Look Deeper Into Your VA Claim Denial
The Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation system can be difficult to deal with, and even harder to stand. With changing policies, sometimes confusing language and different opinions coming from multiple claims personnel, it's reasonable to understand why many veterans may become frustrated with the process. Whatever you do, don't give up; there is no cost or penalty to appealing, and with a few pieces of insight into the VA claim system you can reach victory--even if it's few a few percentages at a time.
Why Would A Real Condition Be Denied?
Many veterans leave the military with conditions that at least hamper their ability to continue working at a normal pace. Some of the problems could have started while still wearing the uniform, while others may not manifest until you have time to wind down from the high-tension, always ready (and waiting) nature of military service.
Unfortunately, the burden of proof can be strong. The VA is dedicated to helping veterans in need, which includes keeping funds available for veterans who truly need monetary compensation. It's possible for veterans with no current issues or no issues related to military service to file claims, and the VA needs to filter out incorrect or fraudulent claims--sometimes in aggressive ways that catch legitimate claims in the process.
In order to divide your claim from incorrect or fraudulent claims, you must prove that your condition is service-connected. This means that your condition must have been caused (or became noticeable) during military service, or that pre-existing conditions became significantly worse during military service.
Veterans with legitimate conditions need to build claims that separate their issues from veterans who may have been injured after military service, but still want to claim benefits. To do this, you'll need proof from military service.
Proof can come in many forms, but is most commonly found in medical records. Unfortunately, the hectic nature of military service could leave you with an incomplete medical record or insufficient information. You can also use medical reports from civilian hospitals if the information can be verified by date.
Current Problems Must Have Current Results
It isn't simple enough to show that you were injured in the past. A broken leg during your early military days, for example, is not grounds for compensation alone. You may be entitled to physical therapy and could qualify for other VA benefits, but the monetary and major medical benefits won't be awarded to you without up-to-date medical evidence.
Many injuries and conditions can be recovered from with no major, noticeable side effects. To prove that you need compensation, the VA sends all veterans through a compensation and pension (C&P) examination to find out if you're still suffering from an issue.
One problem with the C&P examination is that the results need to find a cause for certain issues. If you're seeking compensation because you're suffering from pain that distracts you from your every day life, examiners need to be able to find a current problem that could be causing the pain. It can be hit or miss if the problem is related to an area that suffered documented damage, but you may need to seek outside help if the VA denies your claim.
For better evidence, contact a personal injury attorney. With an attorney's assistance, deeper research into your past can be conducted along with more in-depth examination from a claims system-experienced team of medical professionals outside of the VA. For a second opinion and injury claim help, contact a personal injury attorney like Burke Schultz Harman & Jenkinson Attorneys at Law.
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