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VA Disability Attorneys for Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans with Back, Neck, and Spinal Injury Claims
Veterans who have spent years hauling heavy equipment across rugged terrain, enduring difficult training day in and day out, and experiencing the hardships of combat are no strangers to back, neck, and spinal injuries. In fact — more than 1.79 million veterans have filed disability claims for service-connected back, neck, and spinal injuries with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This represents an estimated 28% of the 6.3 million disabled veterans in the United States, and an estimated 69.5% of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan have claimed a disability related to service-connected back, neck, or spine conditions.
VA Benefits Attorneys stands ready to serve as a VA disability attorney for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with back, neck, and spinal injury claims. We will help you receive the compensation you deserve.
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Military service can take a massive toll on the human body — whether in training or combat — and many post-9/11 veterans feel the effects of their service for years after they have returned home. Service-connected back, neck, and spinal injury claims are one of the most common disability claims submitted by veterans, and most are rated based on the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine (38 CFR § 4.71a). Common back, neck, and spinal injuries that veterans may have sustained include Cervical Strain, Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Osteoarthritis, Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS), and more that can contribute to secondary medical conditions like sciatica or paralysis.
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Legal Support and Services for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans with Back, Neck, and Spinal Injury Claims
Twenty years of war takes a toll — and the back, neck, and spine take a lot of punishment. Veterans who continue to feel the effects of tours in Iraq and Afghanistan after they return home may be eligible to file a service-connected disability claim with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and many may not know where to start. An experienced VA disability attorney — like VA Benefits Attorneys — can help veterans navigate the challenges of the disability claims process, file a successful disability claim, appeal a denied claim, and receive all of the benefits they have earned with their service.
Establish Service Connection
When veterans make the decision to file for disability with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the most critical step of the process is to establish a service connection between the injury and their service. There are three core requirements needed to establish this connection that include — a current medical diagnosis by a licensed professional, an in-service event, injury, or aggravation that could have caused or aggravated the condition, and a medical nexus letter that states the veteran’s condition is at least as likely as not caused by the in-service event.
Collect Evidence and Documents
Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who submit a back, neck, or spinal injury claim must be able to collect and provide evidence and documents that establish a concrete connection between military service and their diagnosed medical condition. Veterans will need to provide copies of military service and treatment records that include a DD-214 Form, additional private medical or VA medical records, written statements from friends and family that illustrate how the medical condition happened or how it impacts daily life, and they may need to complete a Disability Benefits Questionnaire for neck, spine, and back injuries.
Appeal Denied Disability Claims
Many veterans do not realize that an estimated 26% – 31% of back, neck, and spine injury claims are denied. These service-connected disability claims can be denied for a variety of reasons that include a lack of medical documentation, an insufficient medical nexus, preexisting conditions, and range of motion (ROM) that does not meet disability requirements. When an initial claim is denied, it is not the end of the road, and veterans have three legal methods of appeal — file a supplemental claim, request a higher-level review, or submit the claim to a veteran’s law judge. VA Benefits Attorneys can help you determine the best legal strategy for your appeal.
Are You Eligible for a VA Disability Claim for a Back, Neck, or Spine Injury?
What Are Back, Neck, and Spine Disability Claims for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans?
Many veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND) have found that back, neck, and spinal injuries are more than just common medical conditions — they are the result of the physical demands of modern combat and the training to prepare for that combat. There are two primary causes of back, neck, and spinal injuries for veterans that include combat trauma and cumulative physical stress (or wear and tear). The pain and other symptoms tied to these service-connected medical conditions prevent veterans from enjoying a full life and warrant financial compensation for years of service and trauma.
Veteran back, neck, and spine conditions are rated based on the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine (38 CFR § 4.71a). These service-connected back, neck, and spine conditions make veterans eligible for disability ratings of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100% based on specific criteria that can include restricted range of motion (ROM) and incapacitation. Many veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan with multiple deployments are impacted by multiple back, neck, and spinal issues — like degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and lumbosacral strain — but the Department of Veterans Affairs provides a single rating that is based on the overall severity of your functional loss and impaired mobility, no matter what the diagnosis is. Veterans can appeal disability ratings that they believe are too low and apply for a ratings increase.
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Get Started On Your Back, Neck, or Spine Disability Claim
Do you believe you have a back, neck, or spinal injury that is linked to your military service? Do you believe you qualify for disability compensation via the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs? You may not know where to start with your disability claim, and it is not always easy to navigate the challenges of the disability claims process — but VA Benefits Attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve as your VA disability attorney.
What Sets VA Benefits Attorneys Apart?
Why Choose VA Benefits Attorneys?
Legal Support for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans: VA Benefits Attorneys leverages the extensive, nationwide resources of Tabak Law. We strive to be a nationwide legal resource for veterans, and our attorneys will work to force the VA to honor its commitments to the men and women who have served. We understand that the brutal physical realities of modern warfare — from carrying heavy equipment to surviving blast forces and rough terrain — can cause long-term damage to your body. Whether you need to file an initial disability claim or fight a denied claim for spinal stenosis, herniated discs, or chronic back pain, we will provide the legal representation needed to secure your compensation.
Specialized Knowledge in VA Disability Claims: Maximizing your monthly compensation demands a complete understanding of the VA’s General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, and a clearcut understanding of the strict rules that determine service connection. The VA Benefits Attorneys legal team aggressively contests low ratings, helps you gather undeniable medical evidence that documents your loss of mobility, and invalidates inaccurate C&P exams to ensure your back or neck injury is evaluated and rated to benefit you.
Tailored Legal Strategy for Every Veteran: The physical toll of multiple combat deployments often results in complex, overlapping medical conditions for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. To guarantee you receive the highest possible rating, we will perform an in-depth examination of your military service records and medical history. This allows us to fix potential evidence gaps, build strong secondary claims for conditions like sciatica or radiculopathy, and push your case toward a 100% rating or Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
Free Case Reviews for Veterans: You pushed your chips all in for your country, and you deserve the support you are owed, and you should get it without risking your financial security to understand your legal options. If you are fighting a low disability rating, have had a claim denied, or are dealing with severe spinal pain that prevents you from working, our team is ready to help. We offer free claim assessments that will help you to take the next step toward receiving the benefits you deserve.
VA Benefits Attorneys is powered by Tabak Law. It is our mission to be a trusted legal resource for veterans across the United States who continue to fight to receive the disability compensation they deserve after having served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Post-9/11 veterans with service-connected back, neck, or spinal disabilities may need legal support to get what they need, and we stand ready to serve as your VA disability attorneys.
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FAQs About Back, Neck, and Spine Disability Claims for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
Back, Neck, and Spine Injury and Disability Resources
Learn More About VA Back, Neck, and Spine Disability Claims for Post-9/11 Veterans
More than 20 years of combat has left many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with back, neck, and spine injuries that impact their day-to-day lives. Veterans can learn more about how combat trauma and arduous physical training can contribute to service-connected back, neck, and spine injuries, how these conditions can impact veterans, and how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reviews and manages these disability claims:
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Get Help with VA Back, Neck, and Spine Disability Claims Wherever You Are
VA Benefits Attorneys provides legal help and support for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from across the country. No matter where you call home, we have years of legal experience and knowledge of the VA disability process that we will put to work for you.
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File Your Veteran Back, Neck, or Spine Disability Claim Today
Do you deal with chronic back or neck pain? Do you battle sciatica or radiculopathy every day? Does pain from an old back injury prevent you from working? You may be eligible to file a VA disability claim for a service-connected back, neck, or spine injury — and VA Benefits Attorneys is here to help ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
