Common Reasons for VA Disability Claim Denial

Common Reasons for VA Disability Claim Denial

Obtaining the disability benefits to which your service entitles you takes diligence, and far too many veterans experience denied claims. While the reasons for such denials can vary considerably, they often boil down to a failure to follow the VA’s exacting requirements. Having the seasoned legal counsel of an experienced Illinois VA disability benefits attorney is always in the best interest of your claim. 

Incomplete Forms

The forms employed by the VA in relation to disability benefits are exceptionally thorough, and they require accurate and complete responses. In other words, your benefit claim can be stalled before it’s even considered if your forms are deemed incomplete or if they contain misinformation. The kind of precise information you’ll be required to provide includes all the following:

• Information about prior military service
• Personal details, including your contact information and information about your family
• Your complete medical history
• Evidence that supports your claim of disability, including supporting documents 

Working closely with a dedicated VA disability benefits attorney from the start can help you pave the way toward an expedited and advantageous claim resolution.

Failure to Qualify Your Condition as a Disability  

You recognize that your military service left you injured or ill, but without a diagnosis that’s recognized by the VA, your take on the matter does not rise to the necessary level. For example, PTSD can be debilitating, but its effects range considerably – and having a medical diagnosis is critical. In order to obtain benefits related to PTSD or anything else, you’ll need a direct diagnosis that clearly outlines your symptomatology. In other words, your VA disability rating can be lost in translation.

Failure to Connect Your Disability to Your Service

One of the most critical elements of your claim is succinctly connecting your injury or illness – or the exacerbation of your injury or illness – to your military service. The kind of evidence necessary to make this connection includes all the following:

• Your complete service records, which can help pinpoint the correlation of your injury or illness with your active service
• A strong nexus letter, which puts this correlation into medical terms
• Your complete medical records, which add an additional level of evidence

Rejection of Your Medical Evidence

Your claim is only as strong as your medical evidence, which refers to anything that helps you establish the following:

• The severity of your disability 
• The symptoms you experience
• The causes of your disability
• What makes your condition a disability

If the VA finds fault with the reliability or validity of your evidence, it can reject it.

Additional Concerns

Additional errors that can slow down, stall, or shut down your claim include the following:

• Submission of the wrong forms – There is a range of complex veterans disability forms, and pinpointing the ones that you – in your unique situation – need to complete can be challenging in and of itself.
• Missed Deadlines – Once the VA issues a deadline in relation to a specific aspect of your claim, it’s important not to miss it.
• A Preexisting Condition – Claims involving preexisting conditions are only accepted when the condition can be shown to have worsened as a result of service, which adds an additional layer of complication. 

Speak with an Illinois VA Disability Benefits Attorney Today

James R. Comerford at The Comerford Law Office – Illinois is an imposing VA disability benefits attorney who appreciates how difficult having your disability claim denied is – and is well-prepared to help you turn the matter around. Learn more by contacting us today.