You may think that it is a horrible idea to allow the VA to unilaterally suspend VA disability payments to a servicemember without a prior opportunity for a hearing. Yet this is precisely what a new rule that went into effect earlier this month does. The rule amends U.S. law and allows, in certain circumstances,…
Every person and their personal experience is unique. Thus, it is unsurprising when two veterans suffering from the same condition or injury have two different experiences. One may find themselves only slightly or moderately impacted by the condition, while the other might not be able to engage in any meaningful work whatsoever. Just as no…
You likely know that you are entitled to seek VA disability benefits for a service-connected injury or illness that impairs your ability to work. What you might not realize is that you do not have to wait until you have been discharged before starting your claim. With the VA’s Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program, …
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that impacts about 24 million people worldwide. Although it is not as common as other conditions like anxiety and depression, it can still manifest with painful and unpleasant symptoms, such as: It is not unusual for schizophrenia to begin developing within a person during their late teens and early…
It has been over 30 years since the first Gulf War, a conflict that saw approximately 700,000 U.S. troops deployed. While the operation was considered a success, some veterans brought home physical and mental injuries with them. If you are a veteran who has struggled with a condition inflicted on you by your time overseas…
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…