Dealing with Veterans Affairs (VA) claim systems can be difficult because of the complex paperwork and the large backlog that could mean months between requests for information and results. Your life can be put on hold for a long time, only to have your claim denied because of missing information that you could have been working on if communications had been faster. If you're unsure of what to do next or don't know what you're missing, consider a few traits of the claim system and what you can do to make your appeal strong with the help of professionals.
Denials Are Not The End Of Your Claim
For many veterans, a denied compensation claim feels like a rite of passage. The claim system is difficult, and unless you have lawyer friends or a highly responsive VA office, a denial is likely.
The VA claim system is strict because there are a lot of potential resources that could be lost due to fraud. When a veteran receives fraudulent VA compensation, there is money lost every month, wasted time by processing personnel and wasted attention from medical professionals who have thousands of other ailing veterans to assist.
In order to filter out illegitimate claims, your claim must pass a service-connection test. The claim needs to prove that your injury or other condition was caused by events during military service. Even pre-existing conditions can fall under the service-connected category if they were made significantly worse due to military service, but all issues are handled on a case-by-case basis.
If you don't have enough information to support your claim, you'll receive either a denial or a request for more information. Unfortunately, the meaning of "enough information" can be subjective. It could mean that your medical records show that you have a problem but not a severity that deserves disability. You may not have any evidence at all, which could raise suspicions about how your injuries occurred. Some veterans seek assistance after being injured during civilian life, claiming that the injury actually happened years ago during the military.
A Legal And Medical Team Can Support Your Appeal
After a denial or request for more information, don't simply visit the VA and demand compensation. If the VA's medical professionals can't find anything wrong with you or don't seem to think your condition is severe enough, obtain a second opinion.
Visit a personal injury lawyer and explain your situation. With a legal professional's help, your claim can be compared against other successful claims and appealed in a way that is more in line with what the VA expects. An injury lawyer also has access to medical professionals who are experienced in the injury claim system and know how to document certain symptoms and indications in a way that removes as much doubt as possible about your disability.
Whatever you do, don't quit; there's no penalty for sending in appeals for the rest of your life, and you deserve the compensation for serving your country. Contact a personal injury lawyer to begin planning a compensation appeal that can get you closer to the treatment you deserve and on with your life.
