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This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.
Winning a disability claim may not be as easy as you think. In some states, you must be receiving medical care from a certified medical practitioner to qualify for disability benefits. You’re obligated to submit evidence to support your qualification for disability benefits.
Supporting documents for your disability claim include lab tests and scans for diagnosis. Other proof includes medical records, personal statements, or records. Below are details on the evidence you need for a disability claim.
Evidence Needed to Verify Your Eligibility
You may be eligible for a disability claim if you have the necessary evidence to support your claim. For starters, you will need to present your physician’s diagnosis. If you had laboratory tests or scans done, you should add these to your file as well. Strong evidence is vital if you are to win your disability compensation claim.
According to SSA, you should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. Here is some evidence that may increase the chances of your claim’s success:
- Current medical tests: You should use doctor’s reports less than six months old. You may use the most recent report if your condition is constantly changing.
- Correct records: The SSA will thoroughly scrutinize your records. Therefore, only accurate records from acceptable medical sources will be considered. Avoid including records from alternative medicine sources, especially if they contradict the doctor’s diagnosis.
- Comprehensive records: If lab tests or scans were carried out for a doctor’s diagnosis, you should include them as a backup for your claim. Where specific documents are needed for certain impairments, you must provide them.
If your claim gets denied, you can get a VA disability lawyer from CCK Law to help you. Professional guidance from a seasoned lawyer will increase your claim’s chances of being successful. A legal expert will ensure your application is complete and accurate.
Evidence for Different Claim Types
Often, the evidence you’ll be required to submit will depend on the claim you are filing. You can only be granted VA disability compensation if you can show that your condition is service-connected. Below is evidence for different claim types:
Original Claim
This is the first claim filed for disability compensation. The evidence you will need to submit includes:
- A disability from a medical professional.
- An incident or a disease that took place during the active-duty service.
- The medical record supported the relationship between your disability and the event or injury that caused it during your service.
Increased Claim
Refers to an already determined service connection disability that has worsened. Therefore, a claim for more compensation is needed. You must submit recent evidence from a medical professional showing your condition has worsened.
New Claim
This is a claim filed when you need additional benefits besides an existing service-connected disability. The evidence required is:
- A recent disability from a medical professional
- An incident that occurred during your active-duty service
- A connection between the current disability and the incident that occurred during your active service
Secondary Service-related Claim
This is a claim for a new disability related to an existing service-connected disability you are carrying. You’ll have to present evidence of a new disability from a medical professional. In addition, you must establish a link between your new disability and the currently determined service-connected disability.
Supplemental Claim
The claim is filed when you want to provide new evidence to back a declined disability claim. You are required to submit new evidence that wasn’t in consideration before. The new evidence must be related to the disability you are claiming.
Specific Evidence for Certain Claims
Certain claims require specific evidence. They include:
- Claims for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a specific incident called a stressor during service that led to PTSD is required as evidence. In this case, you should fill out VA Form 21-0781.
- Total disability individual unemployability (TDIU) claims: VA Form 21-4192 is required as evidence.
Concluding Remarks
It can be stressful to file a successful disability claim due to in-depth scrutiny of evidence. However, a lawyer can help you collect the necessary evidence for your disability claim to qualify.
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