Veterans Disability Compensation — Factors to Consider When Filing a Claim
If you’re a veteran or a service member suffering from a disability or a family member of a veteran in need of compensation for veterans’ disabilities, you may find that you qualify for compensation for your condition. If you’re filing a claim in order to receive veterans disability compensation there are a myriad of factors you need to take into consideration. These include:
Gulf War veterans can be qualified for disability due to service.
During the Gulf War, the U.S. military sent over 700 thousand troops to Southwest Asia. Many of them returned to their homes with memory and neurological issues. They also suffered from chronic health conditions. They could be eligible for disability benefits. These veterans must meet certain requirements to be eligible for disability benefits.
To be considered, it must have started while the veteran was in the service. It also has to be connected to their active duty. For example in the case of a veteran who served during Operation New Dawn and later suffered from memory issues the symptoms must have begun while in service. Additionally the veteran must have served continuously for at least 24 consecutive months.
To allow a Gulf War veteran to receive compensation for their disability, it must be rated at least 10 percent. The rating increases each year that the veteran receives the disability. A veteran may also be eligible for additional benefits for their dependents.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), considers service-connected illnesses those that were experienced while in service. These ailments include a range of infective diseases, including digestive tract infections. VA has also acknowledged that some veterans suffered from multi-symptom diseases after their service in the Gulf. These ailments are known as presumptive illnesses. VA utilizes presumptions to accelerate the connection process.
The Department of Veterans Affairs continues to fund research into medical conditions that are associated with the Gulf War. In addition, a group of experts in the field from the Department of Defense and VA have been discussing the current status of Gulf War-related diseases. They found that many veterans are underrated in terms of service-related disabilities.
In this time, the VA has been hesitant to establish Gulf War Syndrome. To be eligible, a patient must be diagnosed of disability and the diagnosis must have been made within VA’s timeframe. For Gulf War veterans, the VA has established the deadline to be December 31st, 2026 to be qualified for Gulf War Syndrome.
To be eligible to be considered an Gulf War Syndrome disability, your disease must have lasted for Veterans disability compensation at least six months. During that six-month period the disease must advance becoming worse or Veterans Disability Compensation better. The MUCMI will pay the patient disability compensation.
Aggravated service connection
In times of intense stress and strenuous physical exertion, a veteran’s body can suffer. This can cause an increase in mental health symptoms. This is considered to be an aggravation of an existing medical condition by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In general, the best method to establish an aggravated service connection is to present concrete evidence of a complete medical record.
The Department of Veterans Affairs recently proposed minor technical modifications to 38 CFR 3.306 and 3.310 to make clarity and consistency apparent. The goal is to clarify the meaning of «aggravation,» align it with 38 CFR 3.306 and define it in a concise and clear way. It proposes to separate paragraph 3.310(b), including general guidance, into three paragraphs. It also proposes to use more consistent terminology and to use the term «disability» instead of «condition» to avoid confusion.
The VA’s plan is in accordance with court precedents in that the Veterans Court found that the use of the «aggravation» term was not restricted to instances of permanent worsening. The court used the case of Alan v. Brown 7vet. app. 439, which ruled that an VA adjudicator may give a service connection based on the «aggravation» of an unrelated disability that is not service-connected.
The court also cited the Ward v. Wilkie decision, which declares that the use of the «aggravation» word is not limited to cases of permanent worsening. The case did NOT involve any secondary service connections and it was not able to conclude that the «aggravation» as defined in the original statutes, was the same.
To determine an aggravated connection to service the veteran must provide evidence that their medical condition was worsened through their military service. The VA will determine the extent of the disability that is not service-connected prior to and during the time of service. It will also take into account the physical and mental strains the veteran faced during their time in the military.
For many veterans, the best method to demonstrate an aggravated military connection is to present a clear, comprehensive medical record. The Department of Veterans Affairs will review the facts of the case in order to determine a rating, which is the amount of money the veteran is due.
Presumptive connection to service
Veterans are eligible for VA disability benefits based on a presumptive service connection. Presumptive connection is when the Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes the illness as being connected to service, even if there isn’t evidence of exposure or incurrence of this disease while on active duty. Presumptive connection is available for certain tropical illnesses, as well as illnesses that have specific time frames.
For example, Gulf War Veterans may be afflicted by chronic sinusitis and rhinosinusitis, and the Department of Veterans Affairs is proposing an interim final rule to allow more of these veterans to meet the eligibility criteria for presumptive connections to military. The currently required for this type of claim is a 10-year period of manifestation. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs supports a shorter period of manifestation which will allow more veterans to seek treatment.
The presumptive service connection criteria can alleviate the burden of proof for many veterans. A presumptive connection will be granted to veterans who were diagnosed with thyroid cancer during their service but did not show evidence during the qualifying period.
Chronic respiratory disorders are another type of disease that could be considered for a presumed connection to service. These medical conditions must be diagnosed within one year of the veteran’s removal from military service, and the veteran must have been diagnosed with the illness during the presumptive period. The duration of the illness will differ depending on the condition however it could be anywhere from a few months to several decades.
The most frequently cited chronic respiratory illnesses include rhinitis, asthma and rhinosinusitis. These conditions must manifest in a way that is compensable, and veterans must have been exposed to airborne particles during their time in the military. The Department of veterans disability law Affairs will continue to examine presumptive service connections for rhinitis, asthma and nasal congestion. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs will not require that these conditions be diagnosed to a compensable level.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will examine other presumptive claims related to service and determine if the applicant is eligible for VA disability compensation. The Department of Veterans Affairs will presume that a veteran was exposed during their service to hazardous substances such as Agent Orange.
The deadline for filing a claim
Depending on your type of claim, it can take up to 127 days for the Department of Veterans Affairs to complete your claim. This includes gathering evidence and the actual review process. If your claim is properly completed and contains all the relevant information, you may be able to get an immediate decision. If it is not, you have the option to reconsider your case and gather additional evidence.
If you apply for disability compensation and file a claim for disability compensation, you must submit to the VA with medical records that support your illness. These records could include doctor’ notes and laboratory reports. You should also provide proof that your condition has at minimum 10% impairment.
You must also show that your condition was diagnosed within one year of your discharge. If you fail to meet the timeframe, your claim will be denied. This means that VA did not find enough evidence to back your claim.
If your claim is denied, you can appeal to the United States Court Of Appeal for Veterans Claims. The judicial court is located in Washington DC. If you are incapable or unwilling to accomplish this on your own, then you could hire a lawyer to assist you. Alternatively, you can contact the closest VA Medical Center for help.
It is imperative to report any injury as soon as you notice it. You can do this by submitting a claim to the VA. You can expedite the process of claiming by providing all required documents and information to VA.
Your DD-214 is the most crucial document you’ll need to file an application for veterans disability compensation. The DD-214 is different from the shorter Record of Separation from Active Duty is a formal document that records the discharge. You can get a DD-214 at the County Veterans Service Office if you don’t have one already.
When you have all of the documentation you need, you can call a veterans disability attorney Representative. They can assist you in making your claim for free. They can verify your service dates and request medical records directly from the VA.