If you filed a claim for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits and your claim was denied or improperly rated, you have the right to appeal the decision. Initial disability claims are frequently denied, but rest assured that a veterans’ disability advocate may be able to help. If you received an unfavorable decision on your claim for ptosis, consult with a veterans’ disability advocacy group today.
Depending on the type and severity of your condition, the VA may provide you benefits as compensation for your service-related injury or illness. VA determines the level of benefits you are entitled to through a complex rating system.
VA calculates benefits by assigning a rate to each service-related medical condition. Unfortunately, initial claims often receive an unfairly low rating, resulting in poor benefit payments. Without advocate representation, veterans may accept these lower payments not knowing that they are entitled to more compensation.
In other instances, initial applications are outright denied. One of our veterans’ disability advocates may be able to help you appeal if you have received an unfavorable decision on your claim for disability benefits.
Eye conditions such as ptosis are among the most commonly reported injuries related to military service. If you are suffering from ptosis and wish to appeal the VA’s decision, contact one of our veterans’ disability advocates today at (888) 373-4722.
Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment of Ptosis
Ptosis is characterized by a drooping eyelid that may negatively impact a person’s vision. One or both eyes can be affected. Ptosis can change a person’s appearance, causing emotional distress.
Ptosis that is not congenital (present at birth) may be caused by a muscle failure, tumor, infection, neurological issue, or trauma to the head or eye area. In addition to the characteristic drooping, ptosis sufferers report these symptoms:
- Loss of visual acuity
- Blurred vision
- Excessive tear production
- Looking tired
- The need to tilt the head back and lift drooping eyelids with a finger
- Eyestrain
- Headaches
Treatment of ptosis depends on several factors, including, the individual’s age, whether both eyelids are affected, and the severity of the condition. Treatment may include medication, surgery, or a prosthesis.
If you are suffering from service-related ptosis, you may be eligible for benefits. If you received an unfavorable decision on your claim for benefits, you have a right to an appeal. A veterans’ disability advocate from our team may be able to help you seek the maximum compensation available to you.
Appealing an Unfavorable Decision on Your Ptosis Claim
Initial denials of VA claims are common, and you should not be discouraged if you fall into this category. A veterans’ disability advocate can help you gather evidence to establish the three criteria essential for approval: a current diagnosis of ptosis, an in-service event (or in-service onset), and a link between the two (a “nexus”).
An in-service event would be something that occurred during your military service that may have caused or contributed to your condition. For example, were you involved in a serious motor vehicle accident? Were you attacked? Were you injured in an explosion? Once you have identified your diagnosis and the in-service event (or onset), you must be able to show a medical link between the event and your condition.
If you are suffering from ptosis as a result of an event that occurred during military service (or began during service), you may be entitled to benefits for your injury. Ptosis and other medical conditions affecting the eye can wreak havoc on your ability to complete even the most basic tasks, your self-esteem, and your bank account.
You have a right to seek compensation for your service-related injury or to appeal a denial or unfavorable decision. Doing so, however, can be a long and complicated process. This is where having the support of a solid advocacy group that cares about you can make all the difference. A veterans’ disability advocate from our team can shoulder much of this burden, help you gather pertinent evidence, handle the piles of paperwork for you, and fight tirelessly to get you the benefits you deserve.
Call a veterans’ disability advocate from our team today at (888) 373-4722 for a FREE, confidential consultation.
