What is service connection?

Service connection is a legal term used in veterans disability law to refer to a link between an illness or injury suffered by a veteran, and their military service. In Florida, a veteran may be able to get disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs if they can prove that their illness or injury was caused by or aggravated by their military service. To prove “service connection,” the veteran must show that the illness or injury that is disabling them now began during or due to their military service. This can be done with medical evidence, such as medical records and other documents relating to the injury or illness, or testimonial evidence, which can include a statement from the veteran, or from a family member or friend about the injury’s cause or exacerbation. Furthermore, in some cases the veteran may be able to receive a “presumption of service connection,” which means that the VA will presume that certain disabilities are related to the veterans service. For example, some disabilities that are common among veterans, such as hearing loss or a damaged limb, are presumed to be related to military service and do not need to be specifically linked. In Florida, the VA will review the evidence that a veteran provides to support their claim for disability benefits, and will determine whether or not the veteran has demonstrated a sufficient connection between their service and their illness or injury. If the VA agrees that there is a connection, they may grant the veteran disability benefits.

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What is service connection?

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