers from medical evaluations, government agencies, and other authorities. The best way to get an estimate on your disability claim is to speak with a qualified professional, such as VSO, lawyer, or someone at the VA office.
How is my disability rating determined?
The VA rates disabilities based on evidence. In order to maximize your disability rating and receive the proper benefits, you need to provide the VA with as much supporting evidence as possible. This includes medical evaluations, doctors’ progress notes, pictures, witness statements, military service records, and other documentation. You can submit evidence to the VA on more than one occasion if additional evidence arises after your claim is already in the process of being reviewed.
What injuries and illnesses are caused by Agent Orange?
Agent Orange — a highly-toxic herbicide used during the Vietnam War exposure to which has been proven to cause a long list of debilitating injuries and diseases. Some of these include, but are not limited to: birth defects in children, chloracne, hairy cell leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, ischemic heart disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Parkinson’s disease, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, and type 2 diabetes.
What is dependency and indemnity compensation?
Dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) is awarded to surviving spouses and dependents of veterans who died due to complications from a service-connected disability. The marriage, residency, and relationship requirements for such compensation are very detailed. Speak with a knowledgeable professional about your case to determine whether or not you can file for DIC.
Can I receive additional compensation for a serious disability?
There are some cases in which a disabled veteran may receive special monthly compensation (SMC) for serious disabilities where regular VA benefits are not enough. Only certain injuries and illnesses are eligible for such additional compensation, such as loss of limb, loss of hearing, loss of speech, immobility of a joint, and paralysis.
When do I need the assistance of an attorney in my VA claim?
If you are filing for VA disability for the very first time, you do not need legal representation. However, counsel from a knowledgeable VA disability attorney could be very helpful. You should consult an attorney if your claim is denied and you need to file an appeal. The VA disability appeals process involves informal hearings where an attorney can help you ask and answer questions and help you fill out paperwork so that your denial is reversed.
DO YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? FIND THE ANSWERS YOU NEED!
The questions above are only some of the most common questions relating to VA disability benefits and services. If your question is not in the list above, don’t worry! This VA disability informative website has numerous pages that explain some of the most important and common VA disability topics, such as the different types of VA disability claims, types of disability compensation, secondary service connection, and much more. You can also benefit from speaking with a disability attorney or visiting your local VA office to ask your questions in person.