It’s interesting how we get new VA clients in waves at the law firm. One week, all of the Veterans we talk to seem to be from the Vietnam era, the next, it will be individuals interested in learning about DIC. However, lately, it seems we are speaking to recently discharged Veterans on a regular basis. When talking to one of these young Veterans, I tend to notice a few things. For one, they always call me sir, two, they often still use military time, and three, they are likely already receiving some type of VA disability benefits.
Veterans who have been out of the service for a while may wonder how this is possible. It’s actually quite simple, and it’s something all Military Personnel approaching discharge should know about.
There is a program in place for Veterans nearing discharge called Benefits Delivery at Discharge or BDD. According to the VA website, BDD allows a Service member to submit a claim for disability compensation 60 to 180 days prior to separation, retirement, or release from active duty or demobilization. BDD can help you receive VA disability benefits sooner, with a goal of within 60 days after release or discharge.
The one thing I want to point out in the previous paragraph is the timeline; receiving a decision back that quickly is amazing. Most of the Veterans I spoke to who have applied through BDD often receive an answer back in that timeline. If you were to file after discharge, it can take anywhere from 8-12 months to receive a decision back from the VA. The lesson learned here is, do not procrastinate. If you have the opportunity to apply for BDD, do so.
*It is important to note that a pre-discharge exam is likely performed before exit and that this often plays a part in determining the severity of your disability.
What if you are one of these recently discharged Veterans, and you have received the BDD decision, and you are not satisfied with you rating? Well, my advice would be to call our law firm and let us help with your appeal. That may seem like an awfully abrupt statement, but here is why I recommend coming to our firm. Once you start the appeals process things become a lot more complicated, and it is nowhere near as quick as the BDD. In fact, appeals take anywhere from 12-18 months before a Veteran receives a decision. In this time there is evidence to be filed, exams that you have to attend, and enough paperwork to make the biggest bureaucrats sigh. Ask any veteran who has been through the Disability process, it’s not simple. Many Veterans turn our law firm because of the peace of mind we are able to provide. We are well versed in VA law and have a knowledgeable staff that can assist you. If you would like to learn more about the services we provide, give us a call today. 1-877-526-3457
