What Is perkasie veterans disability attorney Disability Compensation?
The Department of Veterans Affairs awards compensation based upon the severity of your service connected disability or disabilities. Regional Offices of VA look over a mix of records of treatment, private medical records and other relevant information.
Some severe injuries, like loss of one leg, blindness of both eyes or being bedridden and require higher compensation. These are referred to as Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).
Eligibility
VA disability compensation is a tax-free financial benefit available to those who are eligible Lemoore Veterans disability law firm and their spouses and children. The amount is determined based on the medical condition of a veteran and the degree of their disability based on a schedule established by Congress.
To be awarded benefits, you must have suffered an in-service injury, illness or event that caused or made worse a medical condition that meets the definition of service-connected. You may be eligible for disability compensation if you had a pre-existing medical condition, but it must be proven that the injury, illness or event occurred during service.
The severity of a person’s condition is rated by a percentage which is used to determine the amount they could receive in monthly benefits. This rating is determined by an internal review of a combination of service treatment records, VA and private medical records related to the condition.
The rating system also considers whether or not the individual cannot perform “substantially profitable” employment. It is important that you remain in contact with the VA about any exams they require, and make sure you attend them at the correct time. Failure to do this could adversely affect your case.
Benefits
Typically veterans who are connected to conditions that hinder their daily functioning may be eligible to receive compensation payments to help offset their loss. These are tax-free monetary rewards.
The amount you will receive will be determined by the degree of your disability. You can be compensated if you have one disability or multiple disabilities. If you suffer from multiple disabilities the rates are merged with a formula that considers each condition.
You may be eligible for additional benefits, including Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) or Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). DIC is awarded to spouses, children or parents of veterans who died in active duty, training or due to a service-related disability. SMC is paid to disabled kyle veterans disability attorney, their children and spouses based on need for aid and attendance.
The SHA grant program provides financial aid to assist disabled veterans adapt their homes to continue treatment and accessibility. This includes modifying their current home or purchasing a new house that has been specially made to accommodate their disabilities. This is a federally funded program and does not require an VA decision or an SSI/SSDI affidavit.
Rates
Based on the severity of your illness or injury Based on the severity of your illness or injury, the VA will offer you between zero and 100 percent disability compensation. This compensation is designed to provide you with a financial benefit during the time when your disability stops you from working. It does not include dependent’s compensation or other benefits.
To determine your disability rating To determine your disability rating, the VA examines your current diagnosis and evidence of a connection between your current illness or injury and your current condition. They use a scale to evaluate disabilities. Each one is assigned an amount of how healthy you would be if not for the disability. If your medical condition was classified as being 10% disabling, your total rating will be 10% of 100%.
The compensation rates are reviewed annually. Every year, the VA raises its payments to reflect increases in Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. These adjustments are tax-free and dependent on the amount that veterans receive as a result of an injury that is service-connected. The 2023 Disability Rate Chart displays the monthly amount of compensation based on the severity of your disability and the size of your household. It also provides a breakdown of dependents.
Requirements
If you suffered injury or fell ill while on active duty, you could be eligible for disability benefits. This includes conditions like tinnitus, which developed due to exposure to gunfire, or the loss of limbs due to an IED explosion. If a veteran dies due to the service-related cause spouses and children may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
You must satisfy the medical nexus criteria to get these benefits. For instance, if you suffered a ankle injury during boot camp and it has been bothering you since then, you may have a disability that is medically nexus-related.
You must also be a veteran with a valid discharge that was not dishonorable. A discharge that included willful misconduct will prevent you from receiving benefits, however most other types of discharges allow you to be eligible for veterans compensation. You must also have a disability which affects your ability to maintain a substantial gainful occupation.
Timeframe
The VA must determine whether a claimant’s medical issue is in line with the requirements of disability benefits with a connection to service before it can offer compensation. The VA must collect and examine evidence from numerous sources. This procedure can take a while. This includes statements from friends and relatives about the impact that disability has on the claimant’s capacity to work and their daily life and opinions from medical experts.
Depending on the severity of a medical condition it could take the VA months to establish a reliable connection between that disability and military service. If the claim is complicated and complex, it could take longer to schedule and conduct an examination of the body, or Compensation and Pension Exam (C&P).
It is essential that claimants submit all requested evidence as quickly as possible. This will accelerate the decision-making process. If the VA decides a claimant is eligible for disability benefits, they will be mailed an Rating Decision listing their service-connected disabilities as well as a rating and an effective date. It could take a few months for veterans to begin receiving monthly disability checks.