Chronic or ongoing disabilities can lead to a lifetime of challenges for veterans. These conditions could be physical or mental in nature and may have significant financial and emotional consequences.
If you are suffering with a chronic condition as a result of your military service, you might be entitled to recover benefits through a VA disability claim. An experienced Parkersburg lawyers can help you make the most of your veterans’ chronic condition claim.
There are a number of chronic conditions that could result in a successful VA benefits claim. Often, these conditions result from diseases or exposure to toxic substances that can be linked to a person’s time on active duty. A chronic condition could also develop from a service-related injury. Common examples of chronic conditions covered by the VA include:
Any disability that results from a person’s active military duty could result in benefits from the VA, and chronic conditions are no exception. Disability compensation can be awarded for injuries that occur in combat settings or training missions or for illnesses that develop from chemical exposure on military bases.
To qualify for benefits, a veteran must have more than a diagnosis of a chronic condition. There must also be a direct connection between the chronic condition and his or her military service. This service connection can be easy to establish in some cases but difficult in others, necessitating the advice and counsel of a Parkersburg attorney.
Thankfully, there is a presumption of service connection for many chronic conditions. In other words, the VA acknowledges that some chronic conditions among veterans are highly likely to have resulted from their military service and does not require proof of a medical nexus for qualifying impairments.
Some of the chronic conditions that are presumptively linked to military service include:
There are some limits that can apply to these presumptions, however. Some conditions are only presumed to be service-related if the veteran served at a specific base during a certain period of time. For example, Gulf War veterans receive certain presumptions due to the chemicals they were exposed to during that time.
Furthermore, in most cases, a former servicemember must show symptoms of a chronic condition within one year of being discharged from the military under honorable circumstances. This deadline is extended for certain chronic conditions like tuberculosis. For information on the deadline that may apply to your VA chronic condition claim, it is advisable to consult with an attorney in the Parkersburg area.
Despite the potential for service-connection presumptions, the VA routinely denies claims for chronic conditions. Despite these denials, an attorney can help a veteran get the benefits he or she needs by initiating the VA appeals process.
There are different reasons why the VA might deny a chronic conditions claim. Sometimes, the VA claims lack of evidence, while other cases involve allegations of pre-existing conditions. Often, providing the VA with additional documentation is enough to reverse these denials. Former servicemembers who have been denied disability benefits for one or more chronic conditions should work with a Parkersburg lawyer to increase their chances of approval.
If you are dealing with a chronic condition after years of service in the United States military, you could be entitled to benefits from the VA. Despite the severity of your condition, it is possible that the VA could initially deny your claim. Call as soon as possible to speak to a Parkersburg attorney about maximizing your chances of success during the veterans’ chronic condition claims process.
