SHOULD I HIRE AN ATTORNEY FOR MY VA DISABILITY BENEFITS CASE?
Filing for VA disability benefits is not a well-known or simple process. Anyone who has suffered a disabling injury or disease because of their service in the U.S. military should research and inform themselves about the different types of benefits available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) before filing. Whether or not they require legal representation depends on the nature and status of their case.
LEGAL REPRESENTATION WHEN VA BENEFITS ARE DENIED
Veterans who are applying for compensation for the first time are not required to have legal representation, although they can obtain counsel from a lawyer if they desire. Should his claim be denied, however, the applicant should not hesitate to obtain the representation of a VA disability attorney. The appeals process involves informal hearings where it is invaluable to have a knowledgeable attorney by your side, guiding you in asking and answering the appropriate questions about your denied claim.
A VA disability attorney can also help you build your case to prove your VA disability benefits claim. Experienced VA lawyers know what the VA and the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) look for in order to approve a claim, which gives you an edge when presenting your case before the VA or the BVA. Your lawyer can help you argue your case and can assist you in presenting a strong explanation of why you deserve VA disability benefits. Otherwise, your case could be denied compensation by both the VA and the BVA, which will prevent you from receiving compensation for your service-connected disability at all. Read through the rest of this VA disability informative site to learn more about VA benefits and your right to compensation as a disabled veteran.
If you decide to hire an attorney it is important to hire an attorney focused in VA disability claims. Many attorneys boast that they are ‘accredited’ by the VA. If this is the only VA experience that the attorney has then this should be a red flag to you. VA accreditation simply means that they have taken a three hour course on VA law. Anyone who has gone through the VA disability process knows that it would take much more than three hours to be an expert in this field. You should look for someone that practices only in disability law. You want someone who is sought after by other attorneys to give lectures and teach this area of the law. Do not settle for an attorney whose only connection to VA law is being accredited by the VA.