Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Boston, Massachusetts
A veteran who experiences illness or injury because of their military service is entitled to disability benefits and should be able to those benefits in a timely fashion, without bending over backward to meet VA’s requirements.
If you are a veteran and your request for disability benefits claim has been denied, we may be able to help you. A Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD veteran (VA) disability lawyer serving Boston, Massachusetts has the experience and knowledge to work guide you through the VA appeals process. For a free initial consultation, contact our team at 800-544-9144.
VSOs and Appeals Attorneys
Veterans service organizations, or VSOs, provide free services to veterans who want assistance with filing a disability benefits claim. They do not take fees for their services and are trained and knowledgeable.
However, while VSOs provide useful services, they typically lack the depth and breadth of legal knowledge needed to handle complex disability benefits cases. Legal teams such as our veteran disability attorneys serving Boston, Massachusetts work with veterans to file appeals for disability benefits and cases involving reevaluating combined disability ratings. We may be able to help you earn the benefits to which you may be entitled.
Eligibility Requirements for VA Disability Benefits
To receive disability benefits, VA requires veterans to provide proof of the following three criteria:
- 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
At the initial claim phase, VA has a duty to assist, meaning they must help you gather supporting evidence of these three things in your claims file. You also have the option to submit evidence, such as service and medical records or lay statements, on your own behalf.
Filing an Appeal with VA
Typically, you only have one year from the date of your denial to challenge VA’s decision, according to VA Form 4107. In the new appeals system under the Appeals Modernization Act, you have the option to:
- Request a Higher-Level Review;
- File a Supplemental Claim, with which you submit any new and relevant evidence; or
- File a Notice of Disagreement to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
A veterans’ disability attorney can help you determine the best option based on your situation and help you build a strong appeal.
Call Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD Today
If you have received a denial of disability benefits, we may be able to help.
Contact a veterans’ disability attorney serving Boston, Massachusetts from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick at 800-544-9144. We offer a complimentary initial evaluation of your case to see if we might be able to assist.
Boston Blog Posts
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“Gulf War and Health: Generational Health Effects of Serving in the Gulf War” (2018)During the Gulf War and Post-9/11 conflicts, servicemembers were potentially exposed to many hazardous agents and situations including: pesticides, fuels, vaccines, chemical and nerve agents, oil-well-fire smoke, dust, high temperatures and heat stress, depleted uranium, and pyridostigmine bromide. While there is a growing body of research regarding veterans’ health effects as they relate to exposures […]
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Meet the 3 Recently Confirmed CAVC JudgesOn August 3, 2017, Joseph L. Toth, Amanda L. Meredith, and Michael P. Allen were confirmed by the full U.S. Senate as judges for the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims (CAVC). They join five other active CAVC judges on the Court. The CAVC is the nation’s youngest federal court, only established in 1988. […]
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Special Monthly Compensation Series: SMC(s)Special Monthly Compensation can be a tricky VA benefit to decode. In our SMC series, we will break down each level of Special Monthly Compensation, the amount of compensation awarded for each, and the criteria one must meet to qualify. Click here to read our last blog covering SMC(k). SMC(s) Today’s Special Monthly Compensation series […]