The Department of Veterans Affairs offers an incentive program for Fully Developed Claims (FDC) when it comes to applying for their disability benefits. According to the VA website, FDC is “an optional new initiative that offers Veterans and survivors faster decisions from VA on compensation, pension and survivor benefit claims.”
But is it really beneficial for the majority of veterans applying for disability benefits? It can be, provided you have all relevant records at the ready to support your claim and are willing to certify that there is no more evidence related to your case.
So if you have, in addition to the DD-214 form you received when discharged, the Service Medical Record (SMR) that proves you were injured as a result of your service as well as all of the supporting documentation from your healthcare providers, this may be a viable option for you. But if you’re missing documentation that might make the difference in proving your eligibility, certifying your claim as an FDC could decrease your likelihood of being approved.
While your DD-214 proves that you served in the military and is enough to grant you other benefits like pension and home loans, the Service Medical Record and supporting evidence from your healthcare providers are more crucial in disability cases. You must be able to prove that your disabling condition was, in a licensed medical professional’s educated opinion, more than likely caused by your service. If you don’t have the necessary documentation on hand, which more than likely is the case unless you were very recently discharged, the traditional claim route may be the best option for you.
If you think you may be eligible for disability benefits, contact the experienced staff of Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law today. We advocate for veterans at every step in the application and appeals process and are experienced at avoiding roadblocks that delay the process. Call us toll-free at 1.877.526.3457 or send us an e-mail to schedule your 100% free initial consultation today.
