How Veteran Disability Attorneys Can Help You Win Your Claim

If you’re a veteran who has an illness or injury related to service, it may qualify for disability benefits. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the appeals process.

Unlike a Veterans Service Officer, lawyers can charge a fee for their services on VA disability claims. Here are the top ways they can help you win your share: 

Experience

Attorneys are trained to understand and interpret laws that apply to veterans’ disability claims. They know how to bridge the gap between what you experience daily and the information decision-makers at the VA need to understand to grant your claim or award a higher rating for your conditions.

Look for a lawyer who devotes most or all of their practice to representing disabled veterans. Avoid lawyers who dabble in other areas of law. They may be unable to dedicate their knowledge of the law to your case thoroughly and may need more experience to win an appeal. Review their legal contracts and review them with your attorney by phone to ensure you both understand the agreement before hiring them.

When facing challenges with VA disability claims, veterans often visit these veterans disability attorneys, seeking specialized expertise and guidance in navigating the intricate process of securing deserved benefits and compensation.

Expertise

Unlike some non-attorneys who offer veterans help in a VA disability claim, an attorney is accredited by the VA and must follow specific standards of conduct. They can take a holistic approach to reviewing your case, identifying missing evidence, and presenting them in the most favorable light possible.

In addition, a qualified VA disability attorney can stand up to officials who have mistreated you in your disability appeal. They will also take many burdens of navigating the claims process from your hands and help you protect your health as you wait for a decision. This includes providing medical evidence to the VA and requesting an independent medical exam. They can also assist with other appeals, such as reopening your claim or filing for higher-level reviews or Board appeals.

Time

The VA disability process can be complex and incredibly time-consuming. A veteran disability attorney will help you navigate the system and ensure your claims are filed correctly so you can receive all of the benefits owed to you.

A good disability lawyer will know how to build the most robust case for you, including ensuring that all relevant evidence is submitted and that you have a positive nexus (which the VA must provide by law). They’ll also ensure you don’t miss important deadlines or run into unnecessary delays.

While current law prohibits attorneys from charging a fee for assistance with filing an initial claim, they are allowed to charge a fee for helping you file an appeal of a denial or low rating. This fee is typically a percentage of any retroactive past-due benefits awarded.

Resources

A veteran disability attorney is a legal professional with the VA’s approval to practice law and must meet specific ethical standards. This means they have access to a more excellent pool of resources than VSOs or non-attorneys.

These additional resources can help bolster evidence in your case, such as new medical records, buddy statements, or expert testimony. They can also help you get a Higher Level Review or Supplemental Claim, two appeal pathways available to veterans who disagree with the VA’s decision on their claim.

A qualified attorney can stand up to VA officials who have mistreated you. They can also take many aspects of your claim-related responsibilities off your hands, making the process less stressful for you and your family.

Reputation

Veteran disability attorneys are bound by ethics rules to provide quality representation. They can get results because they follow the law and treat every case honestly and honestly.

Accredited veterans’ disability advocates or VSOs cannot charge for help with an initial disability claim, but they can legally represent a vet for a disability appeal. They can also write letters to the VA asking for a new exam.

This is the only way to force the VA to review a disability claim and make a more favorable decision on the rating of a health condition like PTSD or depression. Attorneys know how to make a compelling case for their clients that the VA raters will understand. They can decide which of the three appeals pathways is best for a particular claim: higher-level review, supplemental claim, or board review.