If the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) denied your claim for disability benefits following a military service-related injury or illness, you have options for review. One of them is to file a Supplemental Claim. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) will reassess your claim and render an updated decision.
It is important to get your benefits as soon as possible because your medical care and financial security are relevant to your future if you are unable to work full-time. Do not leave this decision to chance by trying to handle it yourself. Fight4Vets is the largest Veterans’ law firm in the country. Our Supplemental VA Claim lawyer stands with you throughout this complex process. Call now to schedule a complimentary consultation.
You can file a Supplemental Claim if the VA has already issued a decision about your status but you have new evidence that was not considered at the time, and it proves or disproves information pertinent to the initial decision.
You can also file a Supplemental Claim if a change in federal law affects the original decision, such as the PACT Act’s changes for presumptive conditions like exposure-related cancer. Presumptive conditions do not require additional and relevant information to prove a nexus between your military service and condition, only that you performed qualifying military service.
If you already have a disability rating below 100% and your disability has become worse, you do not file a Supplemental Claim, but rather a claim for increased disability compensation. This may seem complicated because there are other appeals options available to you, like a Higher-Level Review or a VA Board Review. Contact a Supplemental VA claim attorney with Fight4Vets to help you now.
You may wonder what new and relevant information counts toward a successful Supplemental VA Claim. A new medical report can be relevant if it clearly links the condition described in the denied claim with your military service. There is no statute of limitations to file a supplemental claim, and if your military service-related injury and claim denial happened several years ago, the advances in modern medicine might now be able to clearly link the disability to that service now. For example, if your claim for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the Gulf War was denied, a new medical evaluation could clarify that service-related-injuries caused both physical and mental anguish resulting in PTSD.
Lay Statements can also be persuasive. These are reports by those who served in the military with you and witnessed the occasion leading to your claim. If the VA denied you, your witness can draft a statement about the circumstances of your injuries, including what and how they happened and how you have been affected since.
We are committed to helping Veterans receive the disability benefits they clearly earned. If you are at a loss after a claim denial, your options can be even more confusing. Our qualified appeals attorneys can help you file a Supplemental VA Claim after meeting with you and assessing your situation.
Men and women who serve their country honorably, risking their lives in the face of danger, deserve a safety net when they are harmed by a service-related injury or illness. That comes in the form of disability benefits.
If you were denied benefits after applying, our lawyers can help you determine if a Supplemental VA Claim is the correct appeals path in your case. Call today and let us help you turn your application around so it can finally be approved.
