Many disabled veterans are eligible to collect VA benefits. Yet, when they apply for these benefits, they may find that the VA denies their initial application. This is not uncommon. However, when this happens, you may not know what to do next or how to win the benefits you know you need. You may wonder, “Should I hire a lawyer for my VA appeal?” The quick answer to this question is YES! Hiring an experienced attorney can help you through the process of appealing this denial.
What Are VA Disability Benefits?
VA disability benefits are also known as service-connected disability compensation. These benefits are not tied to your income.
Veterans with a service-related illness or injury may apply for VA disability compensation, which is a tax-free, monthly benefit.
VA disability benefits compensate veterans for a decrease in income, which is a direct result of their disability from a service-related illness or injury. The VA assigns each medical condition a “rating.” They then combine all ratings to give the disabled veteran a combined VA disability rating. This determines the monetary amount of VA disability benefits the veteran will receive.
To learn more about how the VA combines disability ratings, see our video on the topic.
Should I Hire a Lawyer for My VA Appeal?
The appeal’s success rate for veterans is just 35 percent. Veterans with legal representation make up a large portion of these successes. In fact, the Department of Veteran Affairs and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims often treat applications differently when claimants have legal counsel.
Unfortunately, the VA disability appeals process can take years to complete. The VA estimates that it will take between 12 and 18 months to review and decide on an appeal. For this reason alone, you need an experienced VA disability attorney fighting for you.
Your lawyer can gather the necessary medical documentation, service-based evidence, and data to support your claim. A VA attorney knows what type of documentation is necessary and how to collect this data. Their main goal is to fight for you, and this can make all the difference.
Do You Have Questions? Speak to a VA Disability Lawyer at Our Law Firm Today!
At the Tucker Disability Law, we can answer your questions and help you with your VA appeal. We know the complications of filing VA disability claim appeals, and we work aggressively to help all disabled veterans get the benefits they deserve. We work quickly and efficiently to help you through the VA appeals process.
To learn more about going through the VA appeals process, give us a call. Contact our office by calling (866) 282-5260 or fill out our confidential contact form. Our law firm can provide legal counsel in all 50 states, as our attorneys are licensed in Florida and many federal courts around the country. We are here to help, so call us today.
