Good Fences And Not So Good Neighbors: Property Law 101

Get A Little Help While You Wait On A VA Claim

13 November 2015 by Hunter Moore

The Veterans Affairs (VA) claim system can take a long time complete. Depending on where you live, you may be dealing with long wait times due to claim backlog issues at your regional office. There's only so much progress that can be made with phone calls and personal visits, so you may need to stick it out until it's your turn to be reviewed. As you wait, consider getting some medical care, additional medical evidence and even some legal support.

Standard Medical Visits Don't Have To Affect Your Wallet

Many veterans are in a bind because of the VA's long wait times. Many conditions stop or seriously impair a person's ability to work, which means less income and fewer healthcare opportunities are available. Without medical care, conditions could get worse to the point of not being able to continue working on a claim.

Thankfully, there are ways to get medical support without paying a civilian doctor. As long as you have an other-than-dishonorable discharge, you're eligible for medical benefits at VA clinics and hospitals. Although there may be long wait times at the medical centers as well, you can enjoy the same medical support as a local doctor's office. It's not surgery, but a few prescriptions and physical therapy could do wonders.

The VA is constantly evaluating ways to assist veterans who are separated from regular medical care. The current version of VA medical referrals means that veterans who live more than 40 miles away from a VA medical center are eligible for immediate referral to an approved civilian alternative, although there are continuing changes to how the referral program works. There is also a moving metric for waiting too long, but until a specific number is settled upon, it's your job to bring up your medical problems.

Legal Assistance For Better Treatment And Claim Support

First, make sure to visit an emergency room immediately if you're having an emergency. If it's been longer than a month or if you need immediate medical care, visit a VA medical facility and wait for a few hours--no more than 3 or 4, but keep the amount of people in the waiting room in mind.

Ask the staff about the wait time as necessary. Consider speaking up after about two hours pass and you're not being called to be seen. Two hours is an unofficial timeframe that is not documented, but discussed at some clinics. If you're not seen by a medical professional who can help your immediate medical needs, it's time to find someone who can get the attention you need.

Seek the assistance of a personal injury attorney and be sure to explain that you're seeking help for Veterans Affairs claim or appeal issues. An attorney has a better network of information and may know exactly who needs to be called to get you into medical care faster. The attorney may be able to skip the clinic and get you directly into the care of a civilian medical team that understands the claim system.

With their help, you can both get the immediate care you need and gather evidence that is more likely to succeed in the claim system. From there, an attorney can either supplement your existing claim or draft a new appeal to get the compensation you deserve. Contact a personal injury lawyer to push for better, faster treatment under the VA system.

For professional legal help, contact a lawyer such as Robert M Kaner Attorney.

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