Military service members serve in professions with high risks of injuries than other civilian specializations. If you sustain disabilities while fighting for your nation, you must receive considerable VA benefits since veterans with service-related disabilities are entitled to a specific VA rating. Here, the bracket you fall in determines the amounts you’ll receive and for how long. However, if you want to appeal for any change in your rating, you must understand a few things, as discussed below.
What Is VA Rating?
Different military members have different VA ratings as per the VA codes. The veteran rating percentage ranges from zero to 100%, which each veteran is eligible for after a service-related injury. The percentage depends on the disability severity and the extent to which the disability impairs your earning capacity. If you feel the amount you receive needs to reflect your condition, you should visit JSBerryLaw.com to seek legal advice on how to go about the appeal process.
Understanding Veteran Effective Date
The day you present your claims and the day VA considers you eligible to receive compensation are two different days. While most veterans assume that the day they submit their VA disability claims is their effective date, confirming with your attorney is always exemplary. The veteran effective date is when the VA receives your claim or the day you first sustained injuries in the military.
When Should You Request for VA Rating Review?
Veterans are susceptible to suffering common military-connected injuries and disabilities. Each condition may have variant severity and future medical-related problems. For instance, a veteran who loses a limb is far different from one with brain injuries. This element applies because brain injuries, loss of sight, loss of hearing, and post-traumatic stress disorder affect how the injured veteran carries on with their daily tasks.
For instance, what if VA assigns you a 10% VA rating while your disability exceeds the attached benefits? It’s time to make your veteran disability claim appeal. The following circumstances may push you to request a change in your veteran disability rating.
- If your injuries worsen with time, the VA must increase its compensation rate to cater for the recurring medical expenses.
- If you suffer other medical problems, you can appeal for a combined VA disability rating. For example, if your rating only caters to brain injuries, which have resulted in the loss of sight over the years, seek matching benefits through appealing.
- If there was an error in the previous rating consideration, and you have the relevant evidence that works in your favor.
- Suppose you lose your veteran spouse, parent, or child due to service-related injuries during active military training or in the line of duty. In that case, you must apply for the dependency and indemnity claim (DIC) compensation.
- If there are changes in VA compensation laws and eligibility, increase your VA rating benefits.
Does Your VA Effective Date Affect Your Back Pay?
Absolutely. Back pay is the amount of money a veteran receives to compensate for their monetary benefits between their VA effective date and the time the VA accepts their appeal claim. You automatically qualify to receive back pay if you win your compensation review claim. It’s worth noting that the VA grants benefits based on the claim effective date rather than your approval or application dates. Therefore, your effective date will determine the amount you receive as back pay.
Veterans offer the highest form of patriotism in the countries they serve. However, the compensation they receive may be less than their injury conditions. Although claiming a veteran rating increment can take several months or years, it’s worth the effort. After VA assigns your veteran disability rating below what you deserve, you can request an appeal to enjoy more compensation.
