Tag: VA

VA OIG Finds Misdated PACT Act Claims Lead to Payout Problems

According to an investigation recently released by the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs, problems related to misdating led to thousands of mistaken payouts on PACT Act claims since the law was passed in 2022. In many cases, these misdated claims resulted in recipients getting more money than they should have, but in other cases, these errors led to veterans missing out on benefits they were otherwise legally entitled to. The report blames the issues on the complexity of the law, which created confusion about when to calculate the effective start date for beginning compensation.

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Seven Service-Related Disabilities Commonly Seen in Veterans

It is estimated that there are approximately five million veterans who suffer from some kind of service-related disability, based on Department of Labor data. However, there is a substantial amount of variation in terms of what disabilities these veterans suffer, including both physical and psychological disabilities. Here are seven types of service-related disabilities that are commonly seen in military veterans who apply for VA disability benefits:

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“Benefit of the Doubt” Ruling Upheld by SCOTUS

In a recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States, it was ruled that the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims was not required to review use of the “benefit of the doubt” standard for most disability reviews. This standard is meant to typically favor veterans in cases where the evidence for or against a disability application is close. The decision means that it may be harder for many veterans to appeal their disability applications if they are denied.

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Five Mistakes Disabled Veterans Make When Applying For Benefits

Every year, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) receives close to two million applications for disability benefits. However, a majority of these applications are denied, often due to entirely avoidable mistakes that lead to otherwise valid claims being dismissed. Here are five common mistakes that disabled veterans make when applying for disability benefits through the VA:

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VA Eases Requirements for Post-9/11 Veterans to Obtain Benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs (also known as the VA) recently announced that it would be easing the restrictions for veterans from post-9/11 wars to obtain disability benefits for certain medical conditions. The changes to these rules are meant to help veterans who may have struggled to obtain benefits previously due to the nature of their condition, specifically those who were exposed to toxic chemicals during their service. As a result, many more people may be able to obtain benefits than previously could. Continue reading “VA Eases Requirements for Post-9/11 Veterans to Obtain Benefits”

What is the PACT Act, and How Can it Benefit You?

The PACT Act of 2022 is one of the most critical laws that has been passed in recent years to address the issues faced by veterans. Thanks to the measures it put into place, many more veterans are now potentially eligible for benefits when they might not have been previously. But what exactly is the PACT Act, and how can it potentially benefit you?

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VA Extends Presumptive Period For Gulf War Syndrome to 2026

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it will be extending the presumptive period for conditions related to service in the Persian Gulf War to December 31, 2026. This will allow people suffering from these conditions, informally referred to as “Gulf War Syndrome,” to more easily access disability benefits. It may also help people who may previously have been denied benefits due to symptoms appearing after the expiration of the previous presumptive period.

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Five Reasons to Consider a VA Disability Appeal

There is always a risk, when you apply for disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs, that your application will not turn out the way you might want. This may result in you getting your benefits denied, or getting fewer benefits than you might otherwise be entitled to. Here are five reasons you may want to consider a VA disability appeal, whether you were approved for disability benefits or not:

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Access to VA Benefits Expanded with Character of Discharge Changes

Under a recent rule change announced by the Department of Veterans Affairs (also known as the VA), many service members who were previously ineligible for benefits due to a character of discharge issue may now be available. For example, it affects people who were discharged due to issues related to homosexuality, although other types of discharges are also affected. This rule change is meant to establish a more objective standard for determining if someone is potentially eligible for benefits, though it does not affect the nature of their discharge.

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How Do You Know if Your Disability is Service-Related?

To be able to qualify for disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (also known as the VA), you need to demonstrate you have a disability that is “service-related.” This means that being able to prove how you got your disability is essential for deciding what benefits you are entitled to. But how do you know if your disability is considered service-related, under the guidelines established by the VA?

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Main Office

Western Suffolk County
44 Main Street
Kings Park, NY 11754
Phone: 631.269.1515

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Garden City, NY 11530
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Riverhead, NY 11901
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