VA Claims That Can’t Be Proven

Millions of armed service members put their lives on the line for their country every day. They’re sent off to war zones, on special missions, or to provide intelligence. Sometimes, they come home injured and look to the country that they put themselves at risk for to help them manage. 

That’s where the Veterans Administration (VA) comes in. Partially or completely disabled veterans can submit a disability claim for help in paying for their ongoing treatment or to pay their bills if they can no longer work or are limited in what they can do. Disability claims go through a rigorous approval process and many are denied at first. And sometimes, some claims simply cannot be proven. Does that mean there’s no solution? No. It simply means you need to have an intricate understanding of how the claims process works to boost your odds.

Understanding VA Disability Claims Processing

Disability claims processing at the VA is a tedious process. It can take months, often years, to get approved and it often starts with a denial. The claims process involves a very detailed application and requires medical documentation dating back to before the injury even occurred. 

There are criteria that applicants must meet, too. For example, the claimants must have a qualifying disability, partial or full. The amount of payment depends on the type and severity of the disability. 

Every application goes through intense scrutiny. The VA will go over all of your service and medical records to prove that there is actually a service connection to your disability. Mistakes in paperwork can set the approval process back significantly. If you are denied, you’re in good company. Most people are, and that’s usually because of a lack of evidence. You have the option to appeal the decision, and you should, especially if you have further records to back up your claim. Make sure you seek out the help of legal representatives or a Veterans service organization to help.

Challenges in Proving Some VA Disability Claims

Unfortunately, not all medical conditions are cut and dried. Some illnesses may not be immediately onset. They can take years to surface. In some instances, that means well after military service has ended. But, it doesn’t mean that conditions during service aren’t to blame. This is why it’s so critical that you keep all of your medical records and go for check-ups every year.

Examples of Difficult-to-Prove VA Disability Claims

To approve a disability claim, the VA relies on evidence linking service to the injury, regardless of its severity. However, certain conditions are hard to prove. This could be because of the nature of an illness or subjective symptoms that may not be directly correlated to the injury. Here are some that can be challenging to get VA approval for. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

This is one of those disorders that it’s critical to have medical documentation for — specifically mental health records. That’s because it can be difficult to tie PTSD to specific incidents unless it is firmly backed up with medical proof. That proof should date as close to the event as possible, such as immediate therapy or counseling following a return from a war zone. 

Toxic Exposures

Those who have exposure-related illnesses often have a hard time getting approved for a disability claim because there’s just not enough research as to the side effects of exposure to chemicals like Agent Orange, or a burn pit. The research typically reveals connections much later, usually several years, which means if you file this type of claim, you could be waiting a long time for a payout.

Gulf War Syndrome

The Gulf War, which took place in 1991, left veterans with a lot of medically unexplained illnesses. Those who came home sick reported chronic symptoms such as memory problems, respiratory disorders, joint pain, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, and indigestion. Unfortunately, these could be subjective symptoms, making them difficult to tie specifically to the Gulf War. There’s also no specific treatment, only active maintenance of symptoms. 

Invisible Injuries

Invisible injuries are the ones that we can’t see with the naked eye, nor can we really test for them which could lead to denial based on subjectiveness. These include things like chronic pain and fibromyalgia.

Possible Consequences of Unproven Claims

If you exhaust all avenues and still cannot sufficiently approve a claim, there are some possible consequences. The first, is, of course, denial of your application. That means that the VA couldn’t connect your condition to your service. In these instances, particularly with the aforementioned illnesses and disorders, veterans often exhaust the VA appeal process and still can’t gain approval. That leads to the second consequence, which is often a detrimental effect on a veteran’s health and quality of life. 

Tips and Suggestions to Improve Approval Rates for VA Disability Claims

One of the best ways to improve approval rates for any type of VA disability claim, but especially those that are hard to prove is to document, document, document. Every time you visit the doctor or any medical professional, such as a therapist or psychiatrist, make sure they note your file and ask for a copy. Then, make a copy to file with your claim. 

If you feel stuck, like you don’t know where to begin, or you need help getting through a denial, there is legal representation available just for people filing VA claims. These professionals deal specifically with the claims approval process. They can guide you through each step, including the initial filing, securing the appropriate documentation, and appeals.

There are also Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) dedicated specifically to helping veterans and their families. They can help with the discovery, evaluation, and processes that come with determining which VA disability benefits a veteran or their family members qualify for.

Changes and Reforms Needed in the VA Disability Claim Process

As with any program, there is room for improvement in the VA disability claim process. Sometimes, there are legitimate reasons for delays, such as understaffing or missing documents that slow down the process. However, there are things the VA could do to help improve as well when dealing with determining who receives disability compensation. 

For example, there’s the idea of easing the burden of proof for claimants. For some conditions, the requirements are so stringent that even a valid service connected disability won’t be approved for VA disability compensation. As of right now, the rules are essentially the same across the board for most types of conditions. To ensure that those who suffer the challenging ones get the help they so desperately need, the VA could implement a different set of rules or at least implement more flexible standards. There’s a lot of work to be done and only through advocacy will it happen. 

Conclusion

While the information contained within this article can be discouraging, there are multiple avenues to seek help. The VA is slowly beginning to recognize that different conditions require different sets of criteria, so it’s worth it to continue to pursue your disability claim.  

For the best odds, make sure you keep track of all of your medical records and make copies to send in with your application. Even if it seems insignificant to you, it could mean the difference between approval and denial. 

If you’re ready to get started, visit Allveteran.com to learn more about VA benefit claims and what you can expect.