The Veterans Administration conducts periodic future examinations to confirm that a disabled veteran is still disabled. The exams can result in a change in your disability rating – either up or down. In addition, re-examinations verify that you’re entitled to continue receiving your disability payments. The VA decides whether you need these verifying exams based on the type and severity of your disability.
According to the agency, it’s important to review your claims history before attending a future examination. The original claim takes an average of 163.4 days to process, so don’t expect immediate results. The amount of time to review your disability status varies based on the type of claim, expected recovery prospects, and the number of injuries you received.
Preparing for Your VA Re-examination
A VA disability lawyer from Georgia with years of practice in the field warns that you will be notified in advance about any future examination, so you should take the time to prepare as carefully as you did for the original claim. It will be helpful if you chronicle your injuries and any new disabilities that may have developed. The best practices for preparing for the exam include the following recommendations:
- Remain Professional: As a member of the armed services, you should remember that the examiner has an assigned job to do. Understand that the examiner doesn’t mean to cause you pain or reduce your disability without good reasons. Try to cooperate fully while maintaining a professional attitude. Don’t ask the examiner to reveal any conclusions, and try to avoid emotional appeals or rude behavior. Answer questions promptly and concisely without adding any unnecessary information.
- Document Your Disability: You can prepare by writing down all your symptoms and bringing attention to any new symptoms or disabilities that are no longer current. Explain how long symptoms typically last and how they affect your work performance and life in general.
- Be Prompt to Your Exam: Being on time is common courtesy – especially considering the long wait times common at VA facilities. If you miss your appointment, you could automatically have your benefits reduced. In addition, you might not get another chance to explain your situation calmly and professionally. Try to be 15 minutes early for your scheduled exam.
- Limit Your Information: Preparation will ensure you don’t forget the major points. Don’t add unnecessary details because examiners are busy. Have a list of symptoms, and stick to it. Answer any questions concisely. Lengthy explanations are generally wasted because examiners are warned to stick to the relevant facts.
- Document Your Sessions: After your exam, write a brief synopsis of what was asked and what you explained. Get a business card from the examiner. Include information about any tests or lab work performed and measurements taken, such as the range of motion, etc.
The exam is not the time to argue with the examiner, feign illness or exaggerate your claims. Professional admission of your real disabilities is all that’s needed because your military records probably have hundreds of pages detailing your health status and disability.
Service-related Disabilities
Experts agree that you should remember that disability benefits are awarded strictly for service or for age-related disabilities that might be aggravated by everyday living. That means you can’t list a football injury played with friends over the Thanksgiving weekend. The disability must be service-related or a weakness aggravated by military service.
Fling Other Claims
There are multiple programs to request greater benefits or furnish new evidence for your existing claim or disability rating that include the following:
- New claims for added benefits
- Secondary service-connected claim
- Educational benefits
- Special claim for special needs
- Supplemental claim
Hire an Attorney
You should consider hiring a VA disability lawyer to handle your VA disability benefits application, the appeal of any denied benefit that you feel you’re entitled to receive, and more. You can hire a disability lawyer for veterans without paying anything unless the lawyer gets a positive decision.
About the author:
Crystal A. Davis was born into a family of attorneys and was raised with a strong sense of justice. During her high school years, she developed a passion for journalism and decided to combine this with her knowledge of the law. She realized that she could make her voice heard to the masses through legal journalism. Crystal is honored to follow and report on any legal case. She shares her analysis in reader-friendly articles. However, over the years, she has become a strong advocate for VA rights and made it her mission to help veterans seek justice.
