Starting the Disability Claims Process
A lot of veterans benefits depend on the disability rating they have been issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Information about VA benefits often refers to this rating. But how is it determined?
At The Rep for Vets™, we inform disabled veterans about their rights and help them apply for benefits. We answer their questions and provide information about the application process. As a national veterans advocacy firm, we focus on helping people who served our country and have a service-connected disability. It shouldn't be hard for veterans to get the benefits they need and deserve, but the VA is a huge organization, and having a guide can make all the difference.
Criteria in the Three-Part Test
The VA uses a set of criteria to establish basic eligibility for benefits. Known as the three-part test, it defines disability for the purposes of veterans benefits as:
- Currently having a medically diagnosed disability
- Suffering an injury, disease or other event while in the service
- Demonstrating that the disability is the result of the injury
This sounds quite straightforward, but veterans can encounter roadblocks at every turn. Helping you get around these roadblocks is our job. If your diagnosis is not for a recognized disability, or if there is no documentation of your service-related injury or illness, we can help you. If your claim was denied because the link between the service event and your disability isn't clear to the VA, we can appeal.
Once a veteran has been determined to be disabled, his or her disability is rated according to VA criteria. Ratings refer to the extent and severity of the disability, and range from 0 percent to 100 percent. The rating determines the amount of the monthly payment the veteran will receive. When the benefit amount is too low because the rating was low, the rating can be appealed. Our VA advocates help veterans from the beginning, from initial application through appeal.
Learn More About the Three-Part Test
Call 888-573-7838 from anywhere in the United States for a free initial consultation, or simply contact us online. We have headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and serve clients throughout the United States from our seven regional offices in New York, California and Texas.
