How Can a Veterans Disability Lawyer Help Me?
In recognition of the honorable sacrifices that veterans have made for our country, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has established several programs designed to help ease the transition from military to civilian life.
For many veterans who served in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, or National Guard/Reserves, their service has impacted the ability to live and work. One VA program that accounts for this impairment is VA disability compensation, which is a monetary benefit for eligible veterans who have a current disability related to their service.
At Rob Levine & Associates, our Veterans Disability attorneys represent veterans nationwide in their fight for the VA disability compensation benefits they deserve.
Initial Rating Decision
When the VA’s Regional Office makes a decision on a claim, it sends the veteran a formal written decision called a Rating Decision. Depending on the claim, a Rating Decision could include a grant or denial of: service connection, increase rating, earlier effective date, or Total Disability Individual Unemployability. A Rating Decision can decide multiple disabilities and should contain a detailed explanation of the reasons why the VA denied or granted a benefit.
If a veteran disagrees with the VA’s Rating Decision, he or she can file an appeal. This is actually quite common, as many veterans feel that their claims are always denied on the first try or receive fewer benefits than they deserve.
Appealing a Rating Decision
Navigating the VA disability appeal system can be extremely confusing and frustrating. The good news is, the sooner an attorney gets involved, the simpler the process will be. Otherwise, many veterans get stuck in an endless cycle of denials or lose out on significant back pay. To complicate things, the VA recently launched a new appeals system in accordance with the Appeals Modernization Act of 2017.
A lot has changed, but one thing remains the same. The process is still overwhelming and discourages veterans from pursuing the benefits they deserve. Don’t give up! The Veterans Disability attorneys at Rob Levine & Associates know how to expertly navigate the VA’s appeal system to get veterans more benefits, faster, and with more back pay. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
