New data from the Department of Defense reveals that the prevalence of military sexual trauma, or MST, has reached new heights. Military sexual trauma is the term the VA uses to describe the effects of sexual violence, abuse or harassment experienced by a military service member during active duty. If you are suffering from the […]
Ways to Increase Your PTSD Rating
Are you wondering why your PTSD rating is so low? If you are unsatisfied with the VA’s decision, it may be possible to increase your PTSD rating. The VA ratings for PTSD—and all mental health claims—are set at the following percentage increments: 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%. But the reality is that far […]
Is PTSD a Disability under VA Compensation and Social Security?
Yes—if you are a veteran diagnosed with PTSD (or are living with symptoms and suspect you have the condition) you may qualify for Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, or both. Each program’s eligibility criteria are different and must be met. Basically, Getting Maximum Disability Benefits for PTSD The inherent […]
Understanding Your PTSD Rating (Update 2023)
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often rated at a level that fails to reflect your actual disabilities and extent or stage of impairment. These and other issues make it very hard for you to get a handle on your PTSD rating. A prevalent disability among U.S. service members, PTSD claims are hard fought battles for […]
Top 5 Questions about a TDIU Claim
As veterans’ benefits lawyers, we represent TDIU claims on behalf of disabled veterans who cannot work. Many military men and women go overseas with hopes and plans for their futures and careers. Yet too many come home vastly changed. Due to injuries, exposures and diseases sustained during active service, countless veterans return home with no […]
Are Attorney Fees and Expenses Deductible for Reversing a Denial of Long-Term Disability Insurance Claims?
One common question from disabled claimants, especially around tax time, is whether the attorney fees and expenses incurred to recover their denied disability benefits are deductible. In short, attorney fees and expenses incurred to are generally not deductible under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. However, there are exceptions for “above-the-line” deductions, which […]
What Is a Date Last Insured (DLI)? A Must-Know for SSDI Claimants!
A technicality that surprises many Social Security Disability claimants is a rule called the “date last insured” (DLI). This date is the last date you are eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). While there are many factors involved, your DLI generally expires around five years after you stop working. Regardless of your disabling […]
What Does VA Unemployability Mean?
Are you a military veteran who can no longer earn a decent living, specifically because a service-connected disability keeps you from doing so? You may qualify for VA unemployability benefits. These benefits are available under a unique rating where the VA pays 100% of total disability compensation to a veteran who can’t work, and whose […]
White House Wants SSA to Probe Social Media for Disability Claim Fraud
Social Security Disability claimants, take note: the Trump administration is working on a proposal authorizing SSA to use Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms, as an investigative tool to identify fraudulent claims for Social Security disability benefits. The New York Times reports this is part of the current administration’s efforts to “save Medicare, Medicaid […]
Camp Lejeune Presumptive Conditions – VA Water Contamination Claims
With recent changes to the law, here is what you need to know about Camp Lejeune presumptive conditions – from fast track disability decisions to appeals. VA currently offers two separate benefits to all qualifying veterans, and certain family members, who served at Camp Lejeune for no less than 30 days (cumulative) from 1953 through […]