Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Michigan

Veterans who suffer from disabling medical conditions linked to their military service deserve to receive the disability benefits to which they are entitled. Unfortunately, proving this can be difficult, a reality many veterans are confronted with when they receive a denial of their benefits application.

While appealing the denial is possible, the process is a bureaucratic labyrinth that can be difficult to navigate alone. A veterans disability lawyer serving Michigan at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD can help. Call today for a free consultation: 800-544-9144.

Michigan VA Benefit Resources

Michigan VA Regional Benefit Office

Detroit: Detroit Regional Benefit Office

Michigan VA Medical Centers

Michigan VA Statistics

As of 2016, Michigan has:

• More than 608,000 residents who are military veterans (over eight percent of its adult population)
• Over 100,000 state residents receiving VA disability benefits
• Over 230,000 veterans currently enrolled in the VA health care system (154,000 of which have sought treatment at a VA medical center)

Over 51 percent of Michigan’s veterans are 65 or older; almost five percent are military retirees (meaning that they completed enough military service to reach full retirement).

Building a Compelling Appeal in Michigan

Winning VA disability benefits can be a tall order, but you have a better chance of receiving a grant if your appeal provides proof of the following:

• A medical diagnosis of a disabling medical condition;
• An in-service event, injury, or illness; and
• A link between your medical condition and the in-service event, illness, or injury.

It is vital that we establish a link, known as a “nexus” between your military service and your diagnosis. Avenues by which we can argue service connection are:

• Presumptive service connection: In some cases, the VA will assume your condition was caused by service. For example, veterans who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975 and suffer from certain medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, are assumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange.
• Direct service connection: Direct service connection means we can establish a link between your condition and your service. For example, we can look into your medical and service records and consult with a medical expert to determine that your traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a result of blowback from an explosion.
• Secondary service connection: Secondary service connection means that the condition in question is not directly linked to your service. However, we can help you obtain disability benefits if we can prove that the condition in question stemmed from an already service-connected condition. For example, if you suffer from hypertension as a result of your service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2, we can help you obtain compensation for the hypertension.

To establish direct or secondary service connection, we can gather evidence such as your military service records, medical records, lab test results, and lay evidence.

VA Disability Compensation Levels

The disability ratings VA assigns you for each condition combine to determine your combined disability rating, a percentage between 0 and 100 that corresponds with how disabled the VA believes you are. As your VA disability attorneys, we work to build a case that makes clear the full extent of your condition.

The higher your combined disability rating, the more compensation you will receive.

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: $171.23 per month
• 20 percent disability rating: $338.49 per month
• 30 percent disability rating: $524.31 per month
• 40 percent disability rating: $755.28 per month
• 50 percent disability rating: $1,075.16 per month
• 60 percent disability rating: $1,361.88 per month
• 70 percent disability rating: $1,716.28 per month
• 80 percent disability rating: $1,995.01 per month
• 90 percent disability rating: $2,241.91 per month
• 100 percent disability rating: $3,737.85 per month

These compensation amounts assume you are a single veteran with no dependents. If you have a spouse, children, or parents who depend on you, and your disability rating is 30 percent or above, you could receive additional monthly compensation for these dependents.

Call 800-544-9144 to Discuss Your Case During a Free Consultation

At Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD, we believe that our veterans deserve the best and we want to help you get every benefit you deserve. For a free consultation, call 800-544-9144 today.