How Does the PACT Act Affect TDIU Benefits? The Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act (PACT Act) significantly expanded the number of illnesses presumed to be related to service through toxic exposure, mostly associated with burn pits and Agent Orange. However, the PACT Act did not significantly alter the VA’s disability rating system, …
Tag: VA Appeals
The Five and Five of VA Disability PTSD
The Five and Five of VA Disability PTSD Despite the research being done to understand post-traumatic stress disorder better, many people may still be surprised to learn that PTSD is a physical brain injury in addition to a psychological disorder. Compensation and pension examiners may not be specialists or well-versed in new PTSD research. That’s …
Lawsuit Alleges Systemic Discrimination at VA
Lawsuit Alleges Systemic Discrimination at VA A lawsuit filed in November 2022 alleges systemic discrimination at VA. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Conley Monk, Jr., a 74-year-old former Marine. Monk Jr. claims the Veterans Administration systematically discriminated against Black veterans in disability compensation claims. The suit is based partly on a statistical analysis …
What Disabilities Qualify for VA Benefits
What Disabilities Qualify for VA Benefits? Learning about disabilities and what disabilities qualify for VA benefits. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 25% of Americans are at least partially disabled under specific criteria. A significant number of these disabilities apply to veterans and are related to their time in service. If that is …
How Does VA Disability Back Pay Work
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 …
Burn Pit Victims Struggle to Find Healthcare
Burn Pit Victims Struggle to Find Healthcare In an effort to assist burn pit victims, a Veterans Administration-sponsored burn pit online registry was supposed to connect Veterans with appropriate medical care. That hasn’t happened, according to one advocacy group. “The health problems experienced by the many veterans who deployed to Southwest Asia warrant sustained and …
Spinal Fusion Surgery and VA Benefits
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 …
VA Changes PACT Act Process
VA Changes PACT Act Process Before the VA changed the PACT Act process, the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act required veterans who wanted to file claims for compensation for a presumptive illness to wait a couple of years for the legislation to go into effect. Burn pit and other victims would have to wait …
A Guide to VA Disability Benefits for Major Depressive Disorder
A Guide to VA Disability Benefits for Major Depressive Disorder Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD, is the most common mental illness in the United States. It affects over seven million Americans, along with an untold number of friends, family members, and coworkers of these victims. Frequently, MDD co-occurs with other conditions, many of which are …
How to Appeal a Denied DIC Claim Under the Appeals Modernization Act
How to Appeal a Denied DIC Claim Under the Appeals Modernization Act Do you have a denied DIC claim? Before 2017, some Veterans claimed the VA’s attitude about disability claims was “deny until they die.” That idea is a bit melodramatic, but not entirely misplaced. Many disabled veterans waited several years for benefits to …
