Veterans (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Portsmouth, NH

Are you a veteran living in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with a service-related disabling condition?  If so, you may qualify for disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

If you filed a claim but VA denied you benefits, a Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD veterans (VA) disability lawyer may be able to help you appeal the decision.  Reach out to CCK today at 800-544-9144 for a complimentary consultation.

VA Resources Serving Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Veterans living in Portsmouth, NH can access VA services from several VA locations, including a VA clinic and a Regional Benefit Office.

VA Clinic

The Portsmouth VA Clinic provides primary care, mental health care, and specialty services to veterans living in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  To learn more or schedule an appointment, veterans can visit the Portsmouth VA Clinic website or call 603-624-4366 x3199.

Regional Office

The Manchester Regional Office administers a variety of VA services, such as disability compensation, insurance, education programs, loan guaranty, Veterans Readiness and Employment, and pension.  The Regional Office also provides counseling about eligibility and how to apply for VA benefits and other outreach programs.

New Hampshire veterans can visit the Manchester Regional Office website to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment.

How to Get VA Compensation in Portsmouth

To secure VA disability compensation for your service-related disabling condition, you must have evidence of the following three things:

• 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 current disability.

Establishing a link between the in-service event and your current disabling condition is essential to proving service connection.  VA typically schedules a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam to fulfill this nexus element, but you can also visit a private physician to get a nexus opinion.

VA Disability Compensation Levels

Once service connection is established, VA will assign a disability rating, ranging from 0 to 100 percent, to your condition.

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 a combined disability rating of 30 percent or higher may receive additional compensation for each qualifying dependent.  Dependents include:

• A spouse
• Children under the age of 18
• Children between the ages of 18 and 23 who are attending school
• A dependent parent

What Benefits Does a 100% Disabled Veteran Get?

As mentioned above, a 100 percent disabled veteran receives $3,332.06 per month as of December 1st, 2021.  Veterans with 100 percent disability ratings may also qualify for enrollment in VA’s Health Care Priority Group 1 and the Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, as well as emergency care outside of VA, military identification cards, and more.

How to Appeal a VA Decision Portsmouth, New Hampshire

If VA issues a full or partial denial of your claim, you have the option to file an appeal.  Appealing a VA decision in Portsmouth, NH can be done in one of three ways:

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

A veteran (VA) disability attorney serving Portsmouth, NH at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you develop and submit your appeal.  If you believe you are entitled to VA compensation, call 800-544-9144 to schedule a free consultation.

How Much Can a Veterans (VA) Disability Lawyer Charge?

It is important to note that VA regulates how much a lawyer or agent can be paid under 38 CFR § 14.636.  An accredited veterans (VA) disability attorney typically charges on a contingency basis, meaning they will take a previously agreed upon percentage of recovered retroactive benefits.  Veterans’ advocates and attorneys cannot take a percentage of any future benefits the veteran may win.

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

Was Your VA Claim Denied in Portsmouth, NH?

If VA denied your claim for benefits, a Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD veterans (VA) disability attorney serving Portsmouth, NH may be able to help.  Call 800-544-9144 to schedule your complimentary consultation with a member of our team.