06 Mar 2023
Is Sleep Apnea a VA Disability?

Is Sleep Apnea a VA Disability?

PTSD, VA Benefits, VA Disability Claims, VA Disability Compensation
For service members, the stresses of training, combat, and reintegration into civilian life can disrupt sleep patterns. Insomnia and nightmares may be the most common service-related sleep disruption, but sleep apnea also affects millions of veterans. Yes, it is a disability that can entitle a veteran to compensation.  Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops and starts while the individual is asleep. It may lead to snoring or gasping for air during sleep, drowsiness, dry mouth, and/or headaches during waking hours.  Service-related sleep apnea could be connected to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Though research is still being conducted on…
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27 Dec 2022

VA Disability Benefits for Arthritis in the Hands

VA appeals Attorney, VA Benefits, VA Disability Claims, VA Disability Compensation, Veterans Disability, Veterans Disability Attorney, Veterans Disability Lawyer
Obtaining VA Disability Benefits for Arthritis in the Hands According to the VA and CDC, arthritis affects one in five Americans and is the nation’s leading cause of disability. Over 100 conditions fall under the umbrella of arthritis, including arthritis in the hands, osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint diseases. The percentage of Americans with arthritis is expected to increase to one in four or around 25% by 2040. Not surprisingly, the prevalence of arthritis is higher among veterans than the general population: one in 3 veterans has arthritis. Military service takes a significant toll on a veteran’s body. Many veterans begin…
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22 Dec 2022

PACT Act Claims

VA appeals Attorney, VA Benefits, VA Disability Claims, VA Disability Compensation, Veterans Disability, Veterans Disability Attorney, Veterans Disability Lawyer
Officials Say They are Ready for PACT Act Claims A large veterans advocacy organization says the VA will be ready to process PACT Act claims beginning in 2023, and the organization will be ready to help. “In my mind, there's no more important way to do that than to compensate them, compensate veterans for whatever type of suffering they may have endured because of their service,” Amvets National Executive Director Joe Chenelly remarked in a Veterans Day celebration. “A ton of veterans who we knew were qualified for these new benefits and care have been coming to us, and we…
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06 Dec 2022

How Does VA Disability Back Pay Work

VA appeals Attorney, VA Benefits, VA Disability Claims, VA Disability Compensation
How Does VA Disability Back Pay Work? VA disability back pay amounts depend on the effective dates. Which only increases when there is a Veterans Administration disability case backlog. The 2017 VA appeal system reforms have significantly reduced the Veterans Administration disability case backlog. In September 2022, almost 150,000 disability claims were backlogged, meaning they were pending at the VA for more than four months. This includes claims that are awaiting further development. But does not include claims that the VA has decided and the claimant is appealing. As burn pit-related claims spurred by the recently passed PACT Act and…
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16 Nov 2022

Spinal Fusion Surgery and VA Benefits

VA Benefits, VA Disability Claims, Veterans Disability, Veterans Disability Attorney
FAQ About Spinal Fusion Surgery and VA Benefits Read more to learn about spinal fusion surgery and the available VA Benefits for this condition. Military activity is hard on the joints, especially the spine. Most veterans spend a substantial amount of time carrying heavy objects, bending, standing, walking, and otherwise placing significant stress on their spines. Sudden traumatic injuries, like falls or motor vehicle crashes, could cause a spine injury as well. The resulting pain is often unbearable. Over 80% of spinal cord injury (SCI) victims are unable to work. Many veterans turn to spinal fusion surgery to reduce this…
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09 Nov 2022

Nuts and Bolts of a VA Disability Claim

VA Benefits, VA Disability Claims, VA Disability Compensation, Veterans Disability, Veterans Disability Attorney, Veterans Disability Lawyer
Nuts and Bolts of a VA Disability Claim Recent, protracted, and violent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have pushed the official number of veterans with a VA disability claim of at least 70% disability to over two million. That unofficial count, including veterans with less than a 70% disability, may be much higher. This unofficial number also includes veterans who abandon their claims after initial denials and veterans who try to “tough out” their disabilities, often for decades, before they relent and file claims. A VA disability attorney often unlocks advanced options, like TDIU (Total Disability due to Individual Unemployability)…
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20 Sep 2022

Can I Get Workers’ Compensation and VA Disability?

VA Disability Claims, Veterans Disability, Veterans Disability Lawyer
Can I Get Workers’ Compensation and VA Disability? This confusion is understandable since both workers’ compensation and VA disability are meant to replace lost wages and pay medical bills, albeit in different ways. But to answer this question, yes, you can get VA disability and workers’ compensation benefits, sometimes for the same injury or illness. Benefits have declined in both cases in recent years. Adjusted for inflation, workers’ compensation lost wage replacement benefits peaked in the 1960s. So, what’s the difference? Workers’ compensation arises from illness or injury that occurs while the recipient is at work, while VA disability benefits…
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13 Sep 2022

The Link Between Combat and Infertility

VA Benefits, VA Disability Attorney, VA Disability Claims, VA Law
The Link Between Combat and Infertility One of the nation’s largest fertility clinics is partnering with the Veterans Administration to conduct a study about combat and infertility among veterans. Researchers plan to test sperm collected from 1,000 veterans of the Global War on Terror to look for commonalities in fertility issues among the population. They believe burn pit exposure during service, traumatic brain injury side effects, and ongoing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) contribute to high infertility rates among combat veterans. Researchers hope to use the findings to expand the fertility services offered by VA in the coming years. The study…
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06 Sep 2022

Can You Receive State Unemployment Benefits and VA Disability Benefits?

VA Disability Claims, Veterans Disability, Veterans Disability Attorney, Veterans Disability Lawyer, Veterans' Appeals
Can You Receive State Unemployment Benefits and VA Disability Benefits? The government offers benefits, including unemployment benefits, to residents and their families in times of need. Veterans may qualify for disability benefits from the Veterans Administration and unemployment benefits from the federal or state government at the same time, because the types of benefits serve different purposes. The biggest difference between unemployment and disability benefits is that unemployment is intended to be temporary whereas disability is generally for the rest of a person’s life, or as long as their disabling condition lasts. VA disability benefits, according to President Abraham Lincoln’s…
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30 Aug 2022

The Most Common Reasons DIC Claims are Denied

Denied DIC Benefits, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, VA Benefits, VA Disability Claims, VA Disability Claims, Veterans Disability Attorney, Veterans Disability Lawyer
The Most Common Reasons DIC Claims are Denied   In the past, survivors of disabled veterans who passed away were presumptively entitled to survivor benefits, called Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or DIC. Then, the law changed, establishing requirements which must be met before DIC claims can be granted. Now, because of the complexity of DIC claims, the initial denial rate is around 75%. Occasionally, the reasons for denial are straightforward and easy to correct. Sometimes, though, even the reasons for denial are as complex as the requirements themselves.   If a claims examiner denies a DIC petition, the claimant does…
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