Veterans (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Helena, Montana

If you are a veteran living in Helena, Montana with a disabling condition related to your military service, you may qualify for disability compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

If VA denied you benefits for your service-related condition, you can appeal the decision.  A Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD veterans (VA) disability lawyer serving Helena, Montana may be able to help you with the appeal process.

Call CCK today at 800-544-9144 to schedule a free consultation.

VA Facilities Serving Helena, Montana

There are several facilities offering VA services to veterans living in Helena, Montana, including a VA Clinic, a VA Medical Center, a Regional Office, and a Vet Center.

VA Clinics

The Helena VA Clinic treats sleep disorders and conducts sleep studies for veterans.  Veterans can learn more or schedule an appointment by calling 406-447-7443.

Veterans can also access additional health services at the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center.  This medical center offers primary care, mental health care, physical therapy, surgery, gynecology, emergency care, and more.

VA Regional Office

The Fort Harrison Regional Office administers several VA services for veterans living in Helena and across Montana, including disability compensation, pension, loan guaranty, outreach, and more.

VA Outstation

The community-based Helena Outstation provides sociological and psychological services to veterans in a setting outside of VA health care.  Services include mental health screenings, drug and alcohol assistance, family counseling, employment assistance, suicide prevention, and more.

The Helena Outstation can be reached at 406-457-8060.

Securing VA Disability Compensation in Helena

To secure a VA disability compensation, veterans must establish the three elements of service connection.  These are:

• An in-service event, injury, or illness;
• A current diagnosis of a disabling condition by a medical professional; and
• A nexus, or link, between the in-service event and disability.

To fulfill the nexus element, a medical professional can provide a nexus opinion for your claim, or VA may schedule a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam to determine if there is a connection between the in-service occurrence and your current disability.  C&P exams also help VA decide your disability rating.

VA disability ratings usually range from 0 to 100 percent and increase in severity by increments of 10.  If you have multiple service-connected conditions, VA assigns a combined disability rating, which is essentially your individually rated conditions combined using VA math.  Your combined disability rating will then determine your monthly compensation rate.

As of December 1st, 2023 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

Veterans with 100 percent disability ratings may also qualify for special monthly compensation (SMC), additional compensation for dependents, enrollment in VA’s Health Care Priority Group 1, the Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, and more.

Appealing a VA Denial of Benefits in Helena, Montana

If VA denied your claim for disability compensation, there are three ways to appeal the decision:

• Higher-Level Review: Request a review of your current claim by a senior VA employee;
• Supplemental Claim: Submit new and relevant evidence as part of a Supplemental Claim; or
• Notice of Disagreement: File a Notice of Disagreement with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

Should I Get a Veterans (VA) Disability Attorney?

Veterans (VA) disability attorneys can assist you throughout the appeal process and even represent you before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals or Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).

It is important to note that VA regulates who can represent a veteran and how much they can be paid under 38 CFR § 14.636.  Veterans (VA) disability lawyers or accredited claims agents charge fees based on recovered retroactive benefits only.  Representatives are not allowed to take a percentage of any future benefits.

Fees equal to or below 20 percent are considered reasonable by VA, while anything above 33.3 percent is presumed unreasonable.

Was Your Claim for VA Benefits in Helena Denied?

If VA denied your claim, a Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD veterans (VA) lawyer serving Helena, Montana may be able to help.  Our team of experienced and knowledgeable attorneys know what it takes to secure disability compensation for veterans on an appeal.

Call us today at 800-544-9144to schedule a complimentary case evaluation.