Let a New York Veterans Disability Lawyer Evaluate Your Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Claim

Serving one’s country is an immense honor that requires a great deal of personal sacrifice. When members of our armed forces make the ultimate sacrifice for our country, they often leave behind spouses and children whose lives are irrevocably changed. But while the military strives to care for veterans, it also cares for the families deceased veterans leave behind. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers a program called Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), which provides a fixed set of veterans disability benefits to eligible survivors of deceased veterans. A New York veterans disability benefits lawyer can help you apply for these benefits if you believe you qualify. 

Eligibility for DIC 

The DIC program applies to the survivors of: 

• Service members who died while on active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty training, OR
• Veterans who died as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, OR
• Veterans who did not die as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, but were totally disabled by a service-connected disability:
  • For at least 10 years before death, OR
  • Since their release from active duty and for at least five years before death, OR o For at least one year before death, if they were a former prisoner of war and died after Sept. 30, 1999.

DIC benefits are available to the deceased veteran’s surviving spouse, minor children, and children under the age of 23 who are attending school or disabled adult children.

Appealing a Denied DIC Claim

It is not uncommon for DIC claims to be denied the first time, but such denials are not final. The VA allows claimants to appeal denied claims within a certain amount of time. If your initial claim is denied and you choose to appeal, you will be required to submit additional evidence that proves your spouse had a service-related injury and that he or she died from that injury. While submitting such evidence can be difficult, a New York veterans disability benefits lawyer can assist you in determining why your initial claim was denied, finding the necessary additional evidence, and advocating on your behalf at the VA. 

Contact a New York Veterans Disability Benefits Lawyer for More Information

If you have suffered the loss of a spouse due to his or her military service, you may be entitled to the benefits.  To get started with a DIC claim, please contact a New York veterans disability benefits lawyer at Turley, Redmond and Rosasco by using our online form or calling us at 877-693-2529, 516-745-5666 (Garden City), or  631-582-3700 (Ronkonkoma).