Know the Veterans Benefits You’re Entitled To

Veterans deserve all that we can give them, including assistance they all qualify for after serving our country. Unfortunately, navigating the complexities of the veterans benefits program can be challenging without skilled and experienced help on your side. Robert M. Goldberg & Associates is an Atlanta lawyer for veterans benefits and we are here to help you explore and understand the benefits to which you are entitled after your time on the front line.

What Benefits Are Available to Veterans?

Veterans have access to healthcare benefits, medical screenings, and diagnostics. They are also qualified to receive a pension that is provided based on wartime service. While most servicemen and servicewomen know about these benefits, they may not know that they are also qualified for disability benefits and programs. These programs include:

• Attendance and aid, which increases the pension funds for bedridden veterans
• Medical foster homes, which act as a temporary place for veterans to seek medical care
• Adult daycare services, which can prevent seniors from being placed in a nursing home before they need to be
• Nursing home services, which can help accommodate the long-term care needs of veterans

Working with an experienced lawyer for veterans benefits can help you uncover sources of healthcare coverage that you didn’t know were available to you. Robert M. Goldberg & Associates can help you determine which benefits you have access to and what the cost may be should you be approved for these benefits.

Common Disabling Injuries and Illnesses Suffered by Veterans

The men and women who serve in the United States Military can endure a number of disabling injuries and illnesses, which can have a major impact on their daily lives. If you suffered a disability due to your military service, it is common to experience financial hardship, physical pain, and emotional distress.

You could recover benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay for your medical care and other needs associated with a service-related health condition, such as cancer, brain trauma, and neck and back problems. Some of the most common injuries and illnesses diagnosed in veterans include PTSD, hearing loss, and diseases associated with toxic exposure.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The rate of PTSD among military veterans can be as high as 20–30%. This mental health condition develops after a person experiences a traumatic event and is characterized by symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and mood changes. PTSD can significantly disrupt your life and requires professional mental health treatment.

Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

Many military veterans have been exposed to toxic chemicals and contaminants. For example, veterans of the Iraq War are struggling with damaging health effects because of exposure to burn pits near their bases. Veterans and families who lived at the naval base Camp Lejeune were exposed to contaminated water and developed conditions like cancer.

Hearing Loss

Military veterans are often exposed to loud noises, such as explosions and heavy artillery. Without proper protection, these noises can lead to long-term hearing damage and a loss of hearing.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Brain trauma occurs when you suffer a blow or jolt to the head, or when an object penetrates the skull. It is very common for these injuries to occur during military service, especially if you served in active combat. Brain trauma can have a lasting impact on your life and affect your ability to concentrate, speak, remember important information, and engage in the activities that you once enjoyed.

Who Is Eligible for Veterans’ Benefits?

Your eligibility for veterans’ benefits will depend on when you enlisted in the United States Armed Forces and the branch of the military in which you served. Additionally, you cannot have received a dishonorable discharge. If you were honorably discharged or retired from the military, you are eligible to recover benefits for any disabilities that you developed while in service.

If you enlisted in the active naval, military, or air service, you are eligible if you meet the following criteria:

• If you enlisted in the military after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, you must have served for 24 continuous months or the full period that you were called to active duty.
• If any of the following factors apply to you, you do not need to have served the minimum duty period: you served prior to September 7, 1980; you were discharged for a disability that was caused or worsened by your service; or you were discharged due to a hardship.

If you are a current or former member of the National Guard or the Army Reserves, you will need to meet the following requirements to claim benefits:

• You were called to active duty by a federal order.
• You completed the full period for which you were called to active duty.

Depending on your circumstances, your spouse or family members may also be eligible for compensation through the VA. The lawyers at Goldberg & Associates can assess your case and help you and your family better understand your eligibility for benefits.

What Is the Value of Veterans’ Benefits?

The VA provides compensation is based on the level of disability that the veteran has. Depending on the severity of the injury, the department will rate your disability from a scale of 10% to 100%. A veteran with a 10% rating has a relatively minor disability, while a veteran with a 100% rating has a very severe, completely disabling injury or illness.

Disability compensation rates change every year and are set by the VA. For example, a veteran with a 10% disability rating would receive a maximum of $152.64 per month in 2022. If a veteran has a 70% disability rating and has a spouse and child, he or she could receive up to $1,754.95 in monthly benefits.

Could the VA Deny a Veterans’ Benefits Claim?

Although you may be eligible for benefits, there are a number of reasons that the VA may deny your application. For example, the application may not include sufficient evidence, or the paperwork may be completed incorrectly.

In many cases, the VA denies a claim because it believes that the disability did not begin in the military service. In other situations, the department rates the veteran’s injury lower than its actual severity and fails to provide an adequate amount of benefits.

If the VA denies your application or does not offer enough benefits, you have the right to file an appeal. You must initiate the appeal within one year from the date when your benefits were initially denied. The appeals process can easily involve months of back-and-forth communication between you and the Board of Veterans Appeals, so it is important to consult with a lawyer who can help you navigate the process.

Do You Need a Lawyer to Apply for Veterans’ Benefits?

It can be tempting to apply for veterans’ benefits without the assistance of a lawyer. However, this process can be complex, and the VA often has a backlog of thousands of cases. In these situations, you want to avoid any potential errors that could delay your claim or, even worse, result in the VA denying your right to benefits.

At Goldberg & Associates, our Atlanta veterans’ benefits lawyers understand the rules and requirements associated with applying for VA benefits. We can help you navigate the process and advocate for the benefits that you deserve. If the department rejects your application, we can help you prepare an appeal and fight to overturn the decision.

Our elder law lawyers are dedicated to helping veterans recover the benefits that they need to pay for their medical care. We will support you during each stage of your application and build a strong claim for your right to benefits.

How We Can Help

It can be difficult to know which benefits you are entitled to. At Robert M. Goldberg & Associates, we help you determine what the best next steps are for you and your family. We start by providing you with a VA benefits review with an elder law attorney, who will evaluate your benefits based on your service record, income, and family resources. From there, we take care of any necessary communication with the bureaucracy involved in accessing your benefits. Our team promises to do our best to expedite the process. And finally, we’ll deal with any denials to assess what went wrong and determine the best alternatives.

Lawyer for Veterans Benefits in Atlanta

Are you a veteran who needs help exploring your healthcare options in the Atlanta area? If so, then get in touch with our experienced team today to learn more about our veterans benefits legal services and to get started. We thank you for serving our country.