Death is an inevitable as taxes…so goes the saying. But what happens when a veteran passes away. The first step is that if you are a surviving spouse or child you should notify the VA (assuming the veteran was receiving benefits). Second you should consider whether you should apply for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). There are several possible evidentiary … Read More

Service connection is a necessary aspect of proving your disability claim. This means that you must show that a disability arose from an event or injury that occurred during service. Secondary service connection is when a condition arises from another disability that is already service connected. You will need to have medical evidence of the existence of the secondary condition, … Read More

Individual Unemployability is a part of VA’s disability compensation program that allows VA to pay certain Veterans disability compensation at the 100% rate, even though VA has not rated their service-connected disabilities at the total level. To get IU, you must have at least one service connected disability rated at least at 60%, OR two or more service connected disabilities … Read More

Under the appeals process, veterans are afforded the chance to have a hearing. The question that is usually asked is whether you should attend the hearing. Ultimately, the decision to attend is up to you, however, in our experience the hearing process adds very little to the ultimate outcome. In order to prevail in your case you need to establish … Read More

A comp and pen exam is a necessary evil for many veteran. As part of the VA’s duty to assist, veterans who file claims are given doctor appointments to assess the validity of the claim. In the comp and pen exam the veteran can expect the doctor or medical professional to review a disability benefits questionnaire to assess the extent … Read More