Those that serve within the navy put themselves in hurt’s option to defend the nation in its time of want, and advantages offered by the Division of Veterans Affairs are in place to return that safety once they want it. Sadly, an growing variety of veterans are discovering their claims being denied.
The VA claims course of is rife with misinformation — a truth acknowledged by VA Secretary Doug Collins. Veterans who hope to make the most of the advantages they’ve rightfully earned by means of their time within the service should pay shut and cautious consideration to their claims, or threat changing into a part of the greater than one-third of claims which are denied by the VA yearly.
Many veterans take the strategy of “simply file and see what occurs” as a result of that’s the solely steerage the VA system gives, and it not often works. No person teaches veterans what they really must know to get the VA to approve their declare. It’s a results of a system that’s not designed to coach the individuals it’s speculated to serve, nor does it have the capability to take action.
The most important fantasy that veterans imagine concerning the VA advantages course of is that the VA will “join the dots.” That doesn’t occur.
The VA’s system is constructed on a authorized normal — it requires proof, not assumptions. You’ll be able to’t simply assume that your service data will communicate for themselves; 1000’s of veterans get their claims denied, not as a result of they weren’t injured or don’t deserve it, however as a result of they don’t know what the VA must see to course of and approve their declare.
When reviewing claims for advantages, the VA is in search of particular issues. You want credible lay proof — a documented account of what occurred and the way it has affected you — together with a nexus letter from a medical skilled that ties your present situation to service. That’s all that’s required by legislation. You don’t must have a analysis in your navy medical data and even to have reported your damage when you had been within the service to win.
That mentioned, many veterans mistakenly imagine a nexus letter is a “silver bullet” that ensures their declare will likely be authorized. A weak nexus letter with no rationale, no quotation of medical literature, and no connection to the veteran’s precise service historical past is nugatory.
It’s vital to keep in mind that the VA’s raters aren’t naive. They will spot a template letter from a mile away, and if you’re trying to test all of the bins to get your declare authorized, they may see proper by means of it.
To achieve success, veterans should perceive what makes proof legally ample and defensible, not simply what checks a field.
Fortunately, there are assets obtainable to assist veterans navigate the VA declare course of. It’s a sophisticated, typically intimidating course of, and one mistake can value you dearly. However each veteran deserves correct steerage and trustworthy illustration, and that’s what we try to do.
Veterans earned their advantages by giving every part to their mission and repair to the nation. Don’t let a mistake get in the way in which of veterans getting what they deserve.
Jordan Anderson is a veteran and the founding father of VA Claims Academy/InsideSources
