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: VA Appeals
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 …
Medical Records and Evidence You Need to Support Your VA Disability Claim or Appeal
In order to receive disability compensation from the VA, you will need to demonstrate that you were honorably discharged from the U.S. military and that you have a condition that is connected to your military service: a direct connection, an aggravated connection, a secondary connection, or a presumptive connection. In order to prove you have …
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 …
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 …
Should I Request a Hearing with the Board of Veterans Appeals?
It depends. The hearing docket gives you the opportunity to present your case to a Veterans Law Judge either in person or via video conference. However, because the Board is prioritizing legacy appeals overthe new appeals system, you are likely going to have to wait years before your hearing even takes place. The Board also …
Why You Should Get An Accredited VA Representative For Your Claims & Appeals
Congress intended the VA benefits system to be “non-adversarial” and friendly to veterans seeking assistance for hardships resulting from their service to the country. VA’s duty to assist, the benefit of the doubt rule, and the ability to re-file denied claims are examples of a “veteran-friendly” process. For many veterans and dependents, the VA process …
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 …
