In any claim for disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the most important piece of the puzzle is proving the “service connection.”
Our attorneys have years of experience filing applications and fighting for VA benefits for veterans with a wide range of disabilities, including:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): This anxiety disorder goes by multiple names, including shell shock and battle fatigue. It’s now commonly recognized as a potentially debilitating condition and can qualify a Veteran for disability benefits.
- Agent Orange, mustard gas and herbicide exposure: Agent Orange is an herbicide that was widely used in Vietnam, and more than 100,000 Veterans were exposed to it. The U.S. Department of Defense used it in combat operations, but it gave off a toxic byproduct called TCDD, a dioxin considered a human carcinogen. And mustard gas has been used as a chemical weapon in World War I, World War II, and the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. It contains Lewisite, an arsenic-containing agent.
- Traumatic brain injuries: These injuries are often prominent among Veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Symptoms range from mild to severe and can in some cases lead to permanent disabilities.
- Diabetes: If you developed diabetes during your time in service, you may be able to demonstrate a service connection. In that case, you will likely qualify for benefits. You may also be eligible for benefits based on secondary conditions related to diabetes.
- Radiation exposure: A number of cancers, as well as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma are recognized as being related to exposure to ionizing radiation. If you experienced such exposure during your service and have a disability as a result, you will most likely be eligible for benefits.
- Arthritis: This condition is typically characterized by stiffness and pain around a joint. Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, is the most common form. A 2013 Centers for Disease Control study estimate that approximately 25.6% of Veterans suffer from arthritis, and that Veterans are diagnosed with it more frequently than the general population.
- Knee injuries: Knee injuries are common among Veterans, as the requirements of service can be extremely difficult on joints. Knee injuries can lead to chromic pain, stiffness, swelling, and the inability to hold weight, causing your knee to frequently give out. These injuries can often lead to secondary conditions, as well. For example, if you frequently put most of your weight on the uninjured knee, that knee can eventually become compromised, as well.
- Fibromyalgia: Symptoms of this condition include flare-ups of fatigue, pain, stiffness, and tenderness in various areas of the body. Studies demonstrate that Veterans of the Gulf War are diagnosed with fibromyalgia more frequently than the general population.
If you or a loved one suffers any of these disabilities and is applying for VA disability benefits, get early legal assistance to make sure the veteran’s claim for benefits goes as smoothly as possible.
Ask an Attorney About Qualifying Disabilities for Veterans Benefits
At Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law, we do not require up-front payment of attorneys’ fees from our clients. We only get paid a percentage of our client’s eventual award of disability benefits. If we do not win our client’s case, then we do not receive any attorneys’ fees.
If you have questions about your specific circumstances and qualifying for veterans’ disability benefits, contact our office as soon as possible. We can schedule a consultation over the telephone or in any of our five West Virginia offices. To make an appointment, call or send us an e-mail.
