Veterans may incur several different kinds of injuries while they serve their countries. Sometimes, they could be able to receive benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. One type of claim that people may need to file is a direct service claim.
The Senior Veterans Service Alliance says that veterans can file a direct service claim when they have a condition that is directly related to an injury they sustained while serving in the military. People may qualify for a direct service claim in many ways.
Who is eligible?
Veterans can submit this kind of claim if they incurred an injury or had a disease while they were on active duty. Additionally, they are eligible if an incident occurred that aggravated an injury or condition they already had.
People can also file a claim if they think that their service resulted in the injury or condition. Veterans may experience full health when they pass their induction examination. By the time of their discharge evaluation, they may have developed a condition. Veterans may not have received treatment for this condition while they served. However, the duties that they performed may reasonably be a factor.
What evidence do people need to submit?
Veterans usually need to submit several different types of documentation with their claims. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, people need to include their medical records. These should include both the service treatment records and other records that people have. People may submit X-rays, test results and doctor’s reports.
Veterans should make sure that their documentation supports their direct service claim. They should, for example, have medical records that diagnose them with a specific condition. These records could also note whether a condition or injury has gotten worse. Additionally, people should submit the medical records concerning the original injury or condition. They may also need a written statement from their doctor explaining the connection between the original injury and the current condition.
Sometimes, the VA may ask to see additional documents, depending on the kind of condition a veteran has.