VETERANS DISABILITY BENEFITS LAW

A Decision Review Officer (DRO) is an employee of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs who review certain types of appeals concerning veterans’ disability benefits.

Obtaining a DRO review is much faster than appeal to the Bureau of Veterans Affairs. In handling a decision review officer hearing,...

Many  veterans experience conditions that significantly interfere with work but do not satisfy the Veterans’ Affairs definition of 100 percent disability. In these cases, Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) or Individual Unemployability (IU) claims provide the same types...

The VA Compensation Pension Exam is a routine part of the Veteran’s Administration claims process. In some cases, individuals who have more than one injury or illness might even need to attend a Compensation and Pension Exam for each individual health condition.

In March of 2017, the Government Accountability Office released a report titled “VA Disability Benefits: Additional Planning Would Enhance Efforts to Improve the Timelines of Appeals Decisions”. This report addresses the Veteran Administration efforts to reform the appeals process by focusing on...

Living with a disability can result in a veteran facing significant obstacles. There are some disabilities that a veteran can suffer that can result in compensation that is different from that received by veterans with other disabilities. These conditions are called “special monthly compensation...

 Veterans who file a claim for benefits should understand the difference between compensation vs pension. Once an individual understands this difference, it is easier to understand what kind of benefits an individual desires and the process required in order to obtain these benefits. It is also...

VA disability compensation can be a tricky thing. Nearly all veterans are aware that they may qualify for compensation for injuries suffered or aggravated by their service. But many veterans are unaware that they may qualify to be paid at a 100% disability rate (the current effective rate pays...

In a large number of veteran disability claims, a case can be significantly bolstered if a private strong medical opinion letter is provided by a treating physician. A direct service connection can often be shown if a veteran presents the Veterans Affairs office with a strong medical opinion...

Many veterans suffer in some way, shape, or form from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The VA estimates that somewhere around 15% of Vietnam Veterans were diagnosed with PTSD at the time of the most recent study (in the late 1980s), but that up to 30% of Vietnam Veterans have had PTSD at...

When an individual applies for U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs health care or benefits, that person’s military discharge status will affect their eligibility for benefits. If an individual was discharged under honorable conditions, the individuals will likely face no difficulty in obtaining...