Across numerous wars, millions of U.S. servicemembers have come home with debilitating service-connected injuries or conditions. From bullet wounds, to amputations, to chemical exposure, there are countless ways our nation’s heroes come home injured or disabled.
Veterans injured on active military duty are entitled to benefits overseen by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Our VA-accredited attorneys can help you get them. We handle VA disability claims nationwide and are honored to assist Veterans in Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, and neighboring Fort Cavazos, TX.
Please check out our Veterans’ disability calculator for more information.
Veterans who are harmed during active duty, or training for active duty, must prove there is a connection between his or her condition and military service. An illness that develops later in life also counts, but the two strategic points must both be provable. For instance, as many as 250,000 servicemembers contracted Gulf War Illness (GWI) after ingesting pyridostigmine bromide (PB) as protection from nerve gas and being exposed to pesticides, according to a report by a School of Public Health researcher.
Veterans must show they were exposed and were diagnosed with a certain condition; it is not enough to prove exposure without a condition that came from it. Along with GWI, common conditions associated with post-9/11 military service include:
Veterans can consult with his or her personal physician or schedule a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination through the VA. Physicians must certify whether the condition is service-related, after which the VA will assign a disability rating from 0% to 100%. Veterans in Killeen and Copperas Cove should consult a VA-accredited disability attorney to start the application process.
Disabled Veterans receive monthly tax-free compensation to offset wages he or she are unable to earn. With a disability rating of 30%or more, the Veteran is also eligible to claim a spouse and dependents Benefits can also include in-home or nursing home care and retrofitting a home or vehicle to accommodate a Fort Cavazos Veteran’s restrictions. Educational benefits are also available in some cases.
When the VA rejects a disability claim, the claims administrator might not have recognized the connection between the condition and military service. This can happen when a servicemember can prove exposure to a toxin during service, such as oil well fires, but has not shown any disability related to them. Or, he or she may have a diagnosis of lung disease but has not linked it to a military service cause. Our attorneys are well-versed in appealing these denials and exploiting all avenues to get benefits to Veterans in Killeen and Harker Heights.
Lawyers can also file a supplemental claim that includes the information the claims administrator finds lacking or that helps a claim’s validity. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals can conduct a higher-level review with more experienced claims administrators, or a lawyer can confer with a Veterans Law Judge to discuss the merits of the claim and why it is valid.
American Veterans have selflessly safeguarded our country and its citizens in wars and conflicts all over the world. If you are one of them, we thank you. We also want you to know that if you were injured or became ill while serving your country, our law firm takes cases related to your disability – anywhere in the country.
We can help you apply for benefits and appeal a claim if it is denied. We represent servicemembers nationwide and are proud to handle cases for Texas Veterans from Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, and Fort Cavazos. Your disability benefits include all-inclusive medical care and a monthly check to enhance your finances. If you would like help with the confusing application process, the Fight4Vets team is available for free consultations.
