A veteran with a disabling medical condition resulting from their military service might qualify for financial benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, despite some veterans having medical conditions that significantly impair their daily lives, they may receive denials of their applications for VA disability benefits. But why does the VA deny some disability benefits claims filed by veterans who might qualify for financial compensation and support? Some of the most common reasons include:
Lack of a Nexus (Service Connection)
One of the most common reasons why the VA denies disability benefits claims includes situations where the VA determines that a veteran has a disabling condition, but that condition lacks a “service connection” to the veteran’s military service. The VA only provides financial compensation for veterans’ disabilities when they result from a veteran’s military service. Some veterans may assume that their military service makes it clear that their condition resulted from it, such as when they served in combat. However, a veteran must present clear evidence, including medical documentation and opinion letters, establishing a nexus between a veteran’s military service and their disabling medical condition.
Insufficient Medical Evidence
The VA also frequently denies disability benefits claims due to a lack of sufficient medical evidence to establish the existence or severity of a disabling condition or to establish a nexus between the condition and military service. In many cases, a veteran may not rely solely on their subjective complaints and personal descriptions of their condition to prove its existence and severity. Sometimes, the VA may find that a veteran has a service-connected condition but conclude that the condition does not cause symptoms, which may result in the VA assigning a zero disability rating and denying compensation. Veterans typically require medical documentation, including diagnostic test results, progress charts, and treatment notes, to provide objective evidence of the veteran’s condition and diagnostic criteria that allow the VA to assess the severity of the veteran’s condition and assign a disability rating.
Unfavorable Compensation and Pension Exams
The VA often asks veterans to attend a compensation and pension exam. These exams allow medical professionals to interview and examine veterans and review their medical records to provide the VA with the professional’s assessment regarding the veteran’s claimed condition(s). However, a C&P exam may result in an examiner opining that a veteran does not have a claimed condition or that the condition causes no symptoms or less severe symptoms than claimed. An unfavorable opinion resulting from a C&P exam may lead the VA to deny a disability benefits claim.
Omitting Conditions
Some veterans may inadvertently jeopardize their disability benefits claims or leave compensation on the table by not claiming every condition connected to their military service. A veteran can receive disability benefits not only for medical conditions resulting from their military service but also for conditions caused or aggravated by another service-connected condition.
Procedural and Paperwork Mistakes
Veterans may also have their disability benefits claims denied due to various mistakes they make during the application process, such as not completely filling out the application paperwork, providing incorrect information, or failing to respond to the VA’s requests for additional information or documentation. A veteran’s failure to correct these issues promptly may lead the VA to deny their application.
Contact a Knowledgeable VA Disability Benefits Lawyer Today
When the VA sends you a denial notice for your disability benefits application, it can feel extremely frustrating when you know you should qualify for benefits. Contact Coskrey Law today for a free case evaluation with a VA disability attorney to discuss why the VA denied your disability benefits claim and what you can do to show that you qualify for benefits so you can get the financial compensation you deserve.