Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Sterling Heights, Michigan
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides disability compensation to qualifying veterans who suffered service-related events, injuries, or illnesses. The process of filing a claim for disability benefits and receiving a decision can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months or longer.
All too often, disability benefits claims are denied by VA. Alternatively, some veterans receive combined disability ratings lower than what they feel their injuries or disabilities entitle them to receive. In such cases, you may be able to file an appeal. The veteran disability attorneys and professionals serving Sterling Heights, Michigan at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you. Contact us at 800-544-9144 for a complimentary initial consultation.
How a VA Disability Benefits Attorney Can Help With Your Appeal
To receive a grant of benefits, you generally need to prove three things:
- 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.
If your initial claim for disability benefits was denied by VA, you have the right to file an appeal. It is important to remember that you have one year from the date on your denial letter to file this appeal. In the new appeal system under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), veterans are now able to choose between three appeal lanes. Depending on the circumstances of your specific claim, you can:
- File a Supplemental Claim including new and relevant evidence;
- Request a Higher-Level Review with a more senior VA employee; or
- File a Notice of Disagreement directly with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
A veterans’ disability attorney may be able to help you determine the best appeal option for you.
If you are frustrated with the long, arduous process of filing a claim and following VA filing requirements, you are not alone. Many veterans give up along the way, especially when their initial claim is denied. Others simply accept a lower than anticipated combined disability rating, even if they may have a case for a review, because the process of filing an appeal seems overwhelming or confusing.
The team at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick has worked on countless VA appeals, and we know that. receiving a denial does not mean your opportunity to win a grant of disability benefits is gone. Our team of veterans’ advocates may be able to assist you with filing your appeal and following up with VA until a decision regarding your appeal is made.
Working With Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD
Contact the veteran’s advocates at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD serving Sterling Heights, Michigan at 800-544-9144 for a complimentary review of your case. Our team will determine if we are able to assist you with challenging a VA decision and get you the benefits to which you are entitled.
Sterling Heights Blog Posts
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Gulf War Veterans Remain at Risk of Gulf War Illness Years LaterAbout the GWI Study Chronic multisymptom illness/Gulf War illness (CMI/GWI) is the defining illness of the 1990-1991 Gulf War; however, few studies have examined changes over time in the prevalence of these conditions. Understanding the burden of chronic multisymptom illness/Gulf War illness (CMI/GWI) as Gulf War veterans age is critical to estimating current and future […]
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VA Disability Ratings for Lumbosacral StrainLumbosacral Strain Explained A lumbosacral strain is a medical term for an injury that causes low back pain. Specifically, the lumbosacral area refers to the low back and exists between the bottom of the ribcage and the top of the buttocks. Generally speaking, a strain is defined as a tearing of muscles and tendons. Importantly, […]
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House Committee on Veterans Affairs Holds Hearing: “VA 2030: A Vision for the Future of VA”On February 27, 2019, the United States House of Representatives, Full Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing: “VA 2030: A Vision for the Future of VA”. Generally speaking, the committee is responsible for recommending (1) the expansion or curtailing of legislation, and (2) the fine-tuning of existing laws, relating to veterans’ benefits. The committee […]