How To Apply For Veterans Disability

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Specify Your Illnesses And Injuries

Overview of VA disability compensation and how to apply | VA.gov

When you complete the application, list the specific illnesses and injuries for which you are requesting disability benefits, along with the date your symptoms appeared. You should only claim disabilities or illnesses you had in service if you are still suffering from the condition, or if you suspect that you may develop complications in the future.

Louisiana Department Of Veterans Affairs

  • MORE DETAILS

    Help us help vets with an individual contribution in your community. The best way to impact the vets around you is with hands-on assistance through your business, a veteran service organization, and in your community. You can also help our emergency aid initiative with a donation to the Military Family Assistance Fund.

  • Survivors And Dependents Education

    Provides education and training opportunities to dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. Eligibility requirements apply.

  • How to Apply

    Visit your local VAC. Find your nearest LDVA Veterans Parish Service Office here.

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    The Amount Of Veterans’ Benefits

    Once this paperwork has been submitted, the file will be reviewed by the VA’s Board of Veterans Appeals . The BVA will determine whether or not the veteran qualifies for disability benefits. If he or she does qualify for benefits, the BVA assigns the veteran’s disability a rating ranging from 10 to 100% in 10% increments. The percentage rating directly correlates to a pre-determined monthly payment amount laid by law. For example, a veteran determined to be 10% disabled would receive $123 per month, while a veteran who is 50% disabled would receive $770 per month. A 100% disabled veteran would receive $2,673 monthly payment.

    In addition, if a veteran is deemed to be 30% or more disabled and has a spouse and/or dependent children, the monthly payment is higher. Additionally, for certain more serious injuries or disabilities, such as blindness or loss of a limb, the disabled veteran would be entitled to receive a higher monthly compensation.

    For more information on disability ratings and payments, see our article on how veterans disability ratings work.

    Discounts For Licenses And State Parks

    Louisville &  Jeffersonville Veterans Disability Lawyers

    Louisiana Veterans can enjoy discounts and fee waivers for hunting and fishing licenses as well as entrance to Louisiana state parks. Certain qualifications apply.

    Beginning June 1, 2022For Non-Resident Disabled Veterans who have a permanent service-connected classification of 50% or more:

  • The LDVA Disabled Veteran Hunting/Fishing License Form must be filled out and signed by the veteran and all requested information provided, including:
  • Copy of valid Drivers License or State ID
  • Proof of permanent VA disability rating of 50% or more
  • Veterans requiring a hunter certification number, please visit: wlf.louisiana.gov
  • Please email or mail your completed application and proofs to:
  • 205 Court St., Suite 4Ville Platte, LA 70586
    • LDVA will certify the application and email the completed application to LWF , where LDWF will certify and send the veteran his/her initial hunting/fishing license.
    • Each year after that, the veteran may purchase that new years hunting/fishing license either online on your website or in person at any one of the retailers listed at your hunting or recreational fishing license listing on your website under

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    Should I Apply For Veterans Disability Benefits On My Own

    The VA advises that you work with an accredited Veterans Service Officer, and most private organizations agree. Your application may be delayed unnecessarily if you dont provide all of the necessary information up front. In addition, if your application is denied, the appeals process is very lengthy. It is crucial to try to get it right the first time.

    There are many avenues available for assistance. The VA has staff at its regional centers that can help you. The VA also provides a list of accredited attorneys, claims agents and Veterans Service Organizations Representatives in your area. The Disabled American Veterans group is just one example of a private organization that offers free help to file your claim.

    To find the closest regional benefits office, you can enter your zip code in the VA Facility Locator, at .

    Who May Be Entitled To Va Disability Benefitsincluding Some That May Surprise You

    According to VA regulations, disability compensation is paid to veterans who have injuries or illnesses that occurred while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training, or whose injuries or illnesses were made worse by active military service. Benefits are also paid to certain veterans disabled due to VA health care. Veterans with a dishonorable discharge are not eligible for benefits.

    Active duty for training also applies to members of the National Guard or the Reserve Corps who were called up for full-time duty in the Armed Forces. If they were not called up, their membership does not qualify them for veterans benefits.

    Veterans is defined as men and women who performed active service in a uniformed branch of the U.S. militaryin the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Womens Army Auxiliary Corps , or Womans Air Service Pilots .

    Its a little-known fact that VA disability benefits may also be given to those who served full time in the Public Health Services Commissioned Officer Corps or in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . In some cases, those who served full time, during wartime, in the Merchant Marine or the Flying Tigers may also be eligible.

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    Tips For Filing A Disability Claim

    Filing a claim for compensation can be a very tedious task indeed. Even if you do complete the online version of the claim at VA’s VETS.GOV website you may find that it takes at least 30 minutes just to fill in all the blanks, gathering the required supporting documentation and submitting it to the VA can take much longer and be an exercise in frustration.

    Here are a few pointers on how to make the process easier, and how to make sure you get everything right the first time, so you won’t have to do it all over again.

    Submit Intent To File

    How to File a VA Disability Claim

    The Intent to File initiates your claim, beginning a one-year deadline to submit all of the evidence required to support your claim. In essence, it serves as a notice to the VA that you will file a claim.

    Its important to submit this informal claim as soon as possible, as the submission date will be considered your filing date. If your claim is approved, you may be entitled to back pay from the date of filing to the date of approval.

    This gives you additional time to collect the necessary medical evidence to support your claim. You wont have to worry about rushing medical appointments or necessary follow-up treatments, rehabilitation, or physical or occupational therapy. This period also allows you time to check and double-check that your forms are complete and correct, or to ask for help from a veterans service officer if necessary.

    You can file your claim online at va.gov, where you can set up an online portal to view the status of your claim and check for updates or requests for information.

    Simply initiate the claim, save your personal information and update your file as you collect more information over the course of the year.

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    Help With Your Va Disability Claim

    If you need assistance with your disability claim, you can visit your local VA office. You may also get help from a disability lawyer. An experienced disability benefits attorney can review your claim, gather vital evidence, and prepare the necessary paperwork to help you receive the compensation you deserve. If youve been injured in service to your country, we can assist you with your VA benefits claim. Call us today or complete the contact form on this page.

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    Working With A Representative Or Agent

  • 1Find an accredited representative. You can find a representative or agent to work with by visiting the eBenefits website and searching for a representative, attorney, or claims agent. You can search by state, city, or zip code.XResearch source
  • Working with a representative or agent is ideal if you are confused about the process. Also, agents and representatives can help you file a âfully developed claim,â which means that you gather all of the information for the VA and then submit the claim at one time.
  • If you file a âstandard claim,â then the VA can get the records for you. This will increase the amount of time that you wait for a determination.
  • 2 You need to fill out an appointment form for any representative or agent to help you. You can download and complete the necessary forms from the VA website. Complete the form and then submit it to the representative or agent, who will send it on to the VA.XResearch source
  • If you are applying for assistance from a Veterans Service Organization , then download VA Form 21-22.
  • If you seek assistance from an accredited attorney or claims agent, then download VA Form 21-22a.
  • 3Work together. Your representative or agent will help you develop your claim and get whatever remaining evidence you need but do not yet have. Your representative will then upload the application and supporting evidence onto the eBenefits system.Advertisement
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    How To Prepare A Veterans Claim

  • The key to getting a Veterans disability claim processed in a timely fashion is preparation. Take the time to gather together all medical evidence at your disposal, including any records from your visits to physicians offices and any records from hospital stays. If you think it might be important, it probably will be. Get organized early, and then stay that way.
  • Make sure to assemble any documents related to dependents, since the benefits sought will apply to their needs as well. These documents might include birth certificates for children or marriage certificates if you have a spouse.
  • The third step in preparing a veteran disability case is perhaps the most important. Veterans need a physicians report to help establish the fact that the health condition developed while they were in the military, and that it was related to military service. This will help the VA to establish the type and severity of the veterans disability, and will assist them in applying the VA rating criteria to your particular case.
  • Hopefully the next step will be to receive VA compensation and view the VA Disability Benefits Rates. However, even with thoughtful preparation, some people fall through the cracks or have their application for benefits denied. If this happens to you, your next step is to contact a lawyer. Disability lawyers are familiar with the VA system and can be an important ally as you navigate the process.

    La National Guard Death And Disability Benefit

     Va Permanent And Total Disability Form

    Louisiana National guardsmen suffering a permanent and total disability while on federal or state active duty on or after September 11, 2001, or the beneficiary of record of those killed in action may qualify for a $250,000 death or $100,000 disability benefit from the State of Louisiana. Certain restrictions apply.

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    Can I Get Back

    In general, the effective date for receiving benefit payments is the date your claim was received by the VA or the date entitlement arose, whichever is later. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. For example, your extensive hospitalization will usually qualify as sufficiently incapacitating to have prevented the filing of a claim. But the judgment of the rating board must be applied to the facts and circumstances of each case.

    If Your Rating Is Too Low Or Your Claim Is Denied Heres How To Contest Iteven If The Va Says They Cant Help You

    If your application for disability compensation is denied by a VA regional center or medical center, or the compensation rate youre given is less than you deserve, you have the right to appeal the decision if you do so within one year .

    Heres what to do:

  • File a written Notice of Disagreement with the VA regional center or medical center that denied you the compensation. For your case number and other data, refer to the denial notice or the disability rating document the VA sent you.
  • When, in response, you receive a Statement of the Case, study it to see what facts, laws, regulations, etc., were relied on in making the decision. Save the envelope so you have proof of the mailing date.
  • If you still disagree with the denial, file a Substantive Appeal within 60 days of when the Statement of the Case was mailed, or within one year from the date the VA mailed its denial, whichever is later.
  • You and/or an attorney representing you can appeal your case in person to a member of the Board of Veterans Appeals at a hearing in Washington, DC, or at a VA regional office, or by videoconference.
  • If the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims decides against you, then you can appeal againto the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or to the U.S. Supreme Court. To do so, you would need to be represented by a qualified attorney approved by the court.
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    Should I Submit An Intent To File Form

    If you plan to file for disability compensation using a paper form, you may want to submit an intent to file form first. This can give you the time you need to gather your evidence while avoiding a later potential start date . When you notify us of your intent to file, you may be able to get retroactive payments .

    Note: You dont need to notify us of your intent to file if you file for disability compensation online. This is because your effective date gets set automatically when you start filling out your disability compensation form onlinebefore you submit it.

    How To Apply For Va Disability

    Presumptive Condition & Service-Connection | Filing for VA Disability | theSITREP

    Military veterans and service members who are injured or become ill during active duty or while completing active or inactive training may be eligible to receive disability pension and other disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs .

    There are several classifications of illness or injury that may be eligible for disability benefits. These include physical problems, mental concerns and exposure to toxic materials or chemicals.

    Filing a claim for benefits is usually straightforward. You can complete a claim online or visit your local veterans affairs office for assistance. If your VA disability claim is denied, you may appeal or hire a lawyer with experience in contesting VA disability claims to help you.

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    An Easier Way To Submit Medical Evidence

    Disability Benefits Questionnaires , recently introduced by the VA , are downloadable forms you can use, if you choose to, when you submit medical evidence from a private provider, together with your application for benefits.

    According to the VA, DBQs allow Veterans and Servicemembers to have more control over their disability claims process, by giving them the option of completing an examination with their own healthcare provider, instead of at a VA facility. However, unless the VA specifically requests it, younot the VAmust pay for the exam, any tests, a doctors letter and/or any travel expenses.

    The streamlined forms, the VA explains, use check boxes and standardized language, so that the disability rating can be made accurately and quickly. This should ensure that the ratings are made uniformly throughout the country, instead of having different VA clerks assign different ratings for the same severity. Even so, its vitally important to see if the disability rating you receive is too low, and to contest it if it is.

    There are some 70 DBQs to cover nearly a full range of medical conditions. Some are specific to a single condition , but most of the forms can be used for several related conditions . By using check boxes instead of long narrative summaries, the VA hopes to significantly shorten the time it takes to process claims.

    However, DBQs are not available for the following medical examinations:

    Who Is Eligible For Va Service

    A person who meets the following criteria may be eligible for VA service-connected disability benefits:

    • You must have actively served, or been on active or inactive duty for training in the military . If you were on inactive duty, only a disability stemming from a heart attack, stroke, or injury will qualify for compensation.
    • You must have been discharged from the military under any condition other than dishonorable.
    • You must have a qualifying medical condition that impacts your capacity to sustain meaningful gainful employment .
    • A specific event during your military service must have caused or contributed to your medical condition, and you must provide proof that this is the case.
    • The VA has rated your medical condition at least 10% disabling. If the VA rates your service-connected condition 0% disabling, you might be eligible for other VA benefits, but you will be unable to recover disability compensation.
    • Your medical condition must not be the result of willful misconduct, which the Department of Veterans Affairs defines as an act involving conscious wrongdoing or a known prohibited action.

    Your VA disability attorney can review your military service records and your medical history to create a plan of action for your case that gives you the best chance for a successful outcome. For example, your VA disability attorney can determine what evidence is necessary to assemble a thorough, compelling claim to submit to the VA.

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