Intelligent, Aggressive Representation For The Injured And Disabled
No Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Social Security Recipients in 2016Recently, 65 million retired and disabled workers, spouses, and children were given bad news from the Social Security Administration. Social Security retirement and disability checks are usually given...
"Bad" DoctorsDepending on the sufficiency of the evidence available, Social Security may order a medical examination by a doctor of their choosing in what is called a consultative examination (CE). An Administrative Law Judge may also request that a medical expert...
Veterans Day As Veterans Day approaches, it is important to remember the sacrifices made by the men and women of the Armed Forces. Veterans Day is a day not only to remember those who died in service to our country, but also to recognize those who continue to serve....
The Alleged Onset Date of Disability in a Social Security Disability Case When a Claimant applies for Social Security disability, the applicant is asked for the date for which the applicant's inability to work began. Generally, this is the date that either the...
What is the VA Evidence Intake Center? The VA has created two centralized evidence intake centers, also known as, EICs, to reduce incoming paper handling and shipping requirements. The VA has established EICs in both Janesville, Wisconsin, and Newnan, Georgia. The two...
2 Year Waiting Period for Medicare Under the regulations for Social Security disability, an individual must receive Social Security disability benefits for two years before they are eligible to receive Medicare. In 1972, Medicare was expanded to include individuals...
What are DBQs and How Can You Use Them to Develop Your VA Disability Case?DBQ is an acronym for Disability Benefits Questionnaire. DBQs are downloadable forms created by the VA for veterans to use to help develop and gather needed evidence to prove claims for VA...
What is the VA's Duty to Assist?When a Veteran files a substantially complete application for VA disability compensation, the VA has a duty to assist the veteran with obtaining evidence to substantiate the claim before making a decision on the claim. The VA is charged...
ABLE Accounts In December of 2014, the Achieving Better Life Experiences Act (ABLE) became law allowing individuals who became disabled before the age of 26 to open special accounts to be used for their disability expenses. An ABLE account's earnings are not taxed and...
EXPEDITING YOUR CASE AT THE BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALSUsually, the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) hears and decides cases on a first-come first-served basis meaning that cases are decided in the order in which they are received. In certain circumstances, however,...