One of the benefits of serving is the access to benefits it provides you as a veteran. The VA disability claims process can be confusing and incredibly frustrating when denied. While there’s no guarantee, we have compiled a list of tips to help you improve your chances of a VA claim approval.
Tip # 1 – Provide Ample Details
The more evidence you have to support your disability application, the more likely the Veterans Administration (VA) will approve it. Try to be as descriptive as possible, including the exact location that the disability affects or your medical diagnosis. For example, if you’re filing for disability due to leg pain, be sure to include information that lets the recipient know exactly which leg, the type of pain, how it prevents you from completing daily tasks, and what diagnosis, if any, is causing the pain.
Tip # 2 – Help the VA Track Down Your Records
Including copies of your medical records in your initial application can be helpful, but the VA may still have questions. This means it may be an even better idea to help the VA track down your records by listing detailed information like physician’s names, office locations, and dates for each medical visit. Keep in mind that while the VA may have easy access to your medical records associated with the VA, it can be even more difficult for them to track down medical professionals not within the system.
Tips # 3 – Keep Up With All Medical Appointments
It’s also important to keep up with all medical appointments, including routine checkups, specialist appointments, and any required follow-ups. It’s also a good idea to carefully follow your physician’s orders, including taking certain medications or visiting a physical therapist. The VA may also request that you schedule an appointment with one of their physicians for a second opinion. It’s crucial that you follow all of these requirements.
Tip # 4 – Don’t Give Up
Your initial application may be denied, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on receiving the disability benefits you deserve. There are many reasons the VA may deny your application, with “not service” connected as one of the most common. The VA may claim that your disability isn’t service-related because of a missing medical diagnosis, a lack of a clear Nexus, or no evidence of current disability symptoms.
You do have a right to appeal your denied application, but you’ll want to address the reason it was denied in the first place. You may need to submit additional medical records or visit with a credible VA Nexus letter physician. Other evidence that can make your application stronger includes a VA buddy letter, VA lay statement, or a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) from your physician.
Patience is important when filing a disability claim. The average time the VA spends exploring a single veteran’s claim is around 96 days, and this may fluctuate based on the existing number of applications. You may be able to cut down on the timeline by doing some of the investigative work yourself and including as many medical records and documents as possible in your initial filing.
A thank you is a meaningful gesture, but this doesn’t help you pay the bills. Try to be patient with the VA claims process and know when to file an appeal.
Tip # 5 – Be Clear and Honest
When it comes to filing a VA disability claim, it’s not only about proving that you have a disability that prevents you from working. The VA bases its claims and compensation on your disability rating. Basically, how much you receive in disability payments depends on the severity of your symptoms. This means it’s important to be clear and honest about your disability, which includes demonstrating exactly how it affects your personal and professional life.
The VA uses a disability rating, which is a measurement of the severity of your disability. The VA lists the disability rating as a percentage, which directly translates to how much it impacts your ability to function normally. So, while a medical diagnosis from your physician may prove you qualify for disability payments, you’ll also want to include secondary evidence to show how impactful it is to you. Additionally, including more than one disability from the VA-qualified list will often increase your disability percentage.
The VA disability filing process is the only way to qualify for the benefits you deserve. Improve your chances of an approved application by providing ample evidence in the first place, helping the VA track down additional evidence, and keeping up with all required appointments. Keep in mind that you can and should also appeal a denied application.
