Even after completing their military service, many Veterans feel lasting impacts from their time in combat. Veterans experiencing mental and/or physical disabilities due to their service are entitled to receive disability benefit payments from The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
While earnings from these benefits can be crucial for Veterans, the VA often denies claims for Veterans Disability for one reason or another, and the process can feel tedious and incredibly frustrating. So how long will it usually take to process your VA disability application? Our VA-accredited attorneys can provide some insight, even though there are many variables at play.
Not all injuries or illnesses meet the requirements for a Veteran to receive compensation. There are four primary conditions that a Veteran is able to claim disability compensation for:
As long as you are a Veteran that meets one of the above criteria, you are eligible to apply for Veterans Disability. In order to submit an application, you need to include proof of your disability, evidence that the disability is related to your service, and complete application details, including VA Form 21-526EZ. Consider collecting medical reports, service treatment records, and other proof that your condition impacts your ability to work.
After collecting the necessary information and documents, you are able to submit a complete application. It will help significantly if you work with a lawyer who is experienced in Veterans Disability and who can advise you on the best way to create an application that will be accepted by the VA.
The initial decision on whether your application will be granted or denied can be expected within 6-8 months of submitting your application. Unfortunately, it is not always that predictable.
If you receive a denial of your application, it can feel demoralizing, especially after waiting up to 8 months. However, you are still eligible to get your benefits by utilizing the appeals process. You have one year to file an appeal by choosing one of three approaches.
Within the higher level review appeal lane, Veterans may appeal a VA denial and have their application reviewed by a senior-level VA adjudicator. During the appeal, no new evidence can be added to your initial application. This appeal step takes an average of 4 to 6 months.
During the supplemental claim and appeal lane, Veterans have the opportunity to request a reevaluation of their disability claim. You are able to submit new and relevant evidence with the reevaluation to increase the likelihood that your claim will be accepted. This step takes an average of 6 to 12 months.
Within the Board of Veterans Affairs appeal lane, you are able to choose one of three specific additional options:
Regardless of the specific docket with the Board of Veterans Affairs appeal, you can expect to have your case reviewed by a judge within 4 years.
At Fight4Vets, we are here to best support Veterans in their transition from active military life to civilian life. If you or a loved one is experiencing physical or mental conditions as a result of active military service, you may be entitled to monthly payments from the VA.
Even after gathering the necessary information and evidence to file an application, there is no guarantee that the VA will accept the claim. At minimum, it will take several months to get your claim approved – but if there are complications, it could last a couple of years or more. To increase your odds of being approved as early as possible, please reach out to the largest Veterans-focused law firm in the country.
