Establishing a Disability – Veterans’ Disability Compensation Benefits

In our last blog, we discussed the “in service event” requirement that a veteran must establish in order to qualify for veterans’ disability compensation benefits.  This blog post will discuss another requirement of qualifying for those benefits: establishing a disability or disabilities.

How does VA define “disability”?

A disability is defined in 38 C.F.R. § 4.1 as “the average impairment in earning capacity” from a disease or injury.  Disabilities can be either physical, psychological, or both.

For most veterans, disabilities include both injuries and diseases/conditions.  Some common disabilities that may be associated with military service include back and neck injuries, traumatic brain injuries, post traumatic stress disorder, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

The different types of disabilities that may qualify a veteran for some percentage of disability compensation benefits are too numerous to list in their entirety, so the list above is certainly not intended to complete.  Any disease, condition, or injury that impairs you in some manner may potentially be a disability.

Establishing a disability

Sometimes, veterans may need medical evidence to establish that their conditions qualify as disabilities.   In certain circumstances, the Department of Veterans Affairs can be required to provide a veteran a medical examination (known as a “C&P exam”) when it is necessary to reach a decision in the claim.

If you have questions about whether an injury or condition that you have may qualify as a current disability or whether the VA might be required to provide you a C & P examination, please feel free to call our office or complete the “Need Help” form on this page for a free consultation with one of our attorneys that handles veterans disability claims.

The “nexus” requirement

Once a veteran has established an in service event and a current disability, the last requirement is to establish a nexus between the in service event and the current disability.  That requirement will be covered in our final blog post in this series.

Travis Studdard is an attorney who focuses on representing veterans in VA disability compensation claims.  He regularly writes about issues that are important to veterans and their families.

You can subscribe to his Veterans Disability channel on YouTube.

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Jessica and Travis listened and worked very hard getting us a really great disability payment. Thank you so much for listening and every month we appreciate your time and energy. Thanks againJeannie Brown
Working with Jason was an absolute pleasure if I had any questions or concerns they were right there with the right answers I would recommend Perkins and Studdard to anyoneRickey
I recently needed a lawyer for a Workers Compensation Inj. The Dr. I saw ordered back surgery. The company declined to approve the surgery. So i went to the Law firm of Perkins & Studdard, as they were highly recommended…Mr. Studdard is a Veterans Affairs Lawyer. Mr. Perkins & his staff handled my case… every person in the firm were nice, helpful, and showed empathy for my situation. Mr. Perkins is very thorough & at the same time worked diligently for me. He got me compensated fairly. If not for this Law firm im not sure what i would’ve done. Thankfully they lowered my stress and communicated regularly. If you need help with an injury etc… Perkins & Studdard is who I highly recommend!!!tim copley
After my VA claim was denied, I felt defeated, depressed, and overwhelmed. I spent a lot of time researching different agencies, only to find that many of them made promises they couldn't back up and were not properly accredited. I decided to give Perkins Studdard LLC a chance because they were accredited, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. From the very beginning, Jessica, Travis, and the entire team were professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to helping me navigate the VA claims and appeals process. Their guidance, communication, and dedication made a difficult process much easier to manage. Thanks to their hard work and expertise, I finally received the benefits I had been fighting for. I highly recommend Perkins Studdard LLC to any veteran seeking assistance with a VA claim or appeal. Don't waste your time elsewhere—this team truly cares and delivers outstanding service.nelson figueroa
Travis, Jessica and the team were amazing. I’ve been working for the benefits I’ve deserved for years and should have worked with Perkins Studdard initially. They were always great answering questions and helped me more than I ever could have imagined. I highly recommended them as a VA disability law team to help anyone. I’d give more stars if I could.Theodore Tarbush
I highly recommend Travis and his team. From start to finish, the communication and professionalism were outstanding. Jessica was absolutely amazing — responsive, knowledgeable, patient, and always willing to help answer questions and keep me informed throughout the process. Travis was also excellent and made me feel confident that I was in good hands. Their entire office treated me with respect and care, and I truly appreciate everything they did for me. If you’re looking for an attorney and legal team that genuinely cares about their clients, I would definitely recommend them.Carlos Thornton
Travis Studdard and his team were always professional and from intake to case resolution, they were extremely pleasant to work with. After working closely with them for roughly six years, they successfully appealed my sleep apnea claim with the VA. At times I thought about giving up, but it was their diligence and confidence in their approach that gave me the ability sustain. There were no surprises, they led me by hand every step of the way. My family and I are truly appreciative for their great work. His team truly cares and it shows. They will fight to the end for veterans. I couldn't be happier with the results.James
I had the pleasure to be helped by Travis and his team on my VA disability claim. They know what they are doing, and I would definitely work with them again. I recommend them to any veteran that has a wrongfully denied claim with the VA...Joel Onomo
Travis and his team helped me get my case done when I couldn't get it done by myself.Everything went much faster and better than I expected.I highly recommend his team for any veteran trying to get a claim processed. Norman Scott,U.S.Army veteranNorman Scott
Jason Perkins and his team are so kind, knowledgable and helpful. They were thorough with all my legal needs and made sure my medical needs were taken care of financially. What I most appreciate is that he was always very clear about what was best for my case, but he also always told me I needed to do what was best for me, both mentally and physically. He was always available to answer questions, made sure I understood, and was willing to let me make decisions regarding my case. His ethics are beyond reproach. He would not take a percentage of a payment he did not help me receive. You can trust him. He always made it clear that my mental and physical well-being were more important than any part of my case. Then he would explain what would be best for the case and why, and allow me time to decide. Being in the Worker's Compensation system was an incredibly demeaning experience. I am a strong, educated woman, but when everyone in a system tells you that you are not worthy of the care you have received your entire life, and you instantly become less than to many of those who are suppose to be caring for you, it would weigh on anyone. I am so thankful I had Jason and his team fighting for me, getting me things I never would have imagined would be denied, like a second opinion before surgery, or physical therapy instead of opioids. I cannot imagine trying to handle this experience by myself.Andri Pilgrim

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Travis Studdard

Sustaining Member since 2012

www.vetadvocates.org

Providing Representation to America’s
Veterans and their Dependents

The information contained on this web site is provided for informational purposes only and not legal advice. Readers should not act or rely upon any information contained in this web site without first seeking the advice of an attorney. The transmission of an email request for information does not create an attorney – client relationship. Finally, please remember that email may not be secure and may be subject to review by unwanted intruders. Perkins Studdard LLC makes no representation that it can obtain the same results as reported in cases on this web site in other legal matters.

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