Not all of the dangers veterans encountered during their time in service were found on the battlefield or even at their station. In recent years, the pervasive and longstanding problem of sexual abuse and harassment in the military has come to light. The RAND Corporation, for example, suggested that as many as 20,500 service members…
As a veteran, you are able to receive medical care and treatment from VA medical facilities and hospitals. As dedicated as many of these professionals and staff are to their work, they are still human and, therefore, still capable of making errors. Unfortunately, when these errors and lapses of judgment happen, you are the one…
Military service can affect individuals in unique and multiple ways. For example, suppose that you served as an infantryman in Afghanistan and saw combat. Your experience on the battlefield may have left you with numerous conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hearing loss, and back pain. Another soldier may have lost an arm or leg…
You have applied for VA disability benefits in Ohio or elsewhere and have just received your award letter in the mail. Contained within that award letter is an explanation of the VA’s decision, including the disability rating it has assigned to your claim. The higher this disability rating is, the more benefits the VA believes…
Military service is dangerous. Even non-combatant specialties can face dangers such as the risk of concussions, hearing loss, mental distress, and other physical and mental issues. In the vast majority of cases, these are simply a natural consequence of military service. For instance, despite the use of hearing protection when using firearms or explosives, military…
A physical injury you sustain while serving your country can differ in several ways from a mental health condition you develop during your time in service. Nonetheless, the two types of injuries share at least something in common: a compensation and pension (C&P) exam. When required, completing a C&P exam is an essential step to…
When your VA disability benefits claim is finally approved, your award will consist of both ongoing monthly disability benefits and retroactive benefits. Retroactive benefits are benefits received for the period beginning on the effective date of your claim up through the date your claim is approved and you begin receiving your monthly benefit. The reason…
VA disability benefits are intended to assist injured veterans with addressing their costs of living when they are not able to fully work. But as the past few years have clearly demonstrated, the cost for everyday goods and services tends to go up rather than go down. If VA disability benefits did not take this…
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common, especially among those who play sports or are in the military. According to the International Brain Injury Association, as many as one million Americans are treated and released from hospital emergency rooms for brain injuries every year. About 80,000 individuals each year sustain a brain injury and suffer some…
Once your claim for VA disability benefits is granted, you will receive an award letter talking about the benefits you will be receiving. Part of this letter informs you of your disability rating, a number reflected as a percentage. The disability rating is the VA’s determination of how much your earning potential is impacted by…