How to Qualify For Veterans Disability Compensation

You may be entitled to compensation if you are a veteran who has suffered a disability due to ill health or an injury that was sustained while serving in the military. But the process is complicated.

It is best to submit all of your documents promptly. VA requires time to review them and assign a rating to your condition.

Disabilities Linked to Service

Disabilities that are service-related are those that have been acquired or worsened by military service. They include physical health issues like chronic knee injuries, Lou Gehrig's disease, and mental health issues like PTSD. It also includes recurrent disorders, such as chronic skin conditions, which require frequent visits to the VA for special ointments or appliances. These kinds of veterans usually get compensation and other services, including no-cost healthcare and prescription drugs.

To prove service-connection veterans must provide medical evidence that links their medical condition to their military service. This is usually found in the records of treatment for service, however independent medical opinions and nexus letters may aid, too.

The VA utilizes a list of ratings that are based on Congressional laws to determine which conditions are eligible for compensation and in what percentage. In general, the higher the disability ratings and the higher the disability ratings, the greater benefits are offered.

A 100 percent permanent and total disability rating is the highest one can get rating and means that a disabled veteran cannot pursue any kind of work that can be considered lucrative. People who score this high may be eligible for additional monthly benefits known as Aid and Attendance. This allows a disabled veteran or their surviving spouse to receive assistance with daily chores like washing, dressing and eating, cleaning up and addressing the needs of nature. This includes organizing transportation as well as making home modifications to make the home more accessible.

Permanent disabilities that are total

For a lot of Veterans for many, a VA determination of disability is a lifeline. The extra income that comes from a disability claim can be extremely helpful and affordable as it is tax-free. It might not cover the mortgage, but it will aid in putting food on the table and aid children through college. It could be the difference between living in poverty and having a roof over your head and a car in the garage.

After a claim from a veteran has been approved at the Regional Office level, they are mailed a Rating Decision. This lists their service-connected conditions and assigns a disability rating to each. In some instances one condition is rated 100 percent, while in other instances, multiple conditions, they are combined into what's called a Total Disabled Individual Unemployment (TDIU) rating. TDIU signifies that the combined effects of all of your conditions hinder you from retaining substantial gainful work, and is an indefinite designation.

If you have an TDIU rating, you can request that it be upgraded to a permanent, total rating by submitting a claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). This is a benefit that the VA provides to dickson city veterans disability attorney with chronic mental health issues are much more likely to be granted a disability rating of 30% or higher than those who suffer from other ailments.