Millions of Americans struggle to secure disability benefits they’re entitled to. This challenge often stems from confusing government eligibility standards and burdensome procedures for people with disabilities filing a claim. The key to an applicant successfully receiving benefits frequently rests on their ability to provide compelling medical evidence to support their claim.
According to Trajector Medical, that’s especially true when someone files a claim for disability compensation with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The company provides essential and valuable medical evidence services for veterans as well as disabled individuals pursuing non-VA types of benefits. These services give a person more clarity and confidence during an often frustrating and emotional benefits-seeking process.
The following is a closer look at some dos and don’ts of compiling medical evidence for VA claims.
The Do’s
Understanding the diverse types of VA claims is crucial, as it provides a clear roadmap for a veteran’s benefits journey. These include VA disability compensation, VA pension, and VA health care, each with its own unique requirements and benefits.
VA Disability Compensation
Veterans with service-connected disabilities are eligible for VA disability compensation. This tax-free benefit is awarded based on the severity of the disability. Disabilities proved through proper medical evidence receive ratings from 0% to 100% in 10% increments. Veterans with higher ratings receive more significant compensation amounts. Medical evidence plays a crucial role in a veteran securing the proper rating.
VA Pension
Medical evidence can also be crucial in securing the proper rating for VA pensions. VA pensions provide monthly benefits for wartime veterans meeting certain age, disability, and income criteria. Accurate medical records proving a person’s disability are central to many successful VA pension applications.
VA Health Care
Veterans can also enroll in VA health care for access to comprehensive preventive care, mental health support, and long-term care services. Enrollment in VA health care rests on disability status, which means that medical records detailing service-related conditions can massively help ensure much-needed access to the correct care.
GI Bill and VR&E
Educational and similar benefits, including the GI Bill, provide veterans with tuition assistance and housing allowances. Meanwhile, the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program offers further vocational rehabilitation, education, training, and job-seeking services to help veterans transition into the workforce.
GI Bill support and VR&E assistance also rest on supplying various pieces of medical documentation and other evidence.
Do Compile as Many Forms of Medical Evidence as Possible
Many veterans believe that their medical records alone should be sufficient to establish the basis of their VA claim. Of course, medical records are vital for outlining a clear and continuous medical history, including diagnoses, treatments, symptoms, and any changes in a veteran’s condition over time.
For many successful VA claims, other forms of medical evidence, including Nexus letters and Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs), are crucial. These resources provide additional evidence that can significantly strengthen a person’s claim, so they shouldn’t overlook them.
Nexus Letters
Nexus letters are medical opinions linking a veteran’s particular disability to their military service. Specialized medical professionals write these letters explaining the connections between a given condition and an individual veteran’s service. Nexus letters often are considered second to medical records regarding evidence fundamental to successful VA claims.
Independent Medical Examinations (IME)
Like Nexus letters, specialized physicians conduct IMEs. These medical professionals are usually third-party doctors who can provide unbiased opinions on a veteran’s condition. The VA routinely requests further clarification about veterans’ disabilities, which is where these examinations are most valuable. IMEs can also prove paramount when filing an appeal.
Diagnostic Tests and Imaging
A veteran’s core medical records don’t always include objective medical evidence like X-rays, MRIs, and lab tests. However, such evidence routinely proves vital in confirming diagnoses and demonstrating the extent of a veteran’s disability. Ensuring the results of diagnostic tests and imaging are included with any VA claim is crucial.
The Don’ts
So, what not to do when gathering medical evidence for VA claims? The don’ts of the process start with not underestimating the importance of personal statements.
Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Personal Statements
Personal statements and so-called lay evidence are an important part of the puzzle when filing a VA claim. Not all medical evidence must come from a doctor or other medical professional. Veterans’ families and friends can also provide personal accounts of how a particular disability affects that veteran’s daily life, strengthening their claim.
Among the most valuable personal statements are those from service buddies in the form of sworn statements. Yet anyone who has personally witnessed the symptoms of a veteran’s disability can submit a statement, and the more detailed those statements are, the better.
Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Outside Help
Medical evidence is the backbone of any VA benefits claim. This evidence establishes links between a veteran’s service and their disability or disabilities. However, compiling this evidence is rarely straightforward, especially when getting the correct disability rating assigned.
Thankfully, help is available. Trajector Medical is on hand to help veterans document their symptoms, map their causes, and provide a clear, research-backed report of any service-related connections, as part of its medical evidence services.
Medical evidence can be a powerful ally for a veteran. Savvy veterans use it to strengthen their benefits case with the VA. The path to commensurate disability compensation begins with this vital step.
About Trajector Medical
Trajector Medical helps people develop medical evidence for the disability benefits and compensation they medically, legally, and ethically qualify for. Its team helps the underserved and at-risk disabled population in their quest to receive all the disability benefits they deserve from both government and private entities.
The medical evidence developed by Trajector Medical helps its clients navigate the complex disability benefits journey to improve their life trajectory. Find out more exclusively at TrajectorMedical.com.