When combat veterans make VA compensation claims, they tend to have a much less difficult time getting their injury or illness service-connected than non-combat veterans. This is because VA law makes it significantly easier for combat veterans to prove that their disability occurred or was aggravated during service, thereby lowering the chances that they will be denied veterans benefits.
Unlike other veterans, a combat veteran doesn’t actually need to show facts to prove that their disability stemmed from a service-related incident. They just have to make a claim that shows to be consistent with the circumstances and conditions in which they were deployed. In almost all cases, their statement that the disability occurred from a combat incident will be considered as fact. The only way anyone can even dispute them on this is if they provide “clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.”
Why Do Combat Veterans Receive Special Treatment on VA Compensation Claims?
Clearly, we all owe a major debt to any person who has suffered a permanent injury or illness while defending our country. But this is not the actual reason that combat veterans receive such special treatment when it comes to service-connecting their disabilities.
The main reason for this favorable treatment is that during combat military record-keeping can be very inefficient. Records can easily get destroyed and are often not completely kept. And in some cases, no records are created at all. Because of this, the VA has chosen to err on the side of the combat veteran with regards to compensation claims.
What Do Combat Veterans Need to Prove to Get VA Compensation Claims Approved?
This special provision is only used to lower the burden on combat veterans to show that their injury or disease occurred or was aggravated during service. This doesn’t, however, make them exempt from proving the other two service connection requirements in order to avoid being denied veterans benefits. The combat veteran will need to provide competent evidence that they currently have a disability as well as competent evidence that links their current disability to the in-service event that they claim caused it if they want their VA compensation claims approved. If you or someone you know needs help, our veteran disability lawyers will help you.