Tips for Asking Your Doctor for Assistance with Your VA Disability Claim

Tips for Asking Your Doctor for Assistance with Your VA Disability Claim

Whenever you are receiving medical care in the context of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claim, you must be intentional. Whether you are participating in a VA-sanctioned Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam or are receiving other medical services, it is important to protect yourself and put your claim (or appeal) in position to succeed.

If you have questions or concerns related to a VA disability claim, Comerford Law Office can help you. Our attorneys can guide you through medical appointments, help you get documentation, and complete your claim or appeal.

In the meantime, you can make the most of your medical appointments by:

• Bringing every medical issue to your doctor’s attention

Your medical appointments are the time to speak up. If you have an injury, illness, or other medical issue that you believe is service-connected, help your doctor help you by telling them about your problem.  You should mention any medical issue that:

• Begun during or shortly after your service
• Became worse during your service
• You have any reason to believe is service connected

Ask for a diagnosis of these conditions, as the VA may be more likely to provide benefits for specific, diagnosed ailments rather than undiagnosed problems. 

• Pressing for medical answers

The VA does not always give veterans the benefit of the doubt. It may require a high standard of documentation before it is willing to grade your medical conditions accurately. Therefore, you must do everything in your power to get clear, documented answers from your doctors.

Some general tips to help you get useful information from medical professionals include:

• Writing down your symptoms and concerns before you arrive at your medical appointments
• Asking a doctor about any tests, imaging services, or other procedures that may lead to a clear diagnosis
• Not settling for the “wait and see” approach to your medical ailments, as the VA typically requires a clear diagnosis before it recognizes a medical condition 

Aside from your attorney, nobody will advocate for you to get the medical answers you deserve. Therefore, you must ensure that you press for thorough evaluation and accurate diagnoses during your doctors appointments. 

• Getting documentation for all care and diagnoses

The VA will use medical documentation to determine your disability rating. This rating will determine how much compensation you can receive for your disability. Therefore, it is critical that you get as much documentation of your medical conditions as possible.

Useful documentation may include:

• Medical imaging
• Doctors’ written diagnoses
• Your own accounts of symptoms 
• Medical bills for evaluation and treatment you’ve received 

When in doubt, get a copy of medical records and bills. An attorney from our firm can help you identify and collect all medical documentation that will be helpful to your claim or appeal.

Call Comerford Law Office Today for Help With Your VA Disability Claim or Appeal

Our attorneys can also help you get medical care for your service-connected ailments. Call Comerford Law Office today or provide your information online and our team will contact you.