The Compensation and Pension medical exam system has always had a delay. This year, between some structural changes and the coronavirus pandemic, backlog has tripled. Before the pandemic hit, the VA was well into the process of contracting C&P examinations to non-VA doctors. 60% of examinations were by contractors, rising to nearly 100%. During …
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LA County Getting New Veterans’ Court
To better address the needs of veterans who have minor run-ins with the law, the City of Glendale plans to have a designated veterans’ court up and running by October 2021. Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers is a longtime veterans’ advocate. “This is something I think everybody knows I’ve been wanting to have for quite …
How To Increase Your VA Disability Rating
Generally, a combination of a medical diagnosis, the disability’s symptoms, and its effect on the Veteran’s everyday life determines the amount of benefits the disabled Veteran receives. A change in any one of these areas could significantly, and positively, affect your VA disability rating. The amount of monthly financial benefits depends primarily on the disability rating. …
Five Surprising Facts About Veteran Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is one of the most common disabilities among veterans. When they go through traumatic events, many people have symptoms like depression, nightmares, and hypervigilance. If these symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, or they get worse instead of better, the person probably has PTSD. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is also one …
A Closer Look at USVSST Fund Eligibility
Officials recently unveiled plans for yet another round of U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund payments. At roughly the same time, Congress amended the USVSST’s eligibility requirements. So, if you have a final judgement against a country which sponsored terrorism, or if you, or a loved one was a Tehran Embassy hostage anytime between …
What is USVSST Compensation and are You Eligible?
In January 2021, lawmakers amended the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act, which created the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. These amendments significantly changed eligibility rules. So, if you or a family member or even a deceased family member was the victim of international state-sponsored terrorism, you may be …
Breaking Down TDIU Eligibility Requirements
All disability determinations involve a combination of medical and economic factors. The doctor never sits you down and tells you “You are 30% disabled.” That’s because it’s not just about your diagnosis. It’s about how your condition affects you and what it stops you from doing. This is especially true in Total Disability due to …
Most Common VA Disabilities
The Veterans Administration recently released results for the 2019 fiscal year. In its defense, the VA’s fiscal year is different from the calendar year. And 2020 was a very busy year for all government agencies, including the VA. Other priorities, such as vaccinating as many Veterans as possible, took resources away from number-crunching endeavors. …
Lawmakers Consider Expanding Agent Orange Presumption
A bipartisan effort is underway to extend Agent Orange exposure benefits to service members who served in other parts of Southeast Asia during Operation Ranch Hand. Pennsylvania Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R) and Matt Cartwright (D) introduced a bill that would apply to Veterans who were stationed in Laos, Cambodia, or Thailand during Operation Ranch …
Burn Pits: The Next VA Class Action?
In the 1991 Persian Gulf War, Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein set Kuwait’s oil fields on fire. Most of us have seen pictures of the thick, black, toxic smoke blanketing the region. In the Iraq War, a similar danger emerged. Toxic smoke, this time from our own large burn pits, claimed thousands of victims in Iraq …
