It can be dangerous to listen to the advice of those around you who do not have the knowledge and experience of veterans’ disability benefits lawyers – when you ask friends and family about disability benefits, you might hear common myths:
Myth #1: I had to be wounded in combat to qualify for disability benefits.
Being a disabled veteran means much more than getting a gunshot wound or being injured in an explosion. Veterans’ disability benefits covers any service-related medical condition, including pre-existing medical conditions that you can prove were worsened by your service. You may qualify for veterans’ disability if you were injured in a car accident, sexually assaulted, or injured in a fall accident outside of a combat situation. Myth #2: I make too much money to qualify for veterans’ disability benefits.
Disability compensation has nothing to do with income or assets; that is, you can receive veterans’ disability benefits despite your resources. This compensation has nothing to do with whether you can work or whether you need the money to support yourself or your family (though this is often the case); it has to do with the VA giving you compensation for the sacrifices to your health that you made for your country.
Myth #3: I can’t receive veterans’ disability benefits because I already receive Social Security disability benefits.
Even though the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs are both federal organizations, receiving payment for veterans’ compensation and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not consist of “double dipping.” SSDI is an insurance program set up for working individuals who are too disabled to work, and veterans’ compensation is for injured service members. Myth #4: If I have a service-connected disability, it will be easy to get disability benefits.
Even if it seems like you have a clear cut veterans’ disability case, and even if it is obvious you suffer from a service-related health condition, you may not be approved for disability benefits. The application process can be a complicated one, and you must prove that your health issues are directly connected to your time in the military through evidence.
If you need assistance with your Texas disability benefits application, or if your application has been wrongfully denied, consider speaking with a Dallas veterans’ disability attorney at Morgan & Weisbrod today. We can help you debunk more common VA benefits myths and get you the support you need and deserve.