Getting help from the Department of Veterans Affairs is a notoriously inconsistent, sometimes difficult, process. It's a problem that exists with any large organization; just because service should be consistent doesn't mean it will be, and regional/local office attitudes or work ethics are not all the same. Thankfully, it's easy to step out of the paperwork shuffle if you understand a few of these claim system requirements and get a lawyer on your side to expedite the process.
Does Your Claim Have Service-Connected Proof?
It isn't enough to say that your condition was caused by military service. You need to have official proof that can be confirmed by Veterans Affairs (VA) claims officials, and it can't be something that anyone could write up in a word processor or email. Good evidence comes from licensed medical professionals with expertise related to your condition, but the best evidence will be entered into your military service record.
It's understandable that not all veterans will have documentation from their time in the military. Military culture often leads to avoiding medical if there is other work to be done, or not wanting to seem injured unless it is totally incapacitating.
Veterans with real problems will wait until they're out of the military and think that they're doing the right thing, only to find out that avoiding medical has made their chances at success so much harder. In these situations, it is vital that you not only put in a VA claim immediately, but that you start going to private medical professionals and consulting a lawyer for advice before too much time passes.
The VA has a grace period of one year for many of its programs, and that's no coincidence when it comes to filing a claim. It's too easy to get injured after leaving the military, then file a claim and demand compensation from the VA for something that had nothing to do with the VA. That type of fraud exists, and veterans with legitimate complaints are unfortunately caught in a dragnet of fraud investigation.
For the VA, it's easier to just deny everything that isn't near perfect and ask veterans to clarify.
Clarifying Evidence After a Failed Claim
Do you have evidence from a military medical report that syncs up with your current medical condition? If you think that the VA rushed your denial, contact a lawyer to have the appeal pushed through and to alert VA legal authorities who can take a closer look at your claim.
If you don't have any evidence of your condition, but have been out of the military for less than a year, don't delay another minute. You need to get a lawyer on your side immediately, because even if a lawyer isn't required for a claim, you don't want to waste any time figuring out what to do on your own.
With a lawyer's help, you can get on the fast track to comparing your situation with other successful VA claims. Many times, the research that comes from a trained and experienced lawyer can go a lot further than rumors and a few internet searches. Speak to a lawyer and discuss your claim today. To learn more, talk to companies like the Law Offices Of Harry G Lasser.
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