VA Compensation Appeals for Ectropion — Everything You Need to Know
Ectropion is a condition where the eyelid (typically the lower) turns outward and sags. This can cause uncontrolled tearing, eyelid crusting, discharge, and irritation. These symptoms can have an adverse effect on your life. If your ectropion is a result of your military service, you deserve compensation. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) denies many of the claims it receives. If VA denied your claim for ectropion veterans’ benefits, you have options.
A veterans’ disability advocate can help you appeal the decision and obtain the disability benefits you deserve. Call (888) 373-4722 today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Causes of Ectropion
There are several causes of ectropion, including:
- Facial palsy, such as Bell’s palsy
- Scar tissue from a burn
- Pre-birth defect
- Aging
Some of these causes can occur during or due to military service.
Your VA Disability Rating
The monthly disability compensation you receive for your ectropion depends on your disability rating. This rating is in increments of 10% to 100% and is based on the severity of your condition. To determine your rating, VA consults its rating criteria. The rating criteria for ectropion can be found in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. VA issues a disability rating of 10% for unilateral (ectropion that only affects one eye) effect; it issues a disability rating of 20% for bilateral (ectropion that affects both eyes) effect.
Combined Disability Ratings
In some cases, you may have several conditions that might be eligible for compensation. This can be the case if your ectropion is the result of service-connected burn scar tissue or facial palsy.
If you have several service-connected medical conditions, VA will combine your ratings to determine your combined disability rating. Imagine you have bilateral ectropion and an 80% rating for your burn scar. VA would issue you a benefits compensation rating of 84%, which VA would round down to 80%. This would entitle you to substantially more per month.
Monthly Disability Compensation Amounts
Once VA issues you a disability rating, it consults its pay schedule to determine monthly compensation rates. The pay schedule, as of December 2018, for a single veteran with no dependents is:
- 10%: $142.29 per month
- 20%: $281.27 per month
- 30%: $435.69 per month
- 40%: $627.61 per month
- 50%: $893.43 per month
- 60%: $1,131.68 per month
- 70%: $1,426.17 per month
- 80%: $1,657.80 per month
- 90%: $1,862.96 per month
- 100%: $3,106.04 per month
To learn more about the monthly compensation to which you may be entitled, call (888) 373-4722.
Ensuring the Success of Your Appeal
The success of your appeal hinges on you satisfying three criteria.
A Current Diagnosis of Ectropion
To obtain disability compensation for your ectropion, you must have a valid, current diagnosis of the condition. You need to provide a current diagnosis from your doctor to satisfy this criterion.
An Event That Occurred During Service
You must have experienced an event during service that likely caused or contributed to your ectropion. The development of your ectropion during service will also satisfy this criterion.
A Nexus Between Your Condition and the In-Service Event
The most important part of your case is establishing a nexus, or link, between your condition and the in-service event you experienced. You must show that it is at least as likely as not that the event led to your ectropion.
You have a couple of ways to accomplish this:
- Direct service connection: This can occur if your ectropion began during service or if some event directly led to your ectropion.
- Secondary service connection: This can apply if your ectropion is the result of another service-connected disability. For example, you were attacked during your service. You suffered scarring on your face near your eyes. This scarring led to your ectropion. If you can establish your scarring was a cause of your ectropion, you may be entitled to monthly benefits for both your scarring and your ectropion.
To learn more about how a veterans’ disability advocate can help you, call (888) 373-4722 today.
Call a VA Disability Advocate for Help Today
If your ectropion was a result of your military service, you deserve compensation. Unfortunately, VA rarely makes it that easy. You have the option to appeal the decision. You do not need to handle this alone. A veterans’ disability advocate will handle every aspect of your case.
Get veterans’ disability help today: (888) 373-4722. The initial consultation is complimentary and has no obligation. Get the monthly ectropion veterans benefits you deserve today.
