Appealing VA
Decisions in Lincoln

Disabled Veteran Statistics in Lincoln

The Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs releases annual statistics about Nebraskan veterans. In 2012 to 2013, veterans receiving various forms of aid in Nebraska received a total of $1,120,090.68, $96,964.83 of which went to veterans in Lancaster County.

From 2013 to 2014, these totals were $1,158,541.66 statewide and $101,865.90 for the county, a slight increase for Lancaster and decrease for the state. The last year which they’ve published on their website is 2014-2015.

In the 2014-2015, the VA dispersed $1,367,996.81 in the state of Nebraska. Of those funds, $133,173.00 was sent to veterans living Lancaster County. That $31,307.10 difference likely meant real quality of life increases for the veterans who received it. Even an extra few hundred dollars a month can be transformative for you and your family.

According to the Federal Department of Veteran Affairs, there were 130,126 veterans in Nebraska as of September 30, 2017. That represents 9.5% of the adult population of the state.

Of those 130,000 Nebraskan veterans, 43,465 received Disability Compensation in 2017. Between 30 and 40 percent of these veterans served in the Vietnam era, over 20% served in the First Gulf War, and slightly less than 20% served in the Second Gulf War.

Of the estimated 315,000 people living in Lancaster County in 2017, between 13,986 and 20,160 were veterans.

These tens of thousands of veterans deserve the best for their sacrifices. According to the Omaha Daily Record, Lincoln veterans should see improved veteran’s services soon.

In 2019, The Lancaster County Veterans Treatment Court was awarded a $496,000 grant from the U.S. Office of Justice Programs and U.S. Department of Justice. This three-year grant is supposed to fund safe and sober housing, transportation assistance, and better supervision for veterans, in addition to evaluation and training for the court team.

Applying for VA Benefits

Veterans wishing to apply for VA disability compensation will need to fill out an application for benefits. They can do this online through the VA’s eBenefits portal, by mailing in VA Form 21-526 EZ, or with the assistance of an accredited VSO (Veteran Service Officer).

Unfortunately, a Lincoln VA disability lawyer from Berry Law is unable to help with the first step in the application process due to legal requirements. However, we often urge Veterans to seek the help of a local VSO when they initially apply for benefits.

It is important to note that the earlier you apply for benefits, the more compensation you are typically entitled to. This is because the date you submit your claim becomes your effective date, or the date your payments must go back when your VA disability claim is granted.

Appealing Your VA Decision in Lincoln

When the VA makes a decision on your claim, they will issue a rating decision. The rating decision outlines what claims were granted, the percentage they were assigned, and why your claim was denied (if your claim is not granted). Veterans whose claims were not granted or were given a lower than expected rating have one year to appeal their claim. This is the fist step in the VA claims process that a Lincoln VA disability lawyer from Berry Law can help. The VA appeals lawyers in Lincoln from Berry Law can fight to ensure you are receiving the compensation you’re entitled to.

Under the new VA Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), a Veteran has different routes or lanes to appeal their decision. The VA allows for three different appeal lanes, each with their own benefits and disadvantages.

• Higher-Level Review (HLR) – This lane allows a Veteran to request a more senior claims adjudicator to look at their claim. A Veteran who chooses this lane does not submit new evidence.
• Supplemental Claim – This lane allows a Veteran to submit new and relevant evidence in support of their claim.
• Appeal to the Board – This lane gives a Veteran further options when appealing a decision. They can ask for a direct review, submit additional evidence, or request a hearing with a Veterans Law judge. If they are still not satisfied with the decision, they can further appeal to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).

If you need assistance appealing your decision, a Lincoln VA disability lawyer from Berry Law can help.

Benefits of Having a VA Disability Attorney in Lincoln, Nebraska

Whether you are just now applying for VA benefits or need to appeal a rejected or undervalued claim, the knowledgeable Lincoln VA disability attorneys at PTSD Lawyers can help. We can review all of your existing paperwork to discover which parts might be flagged by the VA.

Because we have extensive experience handling these claims for veterans like you, we won’t miss anything important. We can help evaluate your appeals options, which include higher-level review, supplemental claims, and appeals to the board. The system is complicated, despite recent streamlining, and knowing exactly how the system works is crucial.

Some people may say that it’s not necessary to contact a lawyer to seek the disability benefits you deserve. But statistics show that many qualified applicants are denied the compensation they are rightly owed.

You can start your disability claim on your own, using the VA Form 21-526EZ or applying online. In the event that you are denied, or your rating is lower than you think you deserve, a VA certified disability attorney could make all the difference.

How a VA Certified Disability Attorney Can Help

It’s important to contact a VA-certified lawyer, like ours at PTSD Lawyers in Lincoln, to get the disabled veteran benefits you need. Attorneys sometimes get a bad rap because of a few bad apples, which is why the VA developed the certification system.

When you contact PTSD Lawyers, you can trust that we’re fully informed on the current VA procedures and that we will only do what is in your best interest. Many of our lawyers have served in the armed forces, and we are dedicated to helping veterans like us.