Securing disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs can be a long and difficult process – often frustrating for veterans. A good way to ease the frustration is to learn as much as you can about how the VA’s processes work. Knowing when you need to take certain actions, as you are responsible for meeting many deadlines throughout the process, or even what your next step should be, can give you more power over your claim.
Keep VA Updated
VA will mail all correspondence related to your claim to the address they have on file. Make sure they have up-to-date contact information for you at all times, or you may miss important deadlines that could result in your claim being closed.
Be Honest with Your Doctor and Attend your C & P Exam
Always report your symptoms accurately and completely to your treating physician. Never exaggerate or downplay your limitations. Ensuring your condition is correctly documented in medical records is exceedingly important.
Compensation and Pension (C & P) examinations are medical exams ordered by VA, and they carry a lot of weight. If VA schedules one for you, it is crucial that you attend, and if you need to cancel, reach out to reschedule immediately.
Submit Evidence and Obtain your Claims File
All VA disability claims require evidence in support of the type of benefit they are seeking, such as medical or service records, or other documentation. Some types of claims require more specific documentation than others. You should also request a copy of your claims file to ensure everything that should be in there, is.
Ask for Help from Dedicated VA Compensation Lawyers
If you find that you need help at any point during the claims or appeals process, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of compassionate and dedicated VA compensation lawyers at Jackson and Mac Nichol. We are here to help.