Problems With the Veterans Disability Benefits System Can Affect Your Claim
| November 25th, 2014
The men and women who serve in our military are often entitled to veterans’ disability benefits if they suffer from a service-connected disability. However, the system used to determine who gets benefits hasn’t been updated in decades, which has led to issues in recent years.
According to the L.A. Times, one of the most serious problems is the way an individual’s disability rating is determined. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) looks at each case to decide the veteran’s level of disability. The issue is that there are no real standards, which may allow veterans suffering from less severe disabilities to receive higher disability ratings than veterans with more severe injuries or illnesses.
Another problem is that many of the veterans who are now considered disabled never served during a time of combat. In fact, a majority of disability recipients served during peacetime.
Still others say the issue is the types of injuries that are being considered disabling. While less than 20 percent of disabled veterans are wheelchair-bound, tinnitus—a hearing condition—is the most common disabling condition among veterans, accounting for 373,673 claims.
So what does this mean to a veteran who’s been injured? With the system facing scrutiny, it may be wise to discuss your situation with a qualified attorney.
At Norris Injury Lawyers, our Birmingham personal injury attorneys can help you apply for veterans’ disability benefits. Call (888) 318-4245 today to discuss your case.
