How Veterans Law Impacts Disability Claims
By: Disabled Vets
Tags: Veterans, Attorney, Law, Lawyers

There are many benefits for veterans under the Veterans Law. One of these benefits is the VA disability claim process, which helps disabled veterans receive compensation and health care through their disability claims. If you are a veteran with disabilities, it’s essential to know how this law impacts your ability to receive compensation and necessary medical care. We will discuss some of the ways that the Veterans Law impacts disability claims so that you can be informed about what your rights are as a veteran.

1. Veteran service officer ( VSOs)

To file a VA disability claim, you need an advocate to offer you more info on veterans law. In the past, veterans had to find their advocates to file a claim with the VA. However, if you are filing a claim for yourself or your dependents, you have the option to be represented by a non-lawyer advocate — also known as a Veterans Service Organization (VSO). This means that there are advocacy groups out there who will assist you with your disability claims and help ensure that they proceed smoothly. Not only can these VSOs help guide you through the filing process, but most of them can represent you at hearings and review appeals on your behalf as well. This means less time spent navigating the VA disability system on your own and more time to manage the challenges of living with disabilities.

2. Award Levels

There are various VA Schedules for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). Each of these VASRD has a list of common disabilities that veterans may suffer from, entitling them to compensation through their VA disability claim. However, each one is broken down into ten award levels based on the severity of the medical condition. The first step in filing your claim is determining which VASRD you qualify under, as some conditions can only be rated under certain VASRDs. Once you decide which list you qualify for, it becomes easier to file your disability claim or appeal if you disagree with your rating. This is because having an expert who has reviewed the VASRD can ensure that you are being rated properly under the correct award levels.

3. Retroactive Benefits

When filing a VA disability claim, it’s essential to realize that benefits may be available for disabilities incurred when your service was not honorable. For example, if you are filing a claim for PTSD after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, there is no requirement for your service period to be honorable. This means that even if you received anything other than honorable discharge due to misconduct during your time in the service, your combat-related PTSD would still be considered if all other criteria are met. The only exception to this rule is if your misconduct was directly related to the development of PTSD or another condition that would entitle you to a service-connected disability.

4. Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

Another way the Veterans Law impacts disability claims is through a VA program called vocational rehabilitation and employment, or VR&E for short. This program provides veterans with disabilities the opportunity to participate in career counseling, training, and job placement services to find gainful employment for those who cannot immediately return to their previous jobs due to their service-related disabilities. While the goal of this program is ultimately to find you gainful employment, there are also immediate benefits, including being financially eligible for up to one year following your release from active duty and receiving an additional tax-free monthly allowance if you were unemployed before using these services.

5. Medical Care

Another benefit of receiving compensation for a service-related disability is the ability to receive all necessary medical care related to your condition through the VA. This means free medical treatment, prescriptions, and dental care, as well as access to over 100 VA hospitals across the country. What’s more, you can also receive reimbursement for treatment received from private doctors if they are under contract with the VA. While additional benefits are not listed above, this should provide veterans with enough information about how filing a claim impacts their eligibility for other VA programs.

6. Help with Unemployment Compensation

Suppose you are unable to find a job after leaving active duty service. In that case, you should be aware that unemployment compensation may be available if you served in the military for less than five years and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The amount of money varies by state, but it is a significant help when unemployed.

7. Insurance or Life Insurance

VA Home Loan Guaranty is available to military personnel who took out a VA-backed home loan, those taking part in other Federal, State, or Local government agency programs using their G.I. Bill benefits, and all service members planning to use it after separating from active duty service even if they have already used some of their educational benefits towards flight school. There’s also a life insurance program being offered, except that veterans must apply for coverage within the given number of days from the date of separation from active duty unless they qualify under the Servicemembers Group Life (SGLI). In either case, you can teach your spouse and children how to use a firearm at home for their protection.

8. Low-Income Assistance

The Department of Veterans Affairs may provide financial assistance to veterans, spouses, and dependent children who are American Indian/Alaska Natives if they live in areas where it is hard to find jobs or have been subjected to environmental hazards. Other benefits from this program included emergency shelter, security deposit or moving expenses, homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing assistance, credit counseling, and mortgage delinquency intervention.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article made it easier for you to find a job and receive benefits that can help you get back on your feet after serving in the military. While some may be skeptical of joining the armed forces because of all the red tape, service members should still consider other opportunities, whether they’re planning to stay in the military once their contract is over or leave and start a new career right away. You might not know what lies ahead when you make a decision, so it’s always best to plan while making decisions.