Fibromyalgia is a complex and often misunderstood condition that can cause immense pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties that can significantly affect your quality of life. If you are a Veteran of the United States military and are struggling with fibromyalgia, you may be able to seek benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). While the VA does offer substantial support for eligible Veterans, success for these chronic condition claims is never guaranteed. Our firm is committed to helping you secure the benefits you deserve, and a knowledgeable lawyer for Veterans’ fibromyalgia claims in Parkersburg is ready to support you.
To qualify for VA benefits, Veterans must meet a few requirements. First, you must have served on active duty in one of the branches of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserves if you were called to active duty.
The VA provides compensation only for service-connected conditions. This means that in order to receive benefits for fibromyalgia, there must be a proven link between your military service and your diagnosis. In many cases, Veterans who were deployed to areas of conflict may be eligible for presumptive service connection if they develop fibromyalgia after their service, which means that the connection to in-service event is assumed. A diagnosis, ongoing medical treatment, and evidence that your symptoms impact your daily life or ability to work are all critical pieces of a successful claim. A Parkersburg attorney can help a Veteran gather and organize the necessary documentation and evidence for a successful fibromyalgia claim.
There are several types of claims within the VA. The most common is a direct service connection, where the Veteran provides evidence of an in-service incident, a current diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and a medical nexus, or link, between the two. For Gulf War Veterans, the VA often treats fibromyalgia as a presumptive condition, which means the connection to service may be automatically assumed if certain criteria are met, such as time and location of deployment. An attorney can help you determine whether your history aligns with a presumptive condition designation.
Another type is a secondary service connection claim. Secondary claims are filed when a condition, like fibromyalgia, has either developed or worsened due to a different service connected condition. Lastly, Veterans who are unable to hold gainful employment due to fibromyalgia or other disabilities may be eligible for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
An experienced Veterans’ fibromyalgia claims attorney can help you determine which type of claim gives you the best chance of success. Our firm is experienced with these cases and our lawyers can help you gather the appropriate evidence to build a successful application.
Compensation for fibromyalgia claims through the VA is based on the severity of your symptoms and the level of disability assigned by the VA. It evaluates your condition and assigns a disability rating on a scale of 0 to 100, which determines your benefit amount. Fibromyalgia ratings often fall between 10 and 40, depending on the frequency and intensity of symptoms. A skilled attorney can help advocate for a rating that accurately reflects the impact of your condition on your daily life.
Navigating a VA disability claim can be frustrating and time-consuming, especially while struggling with a condition as complex as fibromyalgia. Our attorneys understand the unique challenges that you face and are dedicated to helping you succeed with your claim. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how a Veterans’ fibromyalgia claims lawyer in Parkersburg can support you through the claims process.
