Are you a veteran whose VA disability claim was assigned the minimum evaluation? Or worse, denied by VA? For veterans with a medical condition or disease that started in service, was caused by an event in service or was aggravated by it, our attorneys can assist you with getting benefits! We have been representing veterans since 2007 and have had the privilege of helping them to successful results.
Whatever the disease or disability, the VA disability compensation process is complicated and often confusing. We have seen thousands of VA decisions and understand VA speak. Our commitment is to help people through the maze of the VA process.
VA disability claims are unlike other types of disabilities or injuries. The standard of proof is whether it is at least as likely as not that the veteran’s current condition is related to an event in service. An event in service could be easily identifiable such as a broken arm with resulting arthritis. It could also be noise exposure, and now the veteran has hearing loss or tinnitus. Less obvious are injuries such as exposure to burn pits where the veteran has developed chronic fatigue syndrome or respiratory issues. Exposure to trauma through combat or other service events where the veteran is now suffering from PTSD or another mental health condition are events for the purpose of compensation.
We review veteran’s disability claims for free. Please contact us if you would like to find out if we can help.
Contact Us to Discuss Your VA Disability Benefits
Veterans History Project
We participate when possible in the The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center. The center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. The story of your military service may help future generations understand aspects of your experience that may not be preserved otherwise.
Resources
Below are helpful websites for anyone who is doing research on a claim for benefits from the Veterans Benefit Administration. Please feel free to contact us if the links are not working or you have suggestions of additional links you would like to see posted here.
A not-for-profit education membership organization of attorneys and other qualified members who act as advocates for disabled veterans.
National Veterans Legal Services Program
A nonprofit organization that works to ensure that the government delivers our nation’s veterans and active duty personnel the benefits to which they are entitled.
The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program
The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program provides assistance to unrepresented veterans or their family members who have filed appeals at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The organization also trains attorneys in the field of veterans law.
Before a law or rule regarding benefits can be made final, it must be published in the Federal Register, The Daily Journal of the United States Government. Here you will find notices, proposed rules and rules published by the Veterans Administration. The register has a searchable data base dating back to 1994.
Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS)
WARMS is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs site which contains manuals, directives, handbooks, Title Code of Federal Regulations and many more publications from the benefits they manage.
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR)
The e-CFR is a regularly updated, unofficial editorial compilation of Code of Federal Regulations material and Federal Register.
Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA)
Members of the BVA are Law Judges, attorneys experienced in veteran’s law and in the review of benefit claims, and staff attorneys. The BVA is part of the appeals process for veteran’s claims.
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC)
The CAVC is the national court of record that has exclusive jurisdiction to provide judicial review of final decisions from the BVA.
The OIG conducts investigations, audits, and health care inspections to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness in VA activities, and to detect and deter criminal activity, waste, abuse, and mismanagement.
VA Office of General Counsel (OGC)
The OGC identifies and meets the legal needs of the Veterans Benefits Administration by issuing precedent opinions and legal interpretations of VA Law. Official and employees of the VA follow these interpretations which can often be helpful to a veteran’s claim.
The Veterans Administration central location for veterans, service members, and their families to research, find, access, and manage their benefits and personal information.
Veterans Benefits Administration
This webpage has links to information about compensation, education, vocational rehabilitation, home loans, life insurance and pensions.
Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange
This is a site which provides information about presumptive exposure to and diseases associated with herbicide exposure. Although the presumption of exposure is conceded for locations such as Vietnam and the Korean DMZ, a veteran may be able to prove exposure in other locations.
A group of military medical professionals designed this site to help veterans understand the schedule of rating disabilities and how the VA process works. Headed by Air Force Colonel George P. Johnson, M.D., former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, this is one of the most comprehensive sites dealing with the veterans benefits on the internet.
Texas Tech University: The Vietnam Center and Archive
Texas Tech collects and preserves the documentary record of the Vietnam War. The website provides links to unit records from the Vietnam War. These can be used to prove stressor events, or proof of exposure to Agent Orange.
Department of Defense: Military Compensation, Concurrent Receipt
There are two programs that retired military personnel may apply for to receive concurrent receipt of their military retired pay and VA benefits. CRDP and CRSC allow for a veteran to receive dual receipt of these benefits. If you are retired military and service connected, be sure that you review these benefits.
Once a veteran files a claim for service connection, the Regional Office opens a folder on that veteran. If you are searching for a copy of your claims file you can find a link to the Regional Benefit Office Websites here.
National Archives Records Administration (NARA)
NARA is the nation’s record keeper. With the Archival Research Catalog (ARC) and Access to Archival Databases (AAD), you can search the database for records for Marine Corps command chronologies, US Army daily journals and Operational Reports.
SF 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records
This form should be completed and submitted to the correct facility that may have the service medical records, SMRs, or the Official Military Personnel File, OMPF. All of a veterans records could be in the claims file at the Regional Office.
The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
This website has the central repository of both military and civil personnel-related records for both the military and civil services of the US government. A veteran can generally find their Official Military Personnel File includes service medical records which can be ordered by submitting the SF 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records.
Where to Order Medical & Health Records
Each branch of service has a separate location for ordering military medical records dependent on service status and dates of service. Contact information for these facilities can be found on the SF 180 and at National Archives.
