Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Islip, New York
Are you a military veteran living with a service-related disability in Islip, New York? If so, you may qualify for monthly disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA disability benefits can partially or fully supplement your income depending on your combined disability rating.
If VA denied you benefits based on your initial claim or you disagree with your combined disability rating, a Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD veterans (VA) disability attorney serving Islip, New York can review your claim for free. Call (800) 544-9144 today to discuss your options with a member of our team.
VA Benefit Offices Serving Islip, New York
If you live in Islip, the New York Regional Benefit Office will most likely handle your VA disability claim. This office, located on W. Houston Street in New York City, is where a rating specialist will determine if you qualify for benefits.
It is not necessary to visit this office during the claims or appeal process. If you have questions or concerns about filing your claim, the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency may be able to help. They may also inform you about local and state benefits and any additional VA and federal benefit programs for which you may qualify.
There are currently two Suffolk County benefit offices: Hauppauge and Riverhead. You can make an appointment at the office closest to you by calling:
- Hauppauge at (631) 853-VETS; or
- Riverhead at (631) 852-1410.
VA Clinics Serving Islip, New York
To prove you meet the criteria for VA disability benefits, you must have a current medical diagnosis from a private physician or VA doctor.
If you do not have a current diagnosis and want to discuss your condition with a VA doctor, there is a primary care clinic in Bay Shore. The Bay Shore VA Clinic is located at 132 East Main Street.
If you require services not available in Bayshore, you may be referred to the Northport VA Medical Center. This VA Medical Center is only about 20 miles away from Islip.
Appealing a VA Disability Benefits Denial
VA has strict standards for awarding disability benefits to veterans. Generally, a grant of benefits requires 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.
To prove these three things, you may need to gather relevant medical and service records, and other documents linking your current disability to the in-service occurrence. If you submit your claim without evidence, a rating specialist will request permission to obtain these documents.
Sometimes, even if you have the right documentation, the VA may still deny your initial claim. When this happens, you can appeal the decision. It may be beneficial to understand what led to your denial in order to develop a compelling case for your appeal.
On February 19, 2019, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (AMA) was implemented. With this new system in place, there are now three ways to appeal a VA decision:
- Requesting a Higher-Level Review by a senior VA employee;
- Filing a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence for the VA to consider alongside your initial claim; and
- Submitting a Notice of Disagreement to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
To learn more about challenging a VA decision in Islip, NY, reach out to Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD today at (800) 544-9144. A veteran (VA) disability attorney serving Islip may be able to assist you with filing an appeal.
Reach Out to CCK Today
If VA denied your Islip, New York disability claim, you have the right to challenge this decision. Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD offers free case reviews. Our team of veteran (VA) disability lawyers serving Islip may be able to help you secure a grant of VA benefits.
Call (800) 544-9144 today to speak with a member of our team.
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