If you were in the service from September 2001 to December 2009 and have a disability rating of 20 percent or less then you may be entitled to receive more disability benefits. The Physical Disability Board of Review or PDBR has been reviewing applications for Veterans to see if their benefits can be upgraded, but you have to supply the proper paper work to the board in order to have your status reviewed. You may wish to contact a Veterans Disability group to help you in this process. Many Veterans who have had their files reviewed have had their ratings upgraded.
If your rating is increased then your benefit will be retroactive to the date of your original disability filing. With the updated rating you may also be entitled to receive health care coverage and a survivor’s benefit plan insurance. You do not have to have any special circumstances or know of errors or injustices in order to have your case reviewed. You can send in as much supporting documentation as you have and only need to fill out an application and a privacy statement at the least. On average it takes about a year to have your status reviewed, but it can be well worth the wait if you are able to have your rating upgraded and received the retroactive benefits.
As the PDBR reviews your case they will look at physical evaluation records as well as your medical records as part of the process. In order to receive the maximum disability benefits that you feel that you deserve, you may want to visit with a Veterans Disability group or lawyer who can help you fill out the paperwork properly and who know the ins and outs of the process and can help you to build your case. They can recommend what paperwork you should fill out and what medical testing to have done to give you the best chance of getting the compensation you deserve.
If you served in the military at a different time then the above mentioned dates you may still be entitled to more Veteran disability compensation. There are several illnesses and diagnosis that are now included on the list of disabilities that were not previously listed. Some of these include PTSD, diabetes, cancer, multiple Agent Orange to name just a few. You may want to contact a Veterans Disability specialist to help you figure how to apply for additional disability benefits.
