Kaboutjie SA Mommy Blogs by Lynne Huysamen
Once the paperwork for a Veterans Disability has been submitted, the VA’s board of veterans appeals (BVA) will review the file and determine whether the veteran qualifies for disability benefits.
Veterans Disability Ratings
In the event of them qualifying for compensation, a rating ranging from 10% to 100% (in 10% increments) will be assigned to the veteran’s disability.
The percentage rating correlates directly to a pre-determined monthly amount of payment as laid down by the law.
When a veteran has a 30% or more disabled rating and has a spouse and dependent children, the monthly amount payable will be higher.
In addition, the disabled veteran would be entitled to a higher monthly compensation if they’ve sustained more series disabilities such as losing a limb or blindness.
The Requirement For Claiming Veterans Disability Compensation
A Veteran’s disease or disability have to be service-connected whether through active service directly linked to an accident or injury that resulted in the impairment.
Types Of Service Connections
When claiming for disability for veterans, there are three types of service connections applicable:
Direct Service Connection
When a disability occurred due to military service, for example, losing eyesight as a result of the in-combat injury. In these cases, the veteran must provide evidence of the incident that caused the disease or injury, his current disability and medical evidence that proofs that the occurrence in question caused the disability or disease.
Aggravated Service Connections
Aggravated service connection is established in cases where the veteran entered the military service with a pre-existing medical condition. The medical condition would have been documented with his or her entrance medical exam. Evidence must be given that an incident during military service has aggravated the medical condition.
Presumed Service Connection
A presumed service connection is established when a veteran (who is serving at least 90 days) develops a condition or disability of a ten percent degree or higher that is presumed to be brought on through military action.
The list of illnesses and disabilities that are presumed to have resulted from active military service are documented by Federal law. This includes chronic disease such as:
- Tuberculosis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Hansen’s disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Certain tropical illnesses
The disease or disability must appear within a certain period after active military service. The time lengths will vary according to the type of disease or disability.
What Are The Causes For Ineligibility To Claim Disability Benefits?
When The Circumstance Includes:
- An injury occurred when the veteran was avoiding duty, for example, AWOL (deserting or absent without leave).
- Being dishonorably discharged from service.
- During imprisonment or detained as a result of martial or a civil court felony.
- The veteran’s misconduct caused the disability or disease.
Obtaining Legal Assistance
An attorney can be hired to act as a representative of the veteran, or several veterans service organizations (VSOs) are in existence that can provide the veteran with a representative to assist them with filing a veterans disability claim.
