Q: What should you look for in veterans lawyers?
A: When you are interviewing potential veterans lawyers, it is helpful to prepare a list of questions to use as a reference. There are generally 3 important things to ask veterans lawyers before you hire them. First, find out how long he or she has been working in the field of veterans law. You want a lawyer that has solid experience dealing with veterans claims. Second, ask if he or she is qualified to practice before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Third, make sure he or she holds accreditation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans lawyers without accreditation cannot represent cases before the Board of Veterans Appeals or the Regional Office. Ideally, you would meet in person with veterans lawyers you are considering hiring. A phone interview will do, if an in person meeting is not possible. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure are comfortable with his or her communication style and feel confident in his or her abilities to represent your case.
Q: Should you contact an attorney if you disagree with the effective date in a rating decision?
A: Yes, you should contact a veterans lawyer if you disagree with the effective date in your rating decision. Veterans who are awarded benefits should always take a good look at the different aspects of the rating decision. Make sure you agree with the effective date, service connection and degree assigned. If you do not agree with one or all of those aspects, seeking assistance from a lawyer would be extremely beneficial. The effective date assigned in your rating decision affects when your benefits begin. In most cases, veterans are entitled to retroactive benefits payments. Veterans lawyers have the experience, expertise and knowledge foundation to help assure that you are awarded all the benefits to which you are entitled.