Veterans (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Arkansas
If you are a veteran living in Arkansas and have a current, diagnosed disability that is due to your time in service, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits. While VA offers a range of disability benefits to veterans, sometimes your initial application for service-connected compensation is denied.
A veterans disability lawyer serving Arkansas at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you appeal denied VA disability benefits.
For a free evaluation, call our office today at 800-544-9144.
Arkansas VA Benefit Resources
The Little Rock metro area features two VA health care facilities and a third can be found in the town of Fayetteville. Little Rock is also home to the state’s Regional Benefit Office.
Arkansas VA Regional Benefit Offices
- North Little Rock: North Little Rock Regional Benefit Office
Arkansas VA Medical Centers
- Fayetteville: Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks
- Little Rock: Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital
- North Little Rock: Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System Eugene J. Towbin Health Care Center
Arkansas VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinics
- Conway: Conway CBOC
- El Dorado: El Dorado CBOC
- Smith: Ft. Smith OPC
- Harrison: Harrison OPC
- Helena: Helena, Arkansas CBOC
- Hot Springs: Hot Springs CBOC
- Jonesboro: Jonesboro, Arkansas CBOC
- Mena: Mena CBOC
- Mountain Home: Mountain Home CBOC
- Ozark: Ozark, Arkansas OPC
- Paragould: Paragould Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
- Pine Bluff: Pine Bluff CBOC
- Pocahontas: Pocahontas Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
- Russellville: Russellville CBOC
- Searcy: Searcy CBOC
- Texarkana: Texarkana CBOC
Arkansas VA Statistics
More than 225,000 veterans live in Arkansas, making up nearly 10 percent of the state’s population. Of these veterans, more than 48,000 receive disability compensation, and nearly 116,000 are enrolled in VA’s health care system. Additionally, nearly 86,000 Arkansas veterans have received treatment at a VA facility.
Close to 46 percent of Arkansas’s veterans are at least 65 years old, and more than 16 percent have retired from the military.
How to Receive VA Disability Benefits in Arkansas
VA has three requirements when it comes to being eligible to receive disability benefits:
- You must have a current diagnosis that meets VA’s definition of a qualifying disability.
- You must provide evidence that you experienced an event, injury, or illness during your military service.
- You must establish a “nexus” between your current, diagnosed disability and the event or injury during your service.
You Have a Current, Diagnosed Disability
You must have a current diagnosis of a disability from a qualified healthcare professional. Importantly, you do not have to be totally disabled to receive VA benefits. You may receive VA benefits for a partial disability.
An Event, Injury, or Illness in Your Military History
You also must prove that you experienced an event, injury, or illness during your military service. This could be an injury resulting from a training exercise, combat mission, or accident. Additionally, it could involve exposure to hazardous chemicals or environmental toxins.
Establishing a “Nexus”
The final step is to establish a “nexus,” which connects your medical condition to the event in your military service. In order to obtain a nexus opinion, VA may order a Compensation and Pension examination. To have a positive nexus, the medical professional must state that it is “at least as likely as not” that your condition occurred due to your military service. You can also provide medical nexus opinions from private physicians or treatment providers.
VA Disability Compensation Rates
VA disability benefits range between 0 to 100 percent depending on the severity of your condition. VA monthly compensation is determined by your combined disability rating.
As of December 1st, 2023 the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows:
- 0 percent disability rating: $0.00 per month
- 10 percent disability rating: $171.23 per month
- 20 percent disability rating: $338.49 per month
- 30 percent disability rating: $524.31 per month
- 40 percent disability rating: $755.28 per month
- 50 percent disability rating: $1,075.16 per month
- 60 percent disability rating: $1,361.88 per month
- 70 percent disability rating: $1,716.28 per month
- 80 percent disability rating: $1,995.01 per month
- 90 percent disability rating: $2,241.91 per month
- 100 percent disability rating: $3,737.85 per month
TDIU Eligibility
If you are unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment because of your service-connected conditions, you may be eligible for Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). By applying for and receiving TDIU, you can receive the highest schedular level of monthly compensation, even if your condition (or conditions) is not assigned a 100 percent rating.
If You Have Been Denied Benefits, Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick May Be Able to Help
A veterans disability lawyer serving Arkansas may be able to help you appeal denied VA benefits. Our qualified veterans attorneys understand the appeals process and are committed to helping veterans receive the VA disability compensation to which they are rightfully entitled.
To Speak With a Member of Our Team, Call Our Office at 800-544-9144
If you are an Arkansas veteran seeking VA disability compensation, we want to help. For a free evaluation, call 800-544-9144.
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