How can a veteran pay his medical bills while the claim is being processed? (Video)

Transcript:

Well that’s a very good question. Many veterans are eligible for medical care even if they aren’t eligible for cash awards. I want veterans to remember that they might also have a claim for Social Security disability. If the veteran is unable to work and has Social Security credits, then he should think about applying for Social Security disability as well as for his veteran benefits.

Why is it so difficult for a veteran to obtain the benefits that he or she deserves? (Video)

Transcript:

There are numerous reasons for that. First of all, there’s the back log; secondly, there’s incompetence within the Veteran’s Administration; there’s resistance to change; there is an antiquated filing system in place; and on and on. There are numerous reasons for that. The best advice for veterans is to be very patient.

How much will it cost to hire an attorney to help with a benefits claim? (Video)

Transcript:

The legal fees for veteran’s claims are almost always done on the contingent fee basis and they are regulated. The veteran does not have to worry about paying fees up front. His fees come out of the award he’s given after all of the appeals are processed.

Can a veteran take his claim to court? (Video)

Transcript:

Yes. There is a special court that’s formed only for veterans. That court has been operating for a little over 30 years. Since the court was established, it has made a big difference for veterans.

What steps are involved in the appeals process? (Video)

Transcript:

The veteran’s appeals process basically has two steps within the administrative area. First, the veteran applies with the regional office. The application then is processed with what they call the Veteran’s Regional Office, or sometimes it’s called the Agency of Original Jurisdiction. If the claim is denied at the regional office, then the veteran can appeal his claim to the Board of Veterans Appeals. The Board of Veterans Appeals takes the appeals and order in chronological order so that each veteran is taken in the order that his claim was filed. There’s a wait at the board, as well as the regional office, so veterans have to be patient to wait their turn for the board to hear his or her claim. If the claim continues to be denied at the Board of Veterans Appeals, the veteran then has the right to go to the Court of Veterans Claims. That essentially is the last place a veteran can appeal. Many cases are reversed by the court. I don’t want any veteran to give up, even at the Board. If you’ve had a claim denied, even at the Board, you should consider taking it to court, because the court does reverse a lot of claims.

What kind of compensation can a veteran expect to receive? (Video)

Transcript:

The compensation goes anywhere from $0 to about $3,000 a month. It depends on the degree of the injury the veteran had or the illness the veteran had which is related to his service. The key is to connect the condition, whatever medical condition it is, whether it’s physical or mental, to service. It’s called service connection. A veteran who is unable to work can obtain the maximum benefit because of his inability to work. The benefit will vary anywhere from, as I said $0. A minor condition, for example, could be approximately $300 a month, or it could be $500 – $600. Sometimes it’s between $1,000 and $2,000 a month. Again, it depends on the amount or the degree of the injury or the medical condition that’s involved. I recently settled a claim that brought the veteran $140,000 in back pay. He also is getting approximately $3,000 a month, every month, probably for the rest of his life. That’s because of a condition that we were finally able to connect it to service, causing the veteran to be unable to work. Don’t give up on your claim. The claims are valuable and it could mean the difference between living a good life and living a less than desirable condition.

At what point should a veteran apply for benefits? (Video)

Transcript:

A simple answer to that is right away because a veteran cannot obtain benefits until he applies. The application itself has to be filed and has to be recorded by the Veteran’s Administration as having been filed. A veteran should make sure his application is filed as soon as possible. The best thing to do is to one of the Veteran Service Organizations, Disabled Veterans of America, and they will help a veteran file. They will also help the veteran to determine what conditions to file for. If the claim is denied, that’s the time a veteran should be seeking professional advice. For the initial application the veteran should, in my opinion, go to one of the Veteran Service Organizations and get their application on file as soon as possible.

What advice can you give to someone applying for long term disability? (Video)

Transcript:

Long term disability is insurance which is usually obtained through the employer. The best advice for a person applying for long term disability is to obtain help as soon as possible. The reason is that the insurance adjustors, even though they appear to be friendly, they are not your friend. Don’t deal with them on your own.

How can I afford an attorney if I’m out of work? (Video)

Transcript:

You should never pay up-front for legal fees or for retainer fees for a long-term disability claim. That’s risky because you can lose your money, and if you’re not working the last thing you need is to lose more money. If your claim has merit, you can find a lawyer who will take your claim on a contingent fee basis. A contingent fee means you don’t pay unless you win. You should only have a lawyer help you on a contingent fee basis and not upfront fees.

Can I have a jury decide my long term disability claim? (Video)

Transcript:

No. Again, in the same manner punitive damages are not allowed by the ERISA Statue, juries are not allowed by the ERISA Statue either. You cannot have a jury decide your long term disability claim. Most of the long term disability claims are decided by federal judges because of the ERISA Act.

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