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As a Veteran, filing any claim for disability benefits can be daunting. Whether you are unsure of the process, know fellow Vets who struggled only to achieve a disappointing rating, or believe there are others more deserving of benefits, it’s not unusual to avoid the undertaking altogether.
However, getting professional documentation for your VA disability claim can make receiving a fair evaluation and an accurate rating easier. Start by learning more about the claims process and making a plan to pursue the benefits you earned.
What Type of VA Disability Claim Should You File?
A lot of the confusion about disability claims results from the multiple types of claims that the VA accepts from Veterans. The VA lists several types of disability claims available to Vets, but deciding on the most appropriate claim begins by answering one question:
Are the benefits you are pursuing related to a condition that is already service-connected or one that still needs service connection?
Veterans who have completed the process of proving to the VA that a disability is linked to military service will have a current disability rating between zero and 100 percent for that condition.
If you already have a service-connected condition, you are most likely seeking to file a claim that will increase the associated rating and compensation. This is called an Increase Claim and is typically done in response to a worsening condition or an inaccurate initial rating.
However, if your disability is not currently service-connected and has not been assigned a rating, your first step is to file an Initial Claim that establishes service connection and benefit eligibility. It’s important to note that an Initial Claim can also be required of Veterans with existing service-connected conditions when they are seeking benefits for a new or unrelated disability.
When to File an Increase Claim
As mentioned, Increase Claims are a necessary tool for Veterans with an existing rating that needs adjustment due to a worsening condition. They can also be appropriate for those who received a disability rating that did not meet their expectation.
Increase Claims offer an essential opportunity to submit updated medical evidence about the current status of your disability. The disability documentation that is included with the claim should convey the full scope of your condition so that the VA can adequately assess your eligibility for higher monthly compensation or other benefits.You can provide evidence of the extent of your disability from a medical provider of your choosing.
While REE’s network of medical professionals is well-versed in VA claims documentation, they do not diagnose disabilities. To support Increase Claims, they conduct a thorough examination that provides the VA with a clear and accurate assessment of your condition and relevant symptoms.
You may file an Increase Claim any time that you believe your disability rating warrants review. If the VA determines an increase is in order, it can be applied retroactively if your medical history supports those payments. Our Disability Compensation Calculator allows you to see how a change in your rating would impact your monthly benefits.
When to File an Initial Claim
While the need for an Initial Claim may seem relatively easy to understand, knowing exactly when and how to complete one can still be complicated. Any Veteran with an illness or injury that was caused by, or got worse because of, active military service is a candidate to file an Initial Claim
Active duty members with existing disabilities can file an Initial Claim up to 180 days before discharge from service. If done more than 90 days prior to discharge, the claim may be fast-tracked for a quicker rating decision.
Initial Claims submitted less than 90 days before discharge or after leaving service will be treated similarly and may take longer to be reviewed. While there is no time limit on filing a post service claim, the process may become more complex the longer you wait. In addition, attaining service connection for a disability, even if it doesn’t warrant benefit eligibility at the time, will allow for an Increase Claim to be made in the future if the condition worsens.
REE Medical now offers medical evidence for Initial Claims, but you will still need to receive a medical diagnosis of your disability before contacting REE for medical evidence. Every Veteran we work with must have a diagnosis from their personal provider before we can begin to develop the supplemental documentation for their claim.
Fully Developed Claims Can Speed Up Decisions
Whether you need an Increase Claim or an Initial Claim, you can expedite the pursuit of the benefits you’ve earned. The Fully Developed Claims program encourages Vets to provide all the medical evidence they have with their claim, including private medical records and documentation from their time in the service or treatment at federal health facilities. When making a Fully Developed Claim, you’ll also be asked to certify that no additional evidence would be necessary to make the claim decision.
Since many physicians have limited experience completing Disability Benefit Questionnaires (DBQs) for the VA, submitting a Fully Developed Claim can be challenging. That’s why REE Medical relies on a nationwide network of physicians familiar with the process. Our clients can access comprehensive disability exams from these providers at their convenience. They can also trust our dedicated team of quality control specialists to review all documentation along the way.
This approach ensures you have everything necessary to submit a true Fully Developed Claim. In some cases, the VA may request additional medical exams, but the independent medical evidence you submit will still be integral to their final decision.
With both Increase and Initial Claims Services now available, our Intake Coordinators are ready to discuss your options. Schedule your free consultation to discuss a streamlined path to accurate medical evidence for your service-connected or diagnosed and documented disability.