You Received a "Ratings Decision," now what?

After you submit your initial application to the VA for your disability compensation, you will receive a decision letter stating what has been decided. If you receive a favorable decision, and you are happy with the percentage you were awarded, that's great. However, if you received a decision that was not favorable from the VA, then you must appeal that decision.

It is important to note that you only have one year from the date on the decision letter to file an appeal. (It is not year from the day you receive the decision letter.) At this point, you may ask: "What happens if I do not appeal my decision within a year?" The answer is quite simple, your claim will close.

If your VA Disability Compensation Claim closes, then you lose all of the time and work that you have put into your case thus far. Further, once your claim has closed, you lose any potential back pay you may have received from a later favorable decision. (Back pay starts from the day in which you file a claim, but you will only receive it if you are granted a favorable decision.)

The VA Legal Process can be very confusing and stressful, especially if you go through it alone. The experienced attorneys and staff at Jan Dils Attorneys at Law can assist you in every step of your VA Disability Claim. Call our office today for a free phone consultation: 1-877-526-1357. Check us out online: www.fight4vets.com

What is a "RO" in Veterans Disability Compensation?

Chances are, if you have a Disability claim pending through the VA, you have heard the letters "RO" stated at some point. What does the abbreviation "RO" stand for though? It's actually quite simple, RO is the abbreviation for Regional Office. Sometimes it also referred to a "VARO" which simply means VA Regional Office. Both terms can be used interchangeably, and refer to the same thing.

You may then ask, what is a Regional Office for the VA? That too is quite simple. A VA Regional Office handles all of the claims for Veterans Disability. They are traditionally separate from a VA Hospital. Think of the Regional Office as an administrative office.

Every state has at least one VA Regional Office, but some states have more than one location. For instance, New York City has its own Regional Office, and the rest of the State of New York uses the Regional Office in Buffalo.

For More information, or to see which VA Regional Office is near you, click here.

If you would like help with your VA Disability claim, check out our website, or give us a call: 1-877-526-3457

What are The Minimum Requirements for VA Pension?

Pension through the VA is defined as a benefit payable to Wartime Veterans who have limited or no income. However, a Veteran does have to meet some minimum requirements in order to qualify for this benefit.

1. You have to have a discharge that is other than dishonorable. (For instance, Honorable, general under Honorable, and so on.)

2. The Veteran must have served at least ninety (90) days with at least one had to have been during wartime.

3. Family countable income (the income of all persons in the household, must not exceed a certain limit. (The limit varies by dependants, and does change from time to time.)

4. The Veteran must be age 65 or older. However, if the Veteran is under the age of 65, he may still qualify if he is permanently and totally disabled.

The information above is just the minimum requirements. If you are interested in filing for Pension through the VA, and meet the above requirements, feel free to call our office: 1-877-526-3457

More information can be found on our website, www.fight4vets.com

Can I File a VA Disability Claim for Agent Orange Exposure?

The Department of Veterans Affairs website states the following about Agent Orange Exposure: For the purposes of VA compensation benefits, Veterans who served in Vietnam anytime between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975 are presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. These Veterans do not need to show that they were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides in order to get disability compensation for diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure.

Further, it is very important to note that exposure alone does not warrant a claim. A Veteran must have a disability that is a result of exposure to Agent Orange. The Department of Veterans Affairs creates a list of Presumptive Disabilities that are a result of Agent Orange Exposure. For instance, if you served in Vietnam during the dates mentioned above, and have been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease by a doctor, then you would likely be able to file a claim for Hodgkin's Disease as a result of Agent Orange Exposure. This, once again, is due to the fact that Hodgkin's Disease is a presumptive of Agent Orange exposure.

It is important to note that there is no guarantee that your claim will be approved. For more information on Agent Orange Exposure, check out our website www.fight4vets.com or give us a call: 1-877-526-3457

How Can I Get Service Connected for PTSD through the VA?

Recent studies estimate that one in every five military personnel returning from Iraq or Afghanistan has PTSD. Further, 20% of veterans who have been deployed in the past six years have PTSD. That is about 300,000 soldiers. These stats show that PTSD is affecting a lot of people, but some soldiers may not know that they can possibly get service connected VA Disability compensation for PTSD.

In order to service connect on PTSD; you must have a diagnosis by a doctor. It is important to note that this diagnosis does not have to be administered by a Veterans Affairs doctor. A diagnosis from any doctor will suffice. Without a diagnosis from a doctor, your claim for PTSD will continue to get denied. It is also important to note that a diagnosis alone does not guarantee a favorable rating for PTSD. This is just the first step.

If you would like more information on this subject, check out our website: www.fight4vets.com If you are interested in legal representation for your VA Disability Claim, feel free to give us a call for a free consultation: 1-877-526-3457

PTSD and VA Disability Compensation

PTSD is a disability that you can service connect through VA Disability Compensation. However, in order to service connect on PTSD; you must have a diagnosis by a doctor. It is important to note that this diagnosis does not have to be administered by a Veterans Affairs doctor. A diagnosis from any doctor will suffice. 

PTSD is a disorder that the VA can grant a Veteran between zero and one hundred percent for service connected compensation. Unlike some issues that peak at ten percent, or thirty percent, a Veteran can get service connected compensation up to one hundred percent for PTSD.

If you are interested in filing a claim for service connected PTSD, or you have been denied on your claim, and are seeking legal assistance, contact Jan Dils Attorneys at Law for a free phone consultation. 1-877-526-3457

In the coming weeks we will feature a series of blogs dedicated to PTSD percentage ratings.

Initial Application for VA Disability Benefits

When a Veteran first decides he wants to file for VA disability benefits, he may be faced with a few obstacles. The first thing one must do is apply for VA disability benefits. To this is quite simple. You must fill out a VA Form 21-526. Obtaining this form is quite easy. You can print it off of the VA Website.

Fill the form out completely, and then submit it to your VA Regional office. This process can be made easier once you become a client of Jan Dils Attorneys at Law. Even if you have not applied for your VA Disability Compensation, give us a call, and we will be more than happy to give you a free phone consultation. 1-877-526-3457. Once you become a client of ours, we will send you a 21-526. Send it back to us, along with the new client paperwork we send you, and we will review the forms before we submit them to the VA. This is just one of the many services we provide our clients.

VA Disability Timeline

If you are a Veteran who has a claim pending through the VA, one thing you must prepare for is a long wait. At the current time, the entire timeline can take between two and four years for your final decision. When informed of the above, many Veterans are curious as to why. It is actually quite simple. The VA regional offices are getting backed up. With the large amount of claims coming through the regional offices, there is a large back log of claims. Some regional offices can have as many as 20,000 claims pending.

It is also important to know that your location has a lot to do with this timeline too. For instance, a regional office located in a major metropolitan area, like Chicago or New York City will be likely be more backed up then those located in more rural areas.

It can be a long and difficult process, but that can be helped by not going at it alone. The attorneys at Jan Dils Attorneys at Law can help you get the VA Disability Benefits you deserve. See why we don't take no for an answer and why we Fight for Vets.