VA COMPENSATION – Service Connected Disability
Has your VA Disability Claim Been Denied or Do You Disagree with Your Disability Rating?
Standing up for the rights of disabled U.S. Veterans
Applying for disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can be a long, complicated process. No matter how worthy your claim, it can be turned down due to technicalities at any stage. Prestige will be able to assist you with our perfected claim process aimed at receiving a favorable decision in months instead of years.
We help veterans and their families obtain the disability benefits they are entitled to from the VA. Once a claim for benefits has been denied, or you disagree with the disability rating the VA has awarded, Jeff McCarty and Prestige can begin representing you immediately.
Compensation is the most common claim for benefits
When the VA approves a claim, a percentage of disability is assigned from 10 percent to 100 percent. Your level of disability determines the amount of your monthly non-taxable payment as well as the amount of medical care you receive from the VA at no cost. Three things must be established through evidence to be entitled to VA benefits:
- There must be a current disability
- There must be evidence that the veteran first showed symptoms of a disease or suffered an injury, or an aggravation of a pre-existing disease or injury, while in the service or within a short period afterward
- There must be a link between the current disability and the in-service disease, injury or event
What Prestige can do for you
Prestige Financial Advisors can guide your appeal through the lengthy claims process. We have experience dealing directly with the VA’s Regional Offices, the Board of Veterans Appeals, and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Veterans Court). If necessary, we can pursue your appeal all the way to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
Types of VA disability claims we handle include:
- Service-connected disability compensation
- Non-service connected pension
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
- Compensation for injury/death caused by VA (1151 Claim)
Who do we help?
Although veterans are the focus of our VA work, they are by no means the only recipients of benefits that we help. Surviving spouses and children may also apply for compensation. The VA describes those who are eligible for benefits as:
- Veterans. A veteran is a person who served in the active military, naval or air services, including the Coast Guard, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. This means veterans with dishonorable discharges may not apply for VA benefits at all.
- Surviving Spouses. The VA offers Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and Death Pension Benefits to spouses of active service members and veterans who die of service-related injuries — as long as they meet certain criteria. If your application for these benefits has been denied, please contact our office to see if we can help you appeal.
- Surviving Children. DIC and Death Pension Benefits are also offered to surviving children of service members and veterans. Children must be under 18, or 23 for students, and unmarried. Certain helpless adult children are also entitled to DIC benefits.
How fees are paid
The VA realizes that the claims and appeals processes may last years. If your appeal is granted, then you receive compensation that is retroactive to the beginning of your original claim. This retroactive payment is provided in a lump sum. When you are represented by Jeff McCarty, the VA deducts 20-30 percent of this lump sum for the payment of fees and incurred expenses. (Note: As an Accredited Claims Agent, Jeff McCarty adheres to the strict compenstion limits of 20 percent plus any incurred expenses and collect our earned fee directly from the Veteran’s Administration for the claimant we have represented. We never collect a fee unless we win your claim for benefits.
Call us today if your VA disability claim has been denied or you disagree with your disability rating.
Call Jeff at 661.252.4000 to schedule a consultation.
While tax legal and estate issues may be discussed in the general course of financial and investment planning Simplicity Wealth, LLC does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax or legal professional prior to making decisions relative to these issues. Investment advisory and financial planning provided through Simplicity Wealth, LLC, a SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Insurance, veterans claims, consulting, and educational services provided through Prestige Financial Advisors. Legal document services provided through The Document People. Simplicity Wealth, LLC is a separate and unaffiliated entity from Prestige Financial Advisors and The Document People.
Simplicity Wealth LLC, Jeff McCarty, Prestige Financial Advisors and/or The Document People are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Veterans Administration or any other government agency.