Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Florida

If you live in Florida and served in the military, you might be entitled to disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA provides benefits to disabled veterans whose medical conditions resulted from their military service.

Unfortunately, filing for VA benefits can be challenging. A Florida VA disability lawyer at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD can help you navigate the vast complexities of the VA appeals process and build a strong and convincing case.

Florida VA Benefit Resources

Florida VA Regional Benefit Office

• Petersburg: St. Petersburg Regional Benefit Office

Florida VA Medical Centers

Florida VA Statistics

As of 2016, Florida has:

• More than 1.5 million veterans (nearly 10 percent of the state’s population).
• 331,000 veterans who receive VA disability.
• Over 725,000 veterans enrolled in the VA health care system (505,000 of whom have sought treatment at a VA health center).

Over half the veterans living in Florida are 65 or older. Almost 13 percent are military retirees.

How to Win VA Disability Benefits in Florida

If the VA denied your claim for benefits, you are not alone. The veteran advocates at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD can help you put together a strong case for VA disability benefits. Our team of Florida VA disability attorneys, VA practitioners, and accredited VA claims agents know what the VA is looking for. We understand what goes into a successful claim, starting with proving the following to be true:

1. You have a current diagnosis of a disabling medical condition; and
2. The condition is a result of an event, injury, or illness during your military service

The VA refers to this as “service connection,” and without it, the VA will not grant you disability benefits, no matter how severe your condition. For instance, we cannot simply claim that you have hearing loss from your military service. We must be able to establish a nexus, or link, between your hearing loss and an “in-service event.” For instance, we might argue that the loud and constant gun blasts to which you were exposed in combat caused your hearing loss.

The evidence we might gather to establish service connection includes your military records, medical history, and test results, as well as personal statements from your doctor or testimony from medical experts.

VA Disability Compensation Levels

Our top priority is always to get you the maximum amount of benefits to which you are rightfully entitled. First, we will help you obtain a grant of VA disability benefits. Next, we will review the VA’s rating decision to ensure you were granted the correct disability rating from the correct effective date. Your VA benefit amount depends on your disability rating, a number assigned by the VA based on the severity of your condition. It can range from 0 to 100 percent, with a 0 percent rating qualifying you only for ancillary benefits such as health care, and not for monthly compensation.

As of December 1st, 2022 the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows:

• 0 percent disability rating: $0.00 per month
• 10 percent disability rating: $165.92 per month
• 20 percent disability rating: $327.99 per month
• 30 percent disability rating: $508.05 per month
• 40 percent disability rating: $731.86 per month
• 50 percent disability rating: $1,041.82 per month
• 60 percent disability rating: $1,319.65 per month
• 70 percent disability rating: $1,663.06 per month
• 80 percent disability rating: $1,933.15 per month
• 90 percent disability rating: $2,172.39 per month
• 100 percent disability rating: $3,621.95 per month

If the VA issued you a rating of 30 percent or above, you are eligible for additional compensation for dependents in your household, such as your spouse, children, or dependent parents. If you have received what you think is an incorrect rating, we may be able to help you file an appeal for an increased VA disability rating.

How Can I Afford a Lawyer?

We know that you may not be able to afford any extra expenses right now. We offer free consultations to all veterans in Florida and operate on a contingency basis which means we do not receive a payment for our services unless we are able to get you the benefits you deserve.

For a Free Consultation with a VA Disability Lawyer Serving Florida, Call Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD at 800-544-9144.

Our veterans advocates are standing by, ready to help you fight for the disability benefits you rightfully earned in service to our country. We offer all veterans free consultations during which we will learn more about your situation and determine whether we might be able to help. Call us at 800-544-9144 today for your free consultation.