The Wall Street Journal reported on a new pilot program the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is offering to veterans living abroad. The
program will offer completely inclusive compensation and pension (C&P) disability examinations to veterans living abroad. VA Sec. Eric Shinseki is touting the new program as the latest example of the "unprecedented" ways the VA is supporting veterans and
veterans with disability compensation claims.
VA staff members traveled to Okinawa, Japan to Camp Lester where they met up with Department of Defense (DoD) staff to administer C&P exams to veterans living abroad. The visit lasted 3 weeks, and they were able to complete 247 examinations on 39 veterans. The successes led the VA to establish a return trip at the end of September.
The normal procedure is to have local physicians and US Navy personnel administer them to veterans. Using VA staff to administer the
disability examinations, however, makes the tests easier because they are more familiar with VA procedures and etiquettes. This usually means more accurate testing, which in turn means fewer tests that need to be done. The average number of examinations for a single veteran during the C&P process is four.
The C&P examinations are used to obtain medical assessments on veterans with disabilities that could be service-related. For veterans with disability already determined to be
service-related, the C&P exams are used to critique the severity of the conditions. Often, however, veterans find they are entitled to more benefits and compensation than they are currently receiving, and will see the VA increase their
disability rating.
If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits
contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.
Category: Veterans' Disability
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Soldiers can return home with a number of conditions, injuries, and aggravated preexisting conditions. If you believe you have a service-connected physical or psychological injury you may be entitled to Veterans’ Disability Compensation.