Obtaining Veterans’ Benefits In Alabama
Veterans of the United States Armed Forces devote their time and energy to serving their country, only for many of them to return with serious long-term injuries and conditions. However, obtaining the benefits most veterans are entitled to can be a bureaucratic nightmare. The time it can take to get one’s application for benefits approved can be long enough that it deters many people from even applying – but this does not have to be true in your case.
If your injury was sustained in your military service, you are likely eligible for benefits from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA), but having a knowledgeable attorney on your side can help to make the process much easier. The Birmingham VA benefits attorneys from Goldasich, Vick & Fulk have a proven track record of helping veterans and will work hard for you.
How Are Benefits Determined?
In general, any injury sustained during your military service, or that developed as a result of your military service, is grounds for eligibility for veteran’s benefits, as long as you were not dishonorably discharged. This includes both physical impairments like cancer or missing limbs, and mental conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depressive disorder. While not every veteran will be eligible for 100 percent benefits, it is still worth filing a claim in most cases simply because injuries and conditions sustained in military service should be compensated by military authorities.
Benefits are granted or denied based on what is known as an impairment rating or disability rating. If you have multiple qualifying conditions, they will all be taken into account to arrive at your total disability rating, which essentially quantifies how easy it will be for you to function (and possibly be employed) in the future. For example, if your disability rating is 60 percent, this means that the VA has estimated your functioning ability to be reduced by 60 percent. It is possible, though very unlikely, to receive a 100 percent disability rating.
Try Again!
The benefits process can be long and time-consuming, so if your claim is denied, it can feel like a slap in the face. However, all need not be lost – there is no limit on the number of times a person can apply for VA benefits, and if you previously tried to make a claim alone, having an attorney on your side this time may make the difference. There are many different types of benefits one may seek, and if you are denied one type, it may be possible to obtain another. For example, if you are denied 100 percent benefits, it may be possible for you to apply for benefits based on clear & unmistakable error (CUE), or for unemployability benefits at a lower percentage.
One thing to keep in mind if you are a Gulf War veteran, specifically, is the existence of “Gulf War syndrome.” Classified as a “medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness” (MUCMI), the most common symptoms are fatigue, skin rashes, and diarrhea. More specifically defined chronic illnesses may also appear – the most common include PTSD and fibromyalgia. In fact, if you are diagnosed with certain specific conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), among others, the VA will presume that these illnesses were the result of your military service.
You Are Not Alone – Our Attorneys Can Help
It can be very easy to feel forgotten by the federal government after you return from serving the country. If you believe you are entitled to veterans’ benefits, our Birmingham injury attorneys from Goldasich, Vick & Fulk will help to give you the best chance possible at success. Contact us today at (205) 731-2566 to schedule a consultation.
Source:
va.gov/disability/about-disability-ratings/
