There are more than 1.5 million veterans in the state of Florida. At Patriot Legal Group we strongly believe U.S. veterans deserve to be honored and cared for. It is critical that those who have served their country are educated about and receive the benefits that they are due, including VA disability benefits.
If you are seeking VA benefits, reach out to the VA benefits attorneys at Patriot Legal Group. Our team will fight diligently to recover the benefits that you earned by serving our country.
Sadly, it is difficult for many veterans to qualify for the benefits they are entitled to. Problems with VA benefits are often caused by personnel shortages, underfunding, administrative inadequacies, and lack of training on the VA processes and procedures. Veterans simply aren’t being made aware of the benefits they are entitled to and what evidence is needed to obtain those benefits.
The knowledgeable attorneys at Patriot Legal Group know that veterans deserve easy access to the benefits that they have earned. Our legal team is proud to serve veterans by helping them to secure the VA benefits they are entitled to, whether they live in Orlando, elsewhere in Florida, or throughout the world.
Understanding Orlando, Florida VA Benefits
After discharge from military service, U.S. veterans can claim several different types of benefits. But qualifying for these benefits can be complex and time-consuming.
Applicants for Veterans’ disability must meet several complex criteria. To prove direct service connection a veteran applying for disability benefits must show that:
They have a diagnosed medical condition
They have some event during their service which caused or aggravated the diagnosed condition. There needs to be a “nexus” between the claimed condition and the event in service.
These bullet points simplify a very complicated process which also includes secondary service connection, service connection by aggravation, and presumptive service connection, just to name a few alternative paths. Speaking with an experienced VA disability attorney can help you evaluate what is the best path for service connection in your specific case. For example, some military service personnel suffer severe physical injuries in the line of duty and continue to receive treatment after service. The nexus is proven by a written nexus report by a doctor and supported by continuity of care since the initial in-service event.
In the previous example, it was clear that there is a nexus connection between the event in service and the current diagnosed disability. Many cases are not so clear because some service members experience long-term and chronic conditions. In many cases, these conditions do not appear until years after their military service has concluded.
Some conditions that may require an alternative path for service connection include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Illness caused by radiation exposure
- Disease from exposure to chemicals
- Conditions as a result of Agent Orange exposure
- Conditions diagnosed within one year on a presumptive basis
- Conditions caused as a result of treatment for a service-connected condition
- Disabilities that develop due to a service-connected condition
Orlando VA Disability Ratings
The veteran’s service-connected disabilities are all assigned a percentage ranging from 0% to 100%. Each disability’s percentage is based on symptoms of the disability in accordance with the CFR rating table. The CFR rating tables are structured by body system and each condition and body system have their own rating criteria. Some rating criteria are based solely on clinical findings whereas other rating criteria contain a subjective component. Since each disability has its own complex rating criteria, it is important to consult with an experienced Veteran’s Disability attorney so you can be sure you are receiving the highest percentage which you are entitled to.
The application process for VA benefits is very complex. The VA requires applicants to provide many different types of documentation to secure approval for benefits. This includes both records from the service member’s time in service as well as evidence of current treatment. An experienced attorney can help you gather and even obtain the required evidence to file your claims.
A Veteran’s individual disability ratings are combined to provide the Veteran their overall disability rating. A veteran is paid monthly disability benefits based off their overall disability rating and their number of eligible dependents. Veterans may be entitled to additional monthly compensation or additional benefits based off their disability rating and their specific circumstances. For example, if a Veteran is homebound due to their service-connected conditions they may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation of Aid and Attendance or Homebound Benefits. Or if a Veteran is unable to secure substantial gainful employment due to their service-connected conditions, they may qualify for a Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU or IU).
Those who qualify for individual unemployability may be able to receive compensation at the same rate as those with a 100% disability rating. Because the process and rating system is so complex, veterans with disabilities should speak with a knowledgeable VA benefits attorney to determine eligibility.[MM1]
Appealing Denied Benefits
If your claim for VA benefits has been denied, you have the right to appeal. A skilled lawyer can help you to file an appeal with the regional VA office. Under the new Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system, there are multiple different appeal lanes you can choose for each claim depending on what information is needed or why the VA denied the claim. Some of these lanes allow you to submit additional evidence where other lanes allow you to point out errors of law or procedure. An experienced VA disability attorney can help you navigate the complex lane structure and help you choose the most advantageous lane in your situation.
Contact Patriot Legal Group for Legal Help With Your VA Benefits
If you or someone you love is seeking VA benefits, reach out to Patriot Legal Group. Our premier VA benefits attorneys will fight to recover the payments that you need to move forward. Our VA benefits attorneys can help you whether you live in Orlando, elsewhere in Florida, or throughout the world.
You served our country, now let our attorneys help you receive the benefits that you may be entitled. Contact Patriot Legal Group today to schedule a case review.
