Washington DC VA Disability Lawyer

Starting a VA Claim in Washington DC

The process of applying for disability benefits can be initiated from anywhere in the world, regardless of where you served or where you currently live. You can use the VA’s website to apply, or seek the help of a local VSO (Veterans Service Organization).

To get started, you need to complete VA Form 21-526EZ or apply online through the VA eBenefits portal. If you want the VA to collect medical evidence on your behalf, you must also complete VA Forms 21-4142 and 21-4142a. Additional forms that you may need to submit include forms for PTSD (0781 or 0781a) and TDIU (21-8940 and 21-4192). The forms must be signed and dated, packaged with any evidence you wish for the VA to consider, and either mailed to the VA Evidence Intake Center in Janesville, Wisconsin, or faxed to the VA at the number listed on the form.

Initial claims can take a long time to process, so patience may be required. It is important to start your claim early to establish an early effective date. The effective date remains in place regardless of how long it takes to fully settle a claim, which may last several years depending on the individual claims you are filing. The importance of the effective date is that the Veteran is entitled to back pay from the final decision date all the way back to the effective date.

It is important to keep in mind that the effective date can be lost if you don’t maintain appeals for your claims. For example, if you have one year to file a notice of disagreement but wait too long to do so, you may be forced to reopen your claim, resulting in a new effective date. One reason that Veterans fight so hard to appeal VA decisions is to keep the effective date in place and get all the compensation they’re entitled to. It is also important to note that each individual disability claim has its own effective date based on when it was first claimed, so an earlier effective date for a shoulder claim will usually not apply to an initial claim for PTSD submitted years later.   See below for additional information about appealing VA decisions in Washington DC.

Selecting a VA Accredited Attorney Serving Washington DC

Not every Washington DC VA disability attorney is the same. If you choose to get help from an attorney for preparing and submitting your claim, you should pick one that will stick with you for the duration of your case and who has represented Veterans with every type of appeal. A lengthy history of practicing Veterans law is a good indication that a Law Firm will not abandon you in the middle of an appeals process. Beware of firms that only began practicing Veterans Law after 2007 when it became more “profitable” for them.

Sometimes the hardest aspect to gauge is how effective your lawyer will be at presenting your case with research, evidence, and arguments. More experience often translates to superior work product, but not always.  You may want to read reviews and testimonials from a potential law firm before signing up.  You may also want to ask about the level of research they perform on each individual case and what some of their most effective arguments have been in the past.  You may also want to focus on attorneys who have actually served in the military. Choosing to work with a Washington DC VA appeals lawyer who has military experience can facilitate better communication and eliminate the need to explain your military experiences to someone who never enlisted. Nothing can replace the camaraderie developed through shared service experiences. Will your law firm understand the intense stress of combat?

Lastly, you may want to gauge responsiveness to your inquiry to see how likely the attorney is to help quickly when you really need it.