Veterans who have multiple disabilities are often confused by how the VA obtains their overall disability rating. While it may seem that a condition with a 60% disability rating and a condition with a 50% rating would make you totally disabled, this is not the case. How VA Math Works The VA recognizes that it’s …
Category: Benefits
How to Check the Status of Your VA Disability Claim
If you’ve applied for VA disability benefits or have filed an appeal, it’s understandable to feel impatient. The VA is known to be slow at approving claims, and it’s not uncommon for cases to take several years to resolve. However, you can easily check the status of your VA disability claim at any given time. Ways …
When Can I File for VA Disability?
Most veterans are allowed to begin their claim between 180-90 days before separation from military service through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD). With some exceptions, if you have less than 90 days of active duty remaining, you won’t be able to file through BDD, and although you can file before your discharge, your claim …
3 Things to Look for in Your VA Disability C File(Claims File)
Errors Missing information Documents and facts to help your claim Your C File, also known as your Claims File, is a file compiled by the VA that holds all documentation related to every claim you’ve ever filed with the VA. This means that any information you’ve sent them regarding a claim, any information they’ve compiled …
Can You Make Too Much Money to Get VA Disability Benefits?
We all owe a debt of gratitude to United States veterans. When many of us were at home, making a living and enjoying daily tasks, these brave men and women were often overseas protecting our freedoms. Yet, with all that being said, veterans are often some of the most humble people that you will meet …
Clear and Unmistakable Error: VA Disability Claim CUE Process and Timeline
Process and Timeline The Veteran Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (AMA) was created to streamline the process for veterans who want to challenge a decision on their VA disability claim. There are multiple lanes a veteran can pursue to improve their rating upon initial decisions, one of which is based on clear and …
Insomnia VA Rating and Disability Rating for Sleep Disturbances
The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) is responsible for compensating military veterans who received a disability during their time in service. Depending on the effects military service has on an individual’s sleeping patterns, they may be eligible to file a VA disability claim for insomnia. What is Insomnia? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental …
VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain: Cervical Spine, Neck Arthritis, Radiculopathy and Cervicalgia VA Rating
VA Disability Rating for Neck Pain (Cervicalgia), Cervical Spine Pain, & Neck Arthritis The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) views conditions of the spine through two main categories—neck and back. Back pain typically refers to injuries in the lower half of the spine or the thoracolumbar section. Neck pain refers to the top seven vertebrae of …
VA Disability Claim Complete: When Do I Get Paid?
It’s important to remember that your effective date only matters if your claim is approved by VA. If your claim is denied, you will receive no benefits regardless of the effective date. The amount of time it takes VA to pay out benefits depends on a number of factors. Everything from the severity of your …
VA Disability Claim Back Pay
VA disability back pay is the money owed to a veteran that the VA should have been paying them from the time they became entitled to compensation (what the VA calls the “effective date”) through the time the VA actually granted the veteran’s claim. The VA can often take months or years to grant benefits, …
VA Rating for Knee Pain: VA Knee Rating Chart and VA Secondary Conditions to Knee Pain
Many veterans who served in the military develop pain in their knees and lower legs due to their time in active service. The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) handles compensation and military disability rating for knee pain. If you developed knee problems due to military service, you may be entitled to financial compensation from …
How To Respond To A Supplemental Statement Of The Case (SSOC)
Under the legacy appeals system, veterans are sent a Supplemental Statement Of The Case (SSOC) by the agency of original jurisdiction when there are any material changes in, or additions to, the information included in the Statement of Case(SOC) or any prior SSOC. When this occurs, veterans can choose to ignore the document, in which …
2021 VA Disability Payment Schedule
If you receive VA disability payments, you probably were happy to know that for 2021, you get a 1.3% raise in your benefits, but when will you get those monthly checks? Disability payment benefits for a particular month are paid the first business day of the following month. When the first business day of the month falls …
What is the VA Board of Veterans Appeals Disability Appeal Success Rate?
This post covers the VA disability appeal success rate and the VA disability appeal denial rate. We’ll explain some helpful tips to increase your chances of a successful VA disability appeal. VA Disability Appeal Success Rate Statistics The numbers below come from the BVA’s 2019 annual report. You may notice that the BVA approval and denial …