Veterans Benefits Attorneys in Conway, Arkansas Helping Vets Get the Benefits They Deserve

You served your country, and now you are entitled to benefits. Figuring out which benefits you are entitled to and how to access them, however, can be complicated. Navigating the complicated landscape of veterans benefits can be stressful, and sometimes vets aren’t getting all of the benefits they might be entitled to, either because they have not applied or because their application was denied. Our skilled veterans benefits attorneys can help you make sure that you are receiving all of the benefits you are entitled to for serving our country as a warrior and a patriot. Call Dudeck Law Firm today at 501-327-3527 to find out what benefits you might be missing out on and to fight for what you deserve.

Am I Eligible for Veterans Health Benefits?

As long as you served in the active military, naval, or air service and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, you may be eligible for VA health care benefits. If you enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981, you must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which you were called to active duty.

You may qualify without meeting the minimum duty if any of the following are true:

You were discharged for a disability that was caused or made worse by your active-duty service.
You were discharged for a hardship or “early out”.
You served prior to September 7, 1980.

If you’re a current or former member of the Reserves or National Guard, you qualify if both of these are true:

You have been called to active duty by a federal order.
You completed the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty, as long as your active-duty status was not for training purposes only.

What Are Priority Groups and How Do They Apply to Me?

Applicants for Veterans Administration health care coverage are placed into priority groups, numbered 1-8.

Priority ratings are assigned based on all of the following factors, combined:

Your military service history
Your disability rating
Your income level
Whether or not you qualify for Medicaid
Other benefits you may be receiving (like VA pension benefits)

Veterans with service-connected disabilities receive the highest priority. Veterans who earn a high income and who don’t have any service-connected disabilities for which they are receiving compensation are placed in the lowest priority group.

If you qualify for more than one priority group, you will be assigned to the highest one.

Do I Qualify for Disability Benefits?

As a U.S. veteran, you may be eligible to receive a monthly monetary benefit, tax-free. The amount you are awarded for your disability depends on how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rates your service-connected disability or condition. If veterans have more than one service-connected condition, the amount of monthly compensation will be based on their combined disability rating.

The Department of Veterans Affairs assigns a disability rating based on how frequent, how severe, and how long-lasting the symptoms of your disability are.

You must have a combined disability rating of at least 10 percent to qualify for VA monthly compensation. The highest disability rating VA can assign to a veteran’s condition is 100 percent, which yields the highest compensation.

With a combined disability rating of 30 percent rating or higher, you may be eligible for additional monthly compensation for qualifying dependents, such as your spouse or children.

What Benefits are Available to Veterans Besides Health and Disability??

While the best-known veterans benefits are health and disability benefits, there are other benefits that veterans may be entitled to, including:

Veteran’s Pension Programs: Veterans who have limited income and assets who served at least 90 days of active duty with at least 1 day during wartime or those aged 65 or older who are disabled may qualify for pension benefits.
Education Programs: There are many programs to help veterans and their families pay for education, known as “GI Bills.”
Housing and Home Loan Guarantees: For those veterans who qualify, VA home loans can be very beneficial, as they often require a $0 down payment, no private mortgage insurance, and no cap.
Job Training: The Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) is an independent agency within the Department of Labor created to assist veterans in transitioning to civilian life and training for and finding good jobs. VETS protects the employment and reemployment rights of veterans, Reservists, and National Guard Members.
Small Businesses: The VA promotes business with veterans by encouraging VA contracting offices to include veteran-owned contractors in mailings to solicit bids.
Counseling: The VA provides outreach and readjustment counseling services through 300 community-based Vet Centers located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and America Samoa.
Burials and Memorials: There are several ways our nation honors its deceased veterans, from burial in Arlington National Cemetery to a Presidential Memorial Certificate. The VA can provide free headstones and even a cash allowance to help with expenses for veterans who qualify.

What if My Application for Benefits is Denied?

While it can be very frustrating for your VA benefits claim to be denied, this is a common occurrence. Being denied the first time you apply does not necessarily mean that you cannot access benefits. There is an appeals process, but it can be stressful and arduous to undertake.

If your VA benefits claim has been denied, there are a few things you can do to rectify the situation. You can file a Notice of Disagreement, request a review of your case by a senior ratings specialist, or file a supplemental claim. Each of these avenues requires complicated paperwork and comprehensive knowledge of the veterans benefits system to succeed. The experienced veterans benefits attorneys at Dudeck Law Firm are happy to step in and serve our veterans by helping with the appeals process. We can handle the red tape and paperwork and maximize your chances of approval. Call Dudeck Law Firm today at 501-327-3527.