It is necessary to understand these pitfalls in order to help make the process less complicated and effective.
- Failure to meet critical deadlines
Timeliness is imperative when filing a VA disability claim. Failing to meet major deadlines can lead to delay or automatic denial. For instance, veterans have 12 months from the date that the rating decision was issued in which to appeal. Doing nothing for so long leaves the claim denied unless new and material evidence is being presented. Lastly, waiting too long to respond to VA requests for information can suspend the approval of the claim.
- Medical shortage of evidence
A solid VA disability claim is founded on firm medical records. Most veterans err by not bringing adequate medical evidence to substantiate their disabilities. Careful merging of scrupulous medical records, service treatment records, and service incident reports would be beneficial. Independent medical examination can also assist the claim by giving objective proof of the disability.
- Sufficient or faulty paperwork
Form mistakes are a common obstacle. Miscalculated or missing information on VA disability claim forms can lead to infuriating delays. Small errors on these notoriously complicated forms can have a disproportionate impact, given how complicated the forms are. Double-checking for completeness and accuracy of all input data is required to avoid processing delays.
- C&P exam failure
The VA also routinely mails Compensation and Pension (C&P) tests to measure the severity of a veteran’s disability. Avoiding these tests is pointless. Avoiding the C&P Exam can result in the VA rejecting the claim for veterans disability compensation. Show up to all appointments or reschedule if there is an issue in a timely fashion.
- No service connection
Proving the cause-and-effect relationship between service and disability is critical in a successful claim. Veterans inadvertently fail to prove this nexus. No VA benefit will be awarded without proof of causation between the disability and military service. Care must be taken in preparing and submitting evidence linking the disability to service incident or condition directly.
- Delay in filing claims
Delaying too much to apply for disability has financial expenses. Delayed charges veterans massive amounts of money. It is always wise to start the process early enough that nothing delays getting benefits earned.
- Not seeking professional help
The VA claims process is overwhelming. Veterans will find it worthwhile to sit with VA disability lawyers or accredited reps. They’re experts at decoding the system’s complexities and are an information treasure trove, steering clear of pitfalls and squeezing every bit of claims.
- Failing to verify eligibility before filing
One of the beginning points for the claim of benefit by the veteran is determining the eligibility for the benefit to be claimed. There are different sets of requirements like duration of service, discharge type, and class of disability that are all included in the eligibility. Breach of these eligibility criteria may lead to the claim being denied outright.