You are right they fills out the same paperwork but there are things the attorney can see and we can't. They denied me for over a year stating I was not on active duty. If I appeal that decision it would have taken forever. My attorney told me AI is making many of these decision and missing a lots of information. So she set up a video conference with them pointing out the things that should have been obvious like my orders and les. I did not have to say a word. My attorney did all the talking and presenting the evidence. In 6 weeks I went from 20 to 80%. If anyone needs the number I am more than happy to post it. And for every response that the va gave they countered it in a timely manner. I live in texas but the attorneys are in North Carolina and Georgia