How to Apply for VA Benefits the Right Way: Road to Approval
Many service members have given their all to fight for their country, coming back home with a variety of illnesses, injuries, and disabilities. One is left to wonder: Is all that sacrifice for nothing, or does US law make provision for them? Keep reading this blog to find out the answer to that question and also discover how to access those benefits.
Is Every Veteran Eligible for the VA Benefits Provided by US Law?
Eligibility for VA benefits provided by United States law depends on a number of factors. However, the veteran must meet these requirements to get approval for their disability claim. As such, many applicants get frustrated, confused, and exhausted when they keep filing a claim and continue getting rejected.
To start with, how the VA defines ‘disability’ is one thing every veteran must understand. Basically, they want to know how your condition affects your ability to live and work comfortably, as well as your overall day-to-day life. If you are suffering from physical and mental ailments as a veteran, you certainly do not need financial stress.
You want to ensure you qualify for the compensation to improve your chances of getting a ‘yes’ to your claim. We recommend consulting a credible and experienced attorney to help assess your VA benefits eligibility. Also, they can assess what proof you need to provide and what documentation to submit, thus preventing frustrating denials later.
Three Options for Obtaining VA Benefits After a Denial
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs implemented a new process for filing benefits appeals in 2018. The new process gives veterans three options for getting their deserved benefits if their initial application was denied:
- A veteran can file a supplemental claim with Form 20-0995, providing new information that they did not include in the initial application.
- They can request that a more experienced reviewer at the VA review their application. Or
- They can testify before a Veteran Law Judge and ask them to consider reversing your denial verdict.
Step-By-Step Process to Access VA Benefits in the United States
The success of an application to receive VA benefits also depends on how the individual filed the claim. If you are not sure how to go about applying, you might want to get a good lawyer to help.
An experienced VA benefits lawyer will know the right documents to bring as proof and the steps to filing the application. Summarily, below are the steps for filing for VA to receive VA benefits in the United States:
- Start by filing for VA disability compensation – you will need to file an initial application form called VA Form 21-526ez.
- Next, the Department of Veteran Affairs will review your application, which may take eight to 12 months on average. However, no matter how long it takes, you will hear back from the reviewers on whether you were approved or denied.
- If the reviewers approve your application, the next thing is to receive your benefits. If they deny it, however, you can use any of those three options listed above to file an appeal.
Conclusion
“The process of obtaining VA benefits can be confusing and exhausting, with different forms, applications, reviews, appeals, and hearings to deal with,” says Veterans Attorney Jan Dils of Fight4Vets. Also, there is uncertainty in what step to take to increase your chance of approval.
Additionally, there is a waiting period of eight to 12 months, which can be excruciatingly painful. For these reasons, we recommend finding someone you can trust, preferably an experienced attorney, who can guide you through every step.
