The Veterans Disability Compensation Program includes monetary benefits paid to veterans of the armed forces who suffer from a disability related to their active duty service. These are non-taxable benefits that can be used for everything from paying a mortgage to buying clothes and feeding children. Veterans must be able to show that they meet all three parts of VA’s criteria to be successful in obtaining these benefits.
First, the veteran must have a current disability. Although this sounds simple and obvious, it is not always clear what a disability is. Some conditions are obvious, such as a scar or other visible condition. Other veterans may suffer from pain in one or more joints. This type of disability is often hard to prove, but the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims has recently ruled that pain which results in function loss also qualifies as a disability for VA compensation purposes.
Second, you must be able to connect your current disability with your military service. Sometimes this connection is simple, such as when you broke your leg while serving in combat, and you have never fully healed. Other connections may not be as easy to show, such as degenerative disc disease which developed later in life from the rigors of military service.
Finally, an applicant must show veteran status, which may include a minimum period of service unless certain exceptions apply. A dishonorable discharge is typically a bar to benefits, but an attorney may be able to assist you in receiving a discharge upgrade if this is an issue.
Supplemental Claim Higher-Level Review Board Appeal” } },{ “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Why are VA claims denied?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “The top three reasons for a VA disability claim denial:
No medical diagnosis of a disability No clear “nexus” to prove a service connection No evidence of current disability symptoms” } },{ “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What percentage of VA disability claims are denied?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Today, 31% of disability claims are denied—and 60% of those denials are in error.” } },{ “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Does the VA try to deny claims?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “The VA has no mandate to deny claims. However, they will deny your request if it is not filed using the correct form.” } },{ “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How long does a VA appeal take?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “The average wait time for a VA decision is around 107 days. The VA’s goal is to issue all decisions within 125 days.” } },{ “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How long does it take for a BVA decision?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “The estimated time it takes to decide appeals to the BVA is 365 days. However, if a hearing is requested, it will take more than 365 days.” } },{ “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What Is the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA)?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “The BVA is the appellate body of the VA and has the ability to overrule decisions made by a regional VA office.” } },{ “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Can you receive VA disability benefits for life?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Yes. VA benefits are granted to veterans as long as they remain disabled at the same level of impairment and even until their death.” } }] }
