If you recently applied for Veterans’ disability benefits and were denied, you have the right to an appeal. Your first step is file an appeal with the VA regional office who sent you the denial letter, and make sure to do it within one year of the date on the letter. You will need to send to the regional office a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) form. You can download a NOD form from the Veterans’ Administration’s website (www.va.gov/vaforms).
The NOD form is the document on which you specify your intent to appeal the VA’s decision and the reasons why. Keep your explanation brief and general. If you want to specify reasons for your appeal, make it clear that your reasons are not limited to those you mention. You’ll have the option of addressing additional reasons for your appeal later on in the process. Your explanation should also mention the date of the denial letter.
After you are done, sign the NOD, make a copy for yourself and mail it back via certified mail to the VA regional office that sent you the denial letter. It may be wise to allow a qualified elder law attorney to assist you in filing out a NOD form and filing your appeal.
