Submitting Evidence to Succeed With VA Compensation Claims
When applying for VA disability benefits, you may need to submit evidence supporting your claim. This could include anything from medical records to witness statements and more.
Whatever the case, it’s important to have a strategy before beginning the application process and know exactly what you’ll need to provide as supporting documentation. What type of information will be required, and how can you begin collecting that information ahead of time?
The answers to these questions will help ensure smooth sailing when it comes time to submit your claim with the VA. Here is a brief overview of what you should know about submitting evidence when applying for VA disability benefits.
What is required when applying for VA disability benefits?
To be approved for VA disability benefits, you will need to provide evidence of an injury incurred while serving in the military or a condition caused by an injury or disease that was incurred in service (also known as a secondary condition). Along with this, you must also provide evidence that the injury impacts your ability to work and socialize. Evidence is required from medical records, diagnostic results, and statements from friends or family that can attest to your symptoms. Depending on the type of claim you submit, you may also be required to provide evidence that you were unable to work due to your injury for a set amount of time which may also allow for convalescent compensation.
Submitting evidence in support of military service
The VA will require evidence that you were an active member of the military as appropriate for your type of claim. This evidence can come in the form of copies of your military records, evidence that matches the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD), and other documents.
When submitting these documents, make sure to include a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of military service.If you have been discharged from the military, but have an ongoing VA claim related to an injury incurred during your service, you may be eligible for monthly benefits. This is known as a VA award letter and can serve as evidence of military service.
Submitting Medical and Current Diagnosis evidence
When applying for VA disability, you will need to provide evidence of a medical diagnosis, as well as evidence of current symptoms. There are a few options as to how you might be able to do this. One option would be to include a copy of a current diagnosis from your current doctor.
Another option would be to include a copy of a past diagnosis from when you were first diagnosed with a condition during military service. In this case, it is good to show current treatment. If you don’t have a diagnosis for a condition, but are seeking disability for that condition, you may be able to provide “medical equivalency,” which is a connection between your symptoms and a relevant medical diagnosis.
If your claim is related to a current condition or symptoms, you will want to provide medical evidence of this in your application.
Buddy Statements and Witness – submitting evidence
If you were unable to work due to your injury, or if it impacted your productivity, you will want to provide evidence that you were unable to work during that time. There are a few ways you can go about doing this: You can submit pay stubs and W-2s that show you were unable to work during the relevant time period.
If you were unable to work but have never been employed, you may be able to provide a statement from a friend or family member attesting to your inability to work.You can also provide a statement from a friend or family member who was present when the incident occurred.You can also provide a statement from a friend or family member who was present when the incident occurred.
If you were injured in combat, you can also provide a “buddy statement.”For example, you might have been in a vehicle accident while on the job. If a friend was present during the accident, you can submit their statement to explain the event and your resulting injuries. Click this link to review some good examples of lay statement for sleep apnea.
Also, a good place to get some idea of how to weigh and understand the importance of a claim, check out our blog article: Tinnitus VA Disability Rating – Why Is It Important?
Conclusion
As you can see, the VA will require a substantial amount of evidence in order to approve your disability claim. With that in mind, it’s important that you prepare for this process before submitting a claim. You can do this by first understanding what evidence is required and how you can collect it. It’s also important to make sure you are thorough and organized. This will help ensure that you don’t miss any critical evidence that could impact the outcome of your claim.
if you need any assistance during this process, please reach out to The Blue Cord Patriots and set up a free consultation.
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