Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Aurora, Colorado
Colorado has hundreds of thousands of veterans, including nearly 170,000 Gulf War veterans and over 130,000 Vietnam veterans. VA disability benefits are available to assist veterans with their health conditions related to their military service.
As of 2017, there were over 100,000 veterans receiving disability compensation in the state of Colorado, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). However, many veterans who believe they are eligible for disability benefits have been denied by VA.
If you have received a denial of VA disability benefits, a veteran (VA) disability attorney serving Aurora, Colorado, may be able to offer legal counsel as you navigate the appeals process. Here at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick, our firm is made up of passionate and dedicated veterans advocates who make it their mission to effectively serve our clients.
Our team of attorneys and advocates provide our clients with a better understanding of the appeals process. We work as a unified team to pursue any disability benefits to which our clients may be entitled.
To get started, a team member at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick would love to begin learning more about your unique circumstances. Contact us today at 800-544-9144 for your free consultation.
VA Regional Benefit Office Serving Aurora, Colorado
VA Facility Serving Aurora, Colorado
Aurora, Colorado Health Care System
Aurora: Eastern Colorado Health Care System
VA Outpatient Clinics Serving Aurora, Colorado
Understanding Eligibility for VA Disability Benefits
By understanding which of VA’s requirements were not met in your initial claim, you can tailor your appeal to ensure their guidelines are met.
Generally, VA requires proof of three things to approve a grant of service-connected disability benefits:
- An in-service event, injury, or illness;
- A current diagnosis by a medical professional; and
- A medical nexus, or link, between your in-service event, injury, or illness and your current diagnosis.
Typically, VA requires that your condition be examined and diagnosed by a medical professional. Whether you visit a VA doctor or a private physician is up to you, but your doctor must be able to establish that your injury or condition is “at least as likely as not” a result of your military service.
In the case of an appeal, it may be in your interest to see a specialist related to your health condition, as they can provide further insight for VA to consider.
If you retain the services of a veteran (VA) disability attorney serving Aurora, Colorado, with Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick, we use our intimate knowledge of the appeals process to guide you through these complex proceedings and help develop your appeal with a basis in the law and evidentiary support.
Establishing the Connection Between Your Service and Current Diagnosis
As VA does not grant disability benefits for injuries and illnesses unrelated to your military service, you must establish a conclusive link between your time in the military, your health condition, and your medical diagnosis.
There are several paths to proving a health condition is due to military service. Depending on your unique circumstances, one of these may be more applicable than the others. Sometimes, your individual case may require several different theories for different disabilities.
Our team of experienced veterans advocates works with our clients to determine the best path for their unique case and establish a plan of action accordingly. Examples of a path to service connection could include:
- Direct connection: These links show a definitive cause-and-effect relationship between your service and your current health condition. Examples may include injuries sustained in combat backed by military documentation.
- Aggravated connection: These connections deal with a noted pre-existing condition that was exacerbated by your military service. As such, your condition must have been properly documented during your entrance examination. Another situation in which this path could apply is if an already service-connected disability aggravates a different non-service-connected condition.
- Presumptive connection: This applies to veterans with qualifying service as defined by statute and regulation. Veterans who served in certain locations during certain time periods may be eligible for disability benefits for conditions acknowledged by VA to be associated with that time/location.
VA Disability Benefit Rates
VA disability claims are granted based on your combined disability rating, which is assigned in the form of a percentage from 0 to 100. However, if your combined disability rating is 30 percent or higher, you may be eligible for additional compensation, such as dependency benefits for dependent children, parents, or a spouse.
VA Disability Attorneys Helping Veterans
The dedicated team of veteran (VA) disability attorneys and advocates at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick is proud to serve veterans in the Aurora, Colorado, area. We have used our knowledge and experience to help thousands of veterans file appeals with VA and receive any benefits to which they are entitled.
To get started with your free initial consultation to see if we can assist you, contact the Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick team at 800-544-9144.