Years ago, if a military veteran wished to hire an attorney to help with his or her disability claim, they had to wait until the late stages of the appeals process. This rule was changed in 2007, now a disabled veteran that is denied benefits can hire a VA disability claim attorney following the filing of a Notice of Disagreement.
Having a disability claim attorney early in the case is extremely beneficial, the attorney can prepare a far better appeal than the veteran ever could and an attorney is intimate with the ever changing laws and regulations that govern VA.
Even though this is the case, many disabled veterans elect to “go it alone” and represent themselves in their fight to get what they believe to be rightfully theirs. Before making the decision to self-represent, it is wise to consider the benefits of hiring a skilled attorney. In the majority of cases, once the veteran understands the complexity of the law and the time it takes to win on appeal, most veterans opt for legal assistance.
It is not an easy process:
The Department of Veterans Affairs do not make it easy for a disabled veteran to win benefits, the entire process is long and tough, so much so that many claimants simply give up any hope of ever succeeding.
If you are sure you have a valid claim, do not give up. When you consider what it is you stand to lose, hiring a VA disability claim attorney makes a great deal of sense. The key to any successful disability appeal is having knowledgeable representation. From the time you are notified that your claim has been rejected to the time you finally win on appeal, you will have to negotiate many steps and stages. It only takes one mistake to set the process back indefinitely or to fail altogether; when you are represented by a VA disability claim attorney the chances of a successful appeal are far better than going it alone will ever be.
If you suffered a disabling injury while serving your country you have every right to expect disability benefits. If your claim has been denied, you will be far better off hiring a VA disability claim attorney to help with your appeal. You are invited to discuss your situation with Jackson & MacNichol, Attorneys at Law.
