Category: Veterans Disability Law

VA Begins Implementation of PAWS Act for Veterans With PTSD

The Department of Veterans Affairs (also known as the VA) has begun the process of implementing the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act, also known as the PAWS Act. This process, which started on March 30, will begin the process of helping veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by experimenting with the use of service dogs in treatment. If successful, the program could help veterans around the country to train service dogs as part of their treatment for their PTSD.

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Five Major Medical Conditions That Lead to Veteran Disabilities

There are a number of physical and psychological conditions that veterans may suffer from once they leave the military, which affect them long after their service is done. These medical conditions may lead to long-term disabilities, causing them to seek disability benefits through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Here are five of the most common medical conditions seen in veterans that apply for VA disability benefits:

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How Can Your VA Disability Rating Increase Over Time?

When a veteran is awarded a disability rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs (also known as the VA), some people believe that their rating is set in stone. However, this could not be further from the truth, as people’s disability ratings can change wildly over the course of time (usually by increasing in severity). But how exactly can someone’s VA disability rating increase over time?

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VA to Propose Adding Rare Cancers to Presumed Condition List

The Department of Veterans Affairs (otherwise known as the VA) has announced that it will be proposing a list of rare cancers to be added to the list of presumed service-connected disabilities. The proposal comes after a public outcry to deal with certain rare medical conditions that disproportionately affect U.S. military veterans, which are attributed to exposure to carcinogenic toxins while in the service. Adding these conditions to the presumed condition list  could help many veterans obtain disability benefits they need to help care for themselves while being treated for these rare and potentially deadly cancers.

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What Does it Mean For a Disability to Be Service-Related?

One of the most important questions in any application for veterans’ disability benefits is whether the applicant has a service-related disability. No matter how bad someone’s disability is, if it is not considered to be service-related, they will not qualify for disability benefits through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA). But what exactly does it mean for a disability to be service-related, and how do you know if you qualify?

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Five Reasons to Appeal Your VA Disability Application

It should not be surprising that many people who apply for veterans’ disability benefits often wind up with unsatisfactory outcomes to their cases. Fortunately, the Department of Veterans Affairs has an appeals process that allows people to appeal their application. Here are five reasons you may want to consider appealing your VA disability application:

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VA Launches Automated Claim Processing Program

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that it is piloting a new automated program for processing disability claims. The new program has been created to deal with a substantial backlog facing the agency, which often faces significant delays in processing disability claims. By automating much of the process, it is hoped that this backlog will be addressed, helping veterans to access the benefits they deserve far more quickly. Continue reading “VA Launches Automated Claim Processing Program”

VA Proposes Waiver of Copays for Veterans at Risk of Suicide

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has proposed a new program that would eliminate copayments for outpatient mental health visits, and reduce copays for medications, for veterans at a high risk of suicide. This proposed rule change, published for commentary in the Federal Register on January 5, would make it substantially easier for veterans suffering from suicidal thoughts to seek mental health counseling and treatment. This, in turn, could help to deal with the high suicide rate that veterans suffer across the United States. Continue reading “VA Proposes Waiver of Copays for Veterans at Risk of Suicide”

Understanding Your VA Disability Rating

When a veteran applies for disability benefits through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, also known as the VA, they are assigned something known as a “disability rating.” This rating is an essential part of determining what kinds of benefits a veteran will receive. But what is this disability rating, and how does the VA decide what your rating is?

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Three New Respiratory Ailments Added to VA Presumptive Disabilities List

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (also known as the VA) has added three new diseases to its list of presumptive disabilities based on the risk of toxic exposure. These three new diseases, which includes asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis, will now receive special treatment under the law, making it easier for veterans to apply for disability benefits based on those conditions. This will, in turn, reduce the difficulty that many veterans have had in seeking disability benefits from the VA.

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