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CCK Law Veterans Disability Lawyer Serving California

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Over 1,400,000 U.S. military veterans live in California. This is the second-highest veteran population of any state. Over 450,000 of these veterans are receiving disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Based on our experience serving tens of thousands of veterans since 1999, many California veterans have unfiled or unresolved increased rating claims or appeals, but have been unable to obtain benefits due to misinformation, VA errors, or their disabilities.

Any veteran with a chronic medical condition stemming from military service is entitled by law to disability benefits from VA. VA offers eligible veterans monthly compensation based on the veteran’s combined disability rating, as well as other benefits like VA health care for reduced or no cost, training programs, and grants for adaptive housing.

Unfortunately, VA claims and appeals can be complex and time-consuming, and even VA struggles with interpreting and applying benefits consistently. This is particularly true for difficult situations like:

If you are one of these veterans or their dependents who need assistance with a complex claim or appeal, then Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick (CCK Law) may be able to assist you. Call CCK Law at (401) 237-6412 or contact us online to request a free case evaluation.

Who We Are: CCK Law is the leading veterans law firm in the United States. Since 1999, we’ve argued many of the cases that have shaped veteran disability law. We have over 100 individuals accredited by VA or admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Our attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, America’s Top 100 Attorneys, and others. We have published over 3000 free blogs, videos, and resources for veterans, sharing our knowledge of the VA claims and appeals processes.

Understanding VA Disability Claims in California

CCK Law has been helping veterans for over 25 years secure the benefits they deserve. During this time, our team has gained several insights and recommendations for those veterans living in California.

As mentioned, there are over 1.4 million veterans living in the State of California. This guide will help highlight some of the most common issues they may face and offer tips on the claim process. Moreover, veterans may utilize CCK Law’s free VA Claim Builder tool—an online resource that can help veterans organize necessary documentation and increase the strength of their initial claim.

Securing VA Disability Benefits

VA’s claims processors see a considerable number of claims each year. VA claims and appeals that are complete and well-supported have the best chance of being processed quickly and correctly.

One of the most crucial parts of a complete claim or appeal is sufficient evidence to establish service connection for each disability. This evidence must then be filed with VA using a formal claim process.

There are three elements that must be proven to support service connection:

  1. Current diagnosed disability: There must be a clear and current medical diagnosis of the disability.
  2. In-service event, injury, or illness: Evidence must be presented that shows an event, injury, or illness occurred during military service.
  3. Nexus: A medical nexus (i.e., link) must connect the current disability with the incident that occurred during service.

For more information on establishing service connection, check out some of CCK Law’s articles on the subject:

Types of Evidence to Support a VA Compensation Claim

To establish a successful claim for VA disability compensation, the evidence presented must be both pertinent and compelling. Veterans should collect and submit documentation that substantiates their claim, reflecting the nature and extent of their disability as well as its connection to their military service.

Note: VA has a duty to assist you in securing any records that it may have access to, as well as interpreting any evidence in your favor if it “at least as likely as not” supports your claim.

Relevant types of evidence include:

  • Service Medical Records
  • VA Medical Records
  • Private Medical Records
  • Lay Statements
  • Service Personnel Records

Read our article on the types of evidence that help support a VA compensation claim to learn more.

4 Ways to File a VA Claim in California

Veterans living in California who are filing a VA claim for disability compensation can do so through any of the following four methods:

  1. Online: Through VA’s eBenefits portal or directly via the VA.gov website (preferred), where they can submit their claim electronically.
  2. Mail: By sending the required forms to the appropriate VA claims intake center, though processing may take longer than when submitted electronically.
  3. In Person: By visiting a VA regional office and submitting their claim with the help of VA personnel.
  4. With a representative: By working with a VA-accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) to file on their behalf.

Common Medical Conditions Covered by VA Disability

Many veterans suffer from certain medical conditions at much higher rates than civilians. These conditions can range widely, from physical injuries to mental health disorders. Read more about the top 20 most common claims veterans file claims for.

Even though these claims are common, it is still essential to ensure that any such conditions are medically documented before filing a claim. You can learn more about many of these claims by searching our blog or YouTube channel.

Current VA Disability Rates

Upon finding service connection, VA assigns a rating to a veteran’s disability using the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. VA uses the assigned rating to determine a veteran’s monthly compensation, as well as eligibility for other benefits.

As of December 1st, 2024, the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows:

  • 0 percent disability rating: $0.00 per month
  • 10 percent disability rating: $175.51 per month
  • 20 percent disability rating: $346.95 per month
  • 30 percent disability rating: $537.42 per month
  • 40 percent disability rating: $774.16 per month
  • 50 percent disability rating: $1,102.04 per month
  • 60 percent disability rating: $1,395.93 per month
  • 70 percent disability rating: $1,759.19 per month
  • 80 percent disability rating: $2,044.89 per month
  • 90 percent disability rating: $2,297.96 per month
  • 100 percent disability rating: $3,831.30 per month

CCK Law has developed several free tools for veterans that they can use to calculate their monthly compensation. While VA is supposed to calculate ratings and compensation on a veteran’s behalf, we encourage veterans living in California, to use resources like our VA Disability Calculator and VA Disability Back Pay Calculator to estimate their rating and back pay themselves.

Veterans Benefits Available in California

Veterans living in California may be eligible for a range of state benefits that complement their federal VA benefits. These programs include support for education, property tax relief, employment services, and access to veterans’ homes and cemeteries.

VA Death and Burial Benefits Explained

Education is a key benefit for many California veterans. One example is the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill, which can cover tuition for institutions such as the University of California or San Diego State University.

Need Assistance? Contact CCK Law for a Free Case Evaluation

Veterans living in California who have received unfavorable decisions on their claims may file an appeal.

A veteran has one year from the date on their decision letter to file this appeal, and this period is crucial. Timely action may preserve the effective date on their original claim and, thus, their backpay.

Why hire CCK Law for your VA disability claim? Read more here.

What Is Involved in a VA Appeal?

Today, the appeal process is governed by the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). The AMA provides three appeal options:

  1. Higher-Level Review: A veteran may ask for a new review of the original decision by a more senior claims adjudicator from VA.
  2. Supplemental Claim: If new and relevant evidence is available, then a veteran can submit it along with a supplemental claim for VA to consider.
  3. Notice of Disagreement: A veteran has the right to appeal directly to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and can choose one of three dockets:
    1. Direct review
    2. Evidence docket
    3. Hearing docket
VA Claims and Appeals -- AMA Flowchart

Each of these pathways offers a different approach depending on the specifics of the veteran’s claim and the type of additional information available. Veterans should pursue the option that aligns best with their situation.

A VA-accredited advocate like CCK Law can help identify the best track, minimize the effects of common pitfalls like hidden backlogs, identify VA mistakes that less-experienced observers might overlook, and facilitate communications and tracking with VA using the direct systems access afforded by all VA-accredited representatives.

Once we take on a veteran’s appeal, we begin an in-depth review of their case to understand the reasons behind the denial of benefits. Our team then crafts a tailored strategy aimed at addressing the specific issues identified.

We understand that every detail counts, and we are committed to guiding our clients through each step of the complex VA appeals process, ensuring that their case is presented as effectively as possible.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. VA is the second-largest bureaucracy in the country. Even their own raters struggle with applying the rules consistently. CCK Law’s VA-accredited advocates use our direct VA system access and decades of experience to maximize veterans’ benefits in the most efficient timeline possible.” —CCK Law Partner and former Veterans Law Judge Bradley Hennings

Ways CCK Law Can Assist California Veterans with Their Appeals

  • Obtaining copies of medical, service, and personnel records: We gather all relevant documentation that can support the appeal.
  • Securing testimony from subject matter experts: We engage with experts who can provide authoritative opinions to strengthen the appeal.
  • Obtaining statements or testimonies from fellow service members: We help in acquiring corroborative statements that can substantiate the veteran’s claim.
  • Reviewing a veteran’s original claim for errors and omissions: Our detailed analysis ensures that any mistakes in the original submission are corrected in the appeal.

At CCK Law, we leave no stone unturned in advocating for veterans and their rights to VA disability benefits in California. Our goal is to navigate the appeals process with precision and care, maximizing the potential for a favorable outcome.

What Real CCK Law Clients Are Saying: “The law firm of Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick was my legal representative for several years in a case regarding fair and satisfactory monetary claims regarding two back injuries I incurred in the U.S. Army Paratroopers in 1955 and 1956. The firm fought hard for an appropriate monetary settlement with the Military, which was accomplished. The firm was excellent in all it did … professional, persistent, relentless, sincere concern, and kept me informed and current of all circumstances during the process. I recommend it highly for service to anyone.” —Gilbert C.

Helpful Resources for Veterans Living in California

According to VA, there are over 710,000 veterans enrolled in VA’s healthcare system in California. With this level of demand for VA services, veterans should know the facilities that can help them.

VA Regional Offices

There are three VA Regional Offices serving the veteran population of California. These offices are:

VA Medical Facilities

There are many VA medical facilities in the State of California. These facilities offer medical care for veterans. Understanding your options for medical care is important since having a current diagnosis of a medical condition is typically one of the requirements for getting a grant of service connection. These locations include:

Call CCK Law Today

Consulting with a VA disability lawyer may be the best way to maximize VA compensation benefits in the most time-efficient way possible. An experienced attorney brings knowledge of VA law, less-understood benefits, and intricate VA processes.

If you are one of the over 1.4 million veterans living in California, then our team serving the California area can help you. Give us a call at (800) 544-9144 or fill out our online form to speak with a CCK Law representative for a free case evaluation.