Category: Firm News

The VA announced that it is beginning the process of amending its rating criteria for PTSD and other mental disorders. These changes are currently in the proposal stage and are subject to change before they are finalized in the following months. Why is VA Revising the Rating Criteria for Mental Disorders? The VA continuously revises […]

A study conducted in the late eighties found that the lifetime prevalence of PTSD among veterans that served during the Vietnam era was 30.9% for men and 26.9% for women. A study conducted in the late nineties estimated the prevalence of PTSD among Gulf War veterans to be 10% to 12%. And a study conducted […]

Generally, there is no upfront fee for legal representation by a VA disability lawyer. Most VA disability lawyers use contingent fee arrangements. This means that instead of charging by the hour, most VA disability attorneys receive a percentage of the veteran’s past-due benefits (back pay) that is won on appeal. So, hiring a VA disability […]

The VA finally announced that it will begin implementing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 which amended 38 U.S.C. § 1116 to add to the list of conditions that are presumptively associated with exposure to Agent Orange the conditions of bladder cancer, Parkinsonism, and hypothyroidism. What Does this Mean? This means that […]

Assessing all relevant evidence of record is required to determine TDIU entitlement. Evidence that can be used to support entitlement to VA individual unemployability benefits can take many forms ranging from medical opinions to education and work history. How do Medical Opinions Impact TDIU Claims? The professional opinions of psychologists, doctors, nurses, etc. hold a […]

Veterans who lost or lose of the use of specific organs or body parts due to their military service might be entitled to Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) benefits. Furthermore, additional SMC benefits are permitted for veterans who are rated at the 100 percent rate and meet one of the following criteria: housebound, bedridden, or requires […]

Two major factors that VA is required to consider when determining whether the veteran’s service connected disabilities preclude them from securing substantially gainful employment are education and employment history. VA is not allowed to simply imply that work history or education are the reasons for a denied claim without attempting to relate these factors to […]

Although many complicated factors form the overall picture of whether a veteran is able to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, VA regulations prevent them from taking certain factors into account when making decisions on entitlement to individual unemployability (TDIU or IU). Even though many elements may unquestionably contribute to the overall picture of whether […]

There are two ways to receive the 100 percent payment rate from VA. The first way is to have a service-connected disability or disabilities that combine to create a 100 percent schedular rating, but it can be challenging to receive a 100 percent combined rating – especially if you are combining multiple disabilities to receive […]

If you served in the military during the Gulf War and you have some disabling symptoms that cannot be explained by a specific medical condition, you may qualify for VA disability benefits. Some of those symptoms include: Migraines or severe headaches Sustained, debilitating fatigue Difficulty sleeping Memory problems Cognition issues Digestive ailments If you are […]