Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Port Jefferson, New York
If you are a veteran living in Port Jefferson, NY and have a service-related condition affecting your ability to work or complete daily activities, you may qualify for disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA disability benefits provide veterans with monthly compensation based their combined disability rating, as assigned by VA.
If VA denied you benefits or assigned a lower than expected disability rating, you can challenge the decision. A Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD veterans (VA) disability attorney serving Port Jefferson, New York may be able to help. Call (800) 544-9144 today for a free case review by a member of our team.
VA Regional Benefit Office
The New York Regional Benefit Office, located in downtown Manhattan at 245 W. Houston Street, serves Port Jefferson and the rest of Suffolk County.
If you live on Long Island, you do not need to travel into the city to file your claim. While your claim will most likely be reviewed by a rating specialist from the New York Regional Benefit Office, this process takes place remotely.
Local Benefit Offices Serving Port Jefferson, New York
If you have questions about filing your claim, the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency can help. Not only can this agency help you submit your initial claim, but it may also be able to help you with:
- Understanding if you qualify for VA disability benefits;
- Explaining different types of benefits;
- Helping you gather evidence to support your VA disability claim;
- Understanding the process of how a rating specialist determines if you qualify;
- Answering your questions about the claims process and VA disability benefits;
- Identifying other benefits you could receive based on your unique circumstances.
The closest Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency office is located at 100 Veterans Memorial Highway in the administrative building in Hauppauge. You can reach this office by calling (631) 853-VETS.
Another option is to visit the Riverhead VA Clinic located at 300 Center Drive. You can make an appointment by calling (631) 852-1410.
VA Medical Center Serving Port Jefferson, New York
The closest VA medical center to Port Jefferson is about 13 miles away in Northport. The Northport VA Medical Center is a VA hospital that provides a wide range of primary and specialty care, including both outpatient and inpatient services. This Middleville Road facility serves not only Suffolk County, but also Nassau County and the five boroughs of New York City.
If your private physician has already diagnosed and detailed your service-related disability, you most likely do not have to see a VA doctor. The rating specialist should consider your current doctor’s opinion with the same weight they would a VA doctor.
Appealing a Benefits Denial
Generally, a grant of VA disability 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.
If any of these components lack strong evidence, or if the rating specialist overlooks key proof, you may be denied benefits. However, there are still options for securing disability benefits.
You have one year from the date on your decision notice to file an appeal. There are three ways to appeal a VA disability denial in Port Jefferson:
- Request a Higher-Level Review by a senior VA employee;
- Submit a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence to support your initial claim; or
- File a Notice of Disagreement with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
Contact Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD at (800) 544-9144 to see if we can assist you in filing an appeal. We may be able to help you build a compelling case and fight a wrongful denial of your VA disability benefits. We can use our knowledge of this process to identify the best appeals lane for your case.
How a Veteran (VA) Disability Attorney Serving Port Jefferson, New York Can Help
If VA denied your disability claim, a Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD veteran (VA) disability lawyer serving Port Jefferson, New York may be able to challenge the decision and secure you monthly compensation.
Call us today at (800) 544-9144 to speak with a member of the CCK team serving Port Jefferson, New York.
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VA Disability Ratings for Skin ConditionsVA Updates Disability Rating Schedule Related to Skin Conditions In August 2018, VA made updates to all 15 body systems included in the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities to reflect modern medicine more accurately and provide clearer rating decisions. In doing so, VA made changes to how it evaluates conditions related to the skin. […]
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