Understanding Service Connection with Warrior Allegiance

Introduction:

Wondering what “service-connected” really means? At Warrior Allegiance, our mission is to help every veteran get the benefits they deserve by demystifying the VA disability process. Service-connected indicates that your medical condition was caused by your military service, whether it occurred on active duty, was aggravated by military service, or resulted from other conditions that are themselves service-connected.

To better comprehend service connection, let’s explore the ways the VA determines it:

Direct Service Connection: This occurs when there is a solid link (nexus) between a military incident and your current condition.

Presumed Service Connection: Refers to conditions the VA automatically accepts due to unique circumstances of a veteran’s military service. For example, if you served in the Vietnam War, the VA automatically approves your condition related to Agent Orange as a presumptive condition.

Pre-Existing Injury Aggravated by Military Service: Applies to disabilities that worsened due to your time in the military.

Secondary Service Connection: Relates to conditions that occurred because of a direct service-connected disability and often makes up most of a VA rating for compensation.

VA Medical Malpractice: Encompasses any condition or injury worsened or caused by the malpractice or negligence of the VA.

Criteria for Service-Connected Disability/Breaking Down the VA Criteria

At Warrior Allegiance, we want veterans to understand the criteria the VA uses to determine service connection. A service-connected disability acknowledges that a veteran’s medical condition was directly caused by military service. The VA outlines specific criteria:

Both must be true:

1. You have a current injury or illness affecting your mind or body.
2. You served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.

In addition, ONE of the following must be true:

1. You got sick or injured while on active duty and can link the condition to your injury or illness.
2. You had an injury or illness before joining the military, and your time in the service worsened the condition.
3. You have a disability related to your active-duty service that didn’t appear until after you ended your service.

Conclusion:

While it’s possible to prove your condition without medical records, Warrior Allegiance emphasizes the importance of proper information backing your case for a higher VA disability rating. We understand that medical evidence is crucial, and as part of our process, we facilitate appointments with licensed doctors to strengthen claims, be it for general medicine or mental health related to existing conditions.

At Warrior Allegiance, we stand by veterans, ensuring they navigate the complexities of the VA system with confidence and receive the benefits they rightfully deserve.
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