How to File a Veterans Disability Claim Veterans should seek the assistance of a Veteran Service Officer (VSO). VSOs are located in every county, as well as several federally recognized tribal communities. The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal on Monday which could have allowed veterans to receive disability compensation retroactively. The case involves an Navy veteran who was on an aircraft carrier which collided into a different ship. Symptoms In order to receive disability compensation, veterans must be suffering from an illness or condition that was caused or aggravated during their service. This is known as "service connection". There are a variety of ways for veterans to demonstrate service connection in a variety of ways, including direct, presumptive secondary, indirect and direct. Certain medical conditions can be so serious that a person suffering from the condition is incapable of working and could require specialized medical attention. This can lead to permanent disability rating and TDIU benefits. In general, a veteran must to be suffering from one disability that is graded at 60% in order to qualify for TDIU. The most commonly cited claims for VA disability benefits are related to musculoskeletal injury and disorders such as knee and back pain. These conditions should have persistent, recurring symptoms, and clear medical evidence which connects the cause with your military service. Many veterans have claimed secondary service connection for ailments and conditions that aren't directly related to an event in the service. Examples of secondary conditions include PTSD and military sexual trauma. A lawyer for disabled veterans can assist you in obtaining the required documentation and evaluate it against VA guidelines. COVID-19 is a cause of a variety of recurrent conditions that are classified under the diagnostic code "Long COVID." These include a number of physical and mental health issues ranging from joint pain to blood clots. Documentation If you are applying to receive benefits for veterans disability If you apply for disability benefits for veterans, the VA must have the medical evidence to back your claim. Evidence may include medical records, X-rays and diagnostic tests from your VA doctor, as in addition to other doctors. It must prove that your condition is linked to your military service and that it is preventing you from working and other activities that you used to enjoy. You could also make use of the statement of a close friend or family member to establish your ailments and their impact on your daily life. The statements must be written by people who aren't medical experts and must include their personal observations of your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. All evidence you supply is stored in your claim file. It is essential to keep all of the documents together and to not miss any deadlines. The VSR will examine all of the documents and take a final decision on your case. The decision will be communicated to you in writing. This free VA claim check list can help you get an idea of the documents to prepare and how to arrange them. It will assist you in keeping on track of all the documents and dates they were given to the VA. This is particularly useful in the event of having to file an appeal due to an appeal denial. C&P Exam The C&P Exam plays an important role in your disability claim. It determines how severe your condition is and the kind of rating you get. It also helps determine the severity of your condition and the kind of rating you will receive. The examiner is a medical professional who works for the VA or an independent contractor. They are required to be knowledgeable of the specific conditions under which they will be conducting the exam, so it is essential that you have your DBQ and all of your other medical records accessible to them at the time of the exam. You should also be honest about your symptoms and make an appointment. This is the only way that they can comprehend and document your experience with the disease or injury. If you are unable attend your scheduled C&P examination, call the VA medical center or your regional office immediately and let them know that you have to change the date. If you're not able to attend your scheduled C&P examination be sure to contact the VA medical center or regional office as soon as possible and let them know that you must reschedule. Hearings You may appeal any decision made by an area VA Office to the Board of Veterans Appeals if you disagree with. A hearing on your claim could be scheduled following the time you file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD). The type of BVA will depend on the situation you're in and the circumstances that happened to the original ruling. At the hearing, you'll be taken to be sworn in and the judge will ask questions to gain a better understanding of your case. Your attorney will assist you in answering these questions to ensure that they will be most beneficial to you. You can also add evidence to your claims file now if necessary. The judge will take the case under review, which means they will consider what was said during the hearing, the information in your claims file and any additional evidence you submit within 90 days of the hearing. Then they will make a decision regarding your appeal. If the judge decides that you are not able to work because of your conditions that are connected to your service they may award you total disability based on the individual's inequity (TDIU). If they do not award this the judge may offer you a different level of benefits, like schedular TDIU, or extraschedular. It is crucial to show how your medical conditions impact your ability to perform during the hearing.