Many veterans are hesitant to hire an attorney to help with their VA disability claims because they’re unsure about the out-of-pocket expenses that might accrue. However, there are safeguards in place to help control the amount of money a veteran will pay in both fees and expenses should they hire a VA-accredited attorney.

What’s the Difference Between Fees and Expenses?

A fee is the amount that an attorney is paid for his time and expertise in dealing with your case. This may be paid hourly at a flat rate or on a contingency basis (meaning the attorney is paid with a percentage of your winnings after your claim is approved). Most VA-accredited attorneys work on contingency fees.

Expenses are any costs that that the attorney or veteran must pay out of pocket during the gathering of evidence and developing the claim—in short, they are costs incurred before the case is won. Some common out-of-pocket expenses for a VA disability case include:

  • Medical examinations
  • Vocational reports
  • Expert medical testimony
  • Deposition costs
  • Copies of medical records
  • Travel costs to the VA or attend a hearing
  • Copies of birth and death certificates
  • Written opinions from doctors, mental health professionals, or other specialists

Because evidence is key to showing the full extent of your disability, it is often worth the expense of undergoing additional testing and requesting medical records in order to win the full amount of your benefits. At Cuddigan Law, we use our experience to build a strong disability case on your behalf. We’ll explain all fees and expenses so there are no surprises, and we only collect funds from you at the conclusion of your case. Fill out our brief contact form today to ask us a question about your claim, or read through our free book, The Essential Guide to VA Disability Claims.

 

Sean D. Cuddigan
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SSA and VA Disability Attorney in Omaha, Nebraska
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