With public scrutiny of government spending at a high in today’s political climate, some are pointing fingers at veterans. There’s even an accusation floating around that up to 50% of veterans are committing fraud with the VA disability system.
People close to the system know that this is false. In fact, many veterans’ advocates believe that 8 out of 10 veterans are underrated for their health conditions. Why? For one, many veterans trained and served in a “no sniveling” environment. They didn’t want to show weakness, so they didn’t report or seek help for their health problems. This is still the case for many vets. They served proudly, and they think that seeking disability benefits is a sign of weakness—even though they are legally entitled to these benefits.
Other veterans have symptoms that developed after they left the service. For example, if they served near burn pits in the Gulf War, they may have returned from service feeling fine. But years down the road, they may have developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or cancer due to exposure.
Other veterans feel worn down by the VA disability claims system. They know their body is so battered from their time in service that they merit a 100% VA disability benefits rating, but they don’t know how to navigate the VA bureaucracy. Or maybe they’ve tried for a rating increase in the past and were rejected. It’s a tough pill to swallow when the very government that you fought for won’t honor your claims. No wonder many veterans get demoralized and refuse to try again for a rating increase.
Regardless of what’s holding you back from trying to get the VA benefits you’re entitled to, there has never been a better time to submit a claim. In this article, we’ll talk about why you should not delay the VA claims process for another day.
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Get Ahead of Future Changes
We are in a time of unprecedented change with the current administration. As they work to cut federal spending, they are taking aim at both the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs. They are already making plans to slash 80,000 VA jobs with the threat of more cuts looming.
Some people think this could be a good thing, trimming the fat at the VA and streamlining the bureaucracy that bogs down claims. In short, they think this will make the VA leaner and meaner.
Others think these changes will bog down an already slow VA claims approval process, which currently reports a backlog of nearly 250,000 claims that have been pending for more than 125 days.
The truth is, no one knows whether the changes will help or hurt veterans in the long run, but there is no denying that a shakeup is on its way. And just in case the shakeup is detrimental to veterans, it’s time to lock in your intent to file date.
Slide in Before Pending Benefit Limitations Hit
The past administration made changes of their own, affecting conditions like tinnitus and sleep apnea. For example, the VA plans to get rid of the standalone 10% rating for tinnitus. This means that tinnitus won’t be compensated as a unique entity, only in relation to an underlying service-connected condition.
Sleep apnea compensation is changing, too. Veterans will only be entitled to a 50% rating if their current treatment with a CPAP machine is ineffective or if they are unable to use a CPAP machine due to their health conditions.
With changes like these threatening some benefits, it pays for veterans to submit as soon as possible to secure their intent to file date.
Every Passing Day Leaves More Money on the Table
Let’s expound on that intent to file date we mentioned above. An intent to file (ITF) kicks off your VA claim. Once you submit your ITF, you have one year to complete your claim. This opens up time for you to gather evidence like medical records, a nexus letter, buddy letters, etc. However, even if it takes you a full year to submit your completed claim, your ITF stands firm as the date that your benefits will begin. So, if your claim is approved, you will receive retroactive payment based on your ITF date.
Even if you’re on the fence about submitting, get your claim started now. If you change your mind and don’t finish your claim, there’s no harm done. But for every day that passes, you lose the opportunity to collect retroactive compensation. And with an uncertain economy, wouldn’t it be nice to have the disability payment you deserve coming to you each month? Amidst all the ups and downs, it’s a benefit you can count on
There Are More Resources Than Ever to Help You
Many veterans feel they have been burned by the VA claims process in past years. And while the system still isn’t perfect, there have been some improvements that have greased the process. It’s not fast, but in some cases, it’s faster than it has been in the past.
Couple that with the fact that there are some amazing resources to help you submit a winning claim. VA claims assistance providers can show you how to work smarter, not harder, submitting the most compelling evidence and documentation.
At VA Claims Academy, we’ve spent years cracking the VA code. We know the right buzzwords to use and the evidence that the VA wants to see to approve your claim. We even provide plug-and-play templates to help you format your documentation in minutes.
VA disability benefits aren’t some special favor that the government is doing for you—they’re what the VA promised you all along. And there’s a good chance that you’re eligible for more than you’re currently receiving. Contact us to find out how to start today to increase your VA disability rating.