According to a recent article in the Military Times, more than 120,000 online disability claims were lost by the Department of Veterans Affairs (also known as the VA). While the department has worked quickly to try to fix the issue, tens of thousands of applications still remain in limbo. Although this is a relatively small number of applications compared to the whole, VA leadership has said that it remains unacceptable, and some critics are worried about the scope of the problem.
Tag: disability claims
More than 300 Presumptive Conditions Added Under the PACT Act
Under the PACT Act, more than 300 medical issues have been added to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) list of presumptive conditions. This has helped to dramatically increase the number of veterans who are able to access disability benefits through the VA, particularly veterans suffering from burn pit exposure. Veterans who want to take full advantage of the PACT Act should submit their claims as soon as possible to maximize their chances at getting the benefits they deserve.
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Panel Advances Bill to Improve Access to Retirement Benefits
The House Armed Services Committee has advanced a bill that, if passed, would substantially increase many disabled veterans’ access to retirement benefits. The “Major Richard Star Act,” as it is called, would allow veterans who medically retire before 20 years in the military to obtain both retirement benefits and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits. This could help as many as 50,000 disabled veterans to obtain more benefits for their service, helping them to live more comfortably in civilian life.
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Five Mistakes to Avoid in Your Social Security Disability Application
If you are looking to apply for Social Security disability benefits, getting your application right can make the difference between getting the benefits you deserve and getting rejected outright. However, as many as half of all applications for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are rejected due to avoidable mistakes. Make sure to avoid these five mistakes if you want to maximize the odds of your disability application being accepted:
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When Should You File a VA Disability Appeal?
Unsurprisingly, many veterans apply for disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (also known as the VA) and wind up with a disappointing outcome. To address this, they may decide to appeal the decision, either to reverse a rejection or to get a better disability rating. But when should you file a VA disability appeal, and what happens if you do?
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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 Common Reasons for Social Security Disability Claims
There are many reasons that people may need to apply for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). Whether the result of illness or injury, a disability can be nearly impossible to manage without help from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, some causes are disproportionately seen in applicants for disability benefits. Here are five of the most common reasons people make SSDI or SSI disability claims: Continue reading “Five Common Reasons for Social Security Disability Claims”
