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If you or a loved one were harmed – or worse – by care received in a VA facility, then one of your options to recover against the VA is to make a “Section 1151 claim” which is a type of medical malpractice claim. If successful, the injury you suffered will be considered to be […]

Winning a claim for service connection for asbestos-related diseases can be difficult due to the need to prove you were exposed to asbestos. Proving asbestos exposure to receive disability compensation benefits can be a complicated process that is likely to be daunting in the face of the health concerns you’ve been forced to deal with. […]

Veterans serve our nation proudly, and their families and loved ones are often required to bear considerable hardship of their own as a result. In response, the VA provides certain benefits for the spouses, dependents, survivors, and caregivers of veterans. If you have questions or concerns about family member benefits, look no further than an […]

On the 10th anniversary of the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, VA announced that LGBTQ+ service members who received an other than honorable discharge would now be eligible for VA benefits such as vocational rehabilitation, home loan guaranty, compensation & pension, health care, homeless program, and/or burial benefits. Veterans Discharged for Sexual Orientation, […]

The VA announced today that it will immediately begin processing and granting claims for service connection for asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis as presumptively related to exposure to particulate matter during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations or in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Syria, or Djibouti. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough, stated that he […]

The Veterans Affairs (VA) assigns veterans a disability rating by comparing the severity of a service-connected disability to the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. That rating is then “combined” with a veteran’s other ratings to determine their total combined rating. The total combined rating is then used to determine the amount of compensation paid monthly to […]

Once you’ve applied for VA disability or pension benefits, expect to receive a letter or phone call from the Veterans Affairs (VA) scheduling you for a Compensation & Pension (C&P) examination. A C&P exam is an appointment with a medical professional who will evaluate your disabilities. If your claim involves multiple disabilities, the VA may […]

Veterans who are incapable of securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment may qualify for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (a “TDIU” or “IU”). If awarded a TDIU, a veteran will be paid at the 100% disability rate even though their combined disability rating is less than 100%. Substantially gainful employment is generally […]

A veteran can apply for VA disability compensation benefits any time after service. Put another way, there is no time limit on when you can apply for benefits. Generally, you must satisfy three elements to service connect a disability: Evidence of current disability, i.e., a current diagnosis of a chronic medical condition; An in-service event, […]

Each VA benefit – health care, disability, pension, education, housing, etc. – administered by the VA has its own unique eligibility requirements but there are basic eligibility requirements common to all VA benefits. The most common requirement is whether you are a veteran, and some benefits look at whether you had wartime versus peacetime service […]