SUCCESSFUL CASE RESULTS
Veterans often ask what the largest VA back pay looks like and how much retroactive compensation they may be entitled to after a successful claim or appeal. At Stevens & Sullivan, our recent case results highlight real outcomes where veterans have secured significant VA disability benefits, including substantial VA back pay awards. Whether through initial claims, denied claim appeals, or rating increases, these results demonstrate how the VA disability claim process, effective dates, and disability ratings can directly impact the total compensation a veteran receives.
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We invite you to browse some of our successful case results to learn more about our past successes and how our nationwide team has helped people in situations similar to yours.
$580,000 in Retroactive Pay
Veteran’s Service-Connected Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Claim
Veteran received over $580,000 in retroactive pay following a favorable finding by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). After previously obtaining a finding that the prior 1980 decision committed clear and unmistakable error in failing to find that the veteran’s PTSD was service connected, the recent award was based on our written arguments to the BVA that the veteran was entitled to 100% effective back in 1980. The BVA agreed that the Department of Veterans Affairs assignment of 10% was in error and assigned 100% as of 1980.
$265,000 in Retroactive Pay
The VA Then Awarded Service Connection for the Veteran’s Psychiatric Condition
Veteran received over $265,000 in retroactive pay following a favorable finding by the VA following a remand by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). The BVA agreed with our arguments that remand was necessary for the veteran’s case for service connection for his psychiatric condition as the VA had failed to fully develop the evidence. The BVA specifically agreed that the VA failed where the veteran’s service medical records were missing, not due to the fault of the veteran, and that the reason for separation listed on the dd-214 supported the veteran’s testimony. On remand, a medical opinion was obtained that gave weight to the veteran’s testimony at the BVA hearing and also agreed with our arguments that the dd-214 supported the veteran’s statements regarding his symptoms in the military. The VA then awarded service connection for the veteran’s psychiatric condition with a 100% rating as of 2012.
$245,000 in Retroactive Pay
Service-Connected Veteran’s Military Sexual Trauma
Veteran received over $245,000 in retroactive pay following a favorable finding by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). The BVA applied the “benefit of the doubt” rule in finding that the veteran’s military sexual trauma was service-connected. We were able to obtain credible lay statements as well as favorable doctor statements that supported the veteran’s case of sexual assault while in the military. The BVA ruling resulted in an award of benefits back to 2011.
$235,000 in Retroactive Pay
Veteran’s Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder With Major Depressive Disorder
Gulf War veteran received over $235,000 in retroactive pay following a favorable finding by the VA which granted 100% rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder. The VA also awarded special monthly compensation (SMC) based on a housebound status where the veteran had additional disabilities including diabetes mellitus and neuropathy of his legs due to the alcohol use disorder which was a direct result of his PTSD. Further, the VA agreed and found a clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the effective date assigned by the VA in a prior Rating Decision, where the VA had previously failed to pay benefits from the original date of filing.
$215,000 in Retroactive Pay
Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability
Veteran received over $215,000 in retroactive pay following an award by the Board of Veterans’ Appeal (BVA). These benefits were completely released after an audit of the veteran’s military retirement pay and finding the veteran eligible under the Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP). The BVA agreed with our arguments that the veteran’s disabilities more closely approximated higher rating percentages and that the veteran should be afforded the benefit of the doubt as the evidence was at least as evenly balanced (in equipoise) that he was unable to work due to his service-connected disabilities. Thus, the BVA awarded higher ratings for the veteran’s sciatica, knees, cervical spine, and radiculopathy of the upper extremities, as well as total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU or IU) from 2010.
Over $205,000 in Retroactive Pay
BVA Agreed Cancer Was From Exposure to Toxins in the Water
Veteran received over $205,000 in retroactive pay following a favorable finding by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). The BVA agreed that the veteran’s bone and prostate cancers were related to his exposure to the toxins in the water at Camp Lejeune. Here, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sent the case to a pediatric oncologist, who wrote a negative opinion against the veteran. We were able to get the veteran’s treating oncologist to link his cancer with his exposure to the toxic drinking water at Camp Lejeune and the BVA judge agreed that this opinion deserved more weight than the VA’s negative opinion.
Over $165,000 in Retroactive Pay
Stiff Person’s Syndrome
Veteran received over $165,000 in retroactive pay following a favorable finding by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). In this case the BVA agreed with our arguments that the veteran’s Stiff Person’s Syndrome arose during his military service. For years, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) denied this case stating that the veteran had simply not been diagnosed in the military for his disability. However, the BVA agreed that the evidence supported that the disability manifested during his time in the military. The veteran was fortunate to have his treating doctor testify regarding his disability and medical symptoms he exhibited during his time in the military.
Over $140,000 in Retroactive Pay
BVA Agreed That the VA Committed Clear Error
Veteran received over $140,000 in retroactive pay following a favorable finding by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). In this case, the BVA agreed that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), committed a clear and unmistakable errors in failing to adjudicate all the veteran’s conditions in 1985. The evidence showed that the veteran suffered from numerous injuries following gunshot wounds, but the original application did not specify all the disabling conditions. After various appeals, the BVA agreed that the VA committed clear error in failing to adjudicate all the claims reasonably raised by the evidence at the time of the initial decision back in 1985. This decision by the BVA resulted in the original incorrect decision being vacated and the veteran being awarded ratings paid all the way back to 1985 for the additional conditions initially ignored by the VA.
Over $55,000 for injuries
Spine & Other Injuries While Serving in the Military
Veteran received over $55,000 in retroactive pay following a favorable finding by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). The BVA agreed that the veteran’s lumbar spine condition and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were both related to his time in the military. Further, the BVA agreed that the veteran should be awarded a higher rating for his migraine headaches and that he also suffered from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) as secondary to the medications prescribed for his migraines.
Over $40,000 in Retroactive Pay
Asbestos Exposure in the Navy
Veteran received over $40,000 in retroactive pay following a favorable finding by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). The BVA agreed that the veteran’s current lung cancer was related to his exposure to asbestos in the Navy. The BVA also agreed to an earlier effective date where the VA mislead the veteran into believing that he had a case pending.
Over $35,000 in Retroactive Pay
Veteran’s Parkinson’s Disease Was Related to Herbicide Exposure
Veteran received over $35,000 in retroactive pay following a favorable finding by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). The BVA agreed that the veteran’s Parkinson’s Disease was related to herbicide exposure (including Agent Orange) while stationed in Korea. The BVA agreed with the evidence that we were able to obtain proving that the veteran was stationed along the DMZ in Korea. The BVA’s finding overturned the various denials by the Department of Veterans Affairs that there was no evidence showing service at the DMZ.