Veterans (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Fayetteville, NC

Are you a veteran living in Fayetteville, North Carolina with a disabling condition related to your military service?  If so, you may qualify for disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

If VA denied your claim for compensation, a veterans (VA) disability lawyer serving Fayetteville, NC at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you appeal the denial.  Call CCK today at 800-544-9144 for a free consultation.

VA Resources in Fayetteville, NC

VA provides services to Fayetteville veterans at several different locations, including a VA Regional Office, a VA Medical Center, and a Vet Center.

VA Medical Center

The Fayetteville VA Medical Center, open 24/7, provides health care for veterans in southeastern North Carolina.  Health services offered at the Medical Center include primary care, mental health care, dental and oral surgery, laboratory and pathology services, optometry, and more.  In addition, the Fayetteville Medical Center offers telehealth services over video call or the phone.

VA Regional Office

The Winston-Salam Regional Office administers a variety of VA services for veterans living throughout North Carolina, including in Fayetteville.  These services include disability compensation, education programs, loan guaranty, pension, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), outreach programs, and more.  Fayetteville veterans can schedule an in-person or virtual appointment at the Regional Office through VA’s Visitor Engagement Reporting Application (VERA).

Vet Center

The Fayetteville, NC Vet Center provides nonmedical, confidential help for veterans and their families living in the Fayetteville area.  Services include counseling for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of MSTs.

How to Get VA Benefits in Fayetteville, North Carolina

To qualify for VA disability compensation, disabled veterans living in Fayetteville must have proof 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 disability.

If these criteria are met, VA will assign a disability rating to the veteran’s disabling condition.  Disability ratings range from 0 to 100 and increase by increments of 10.  Generally, the more severe the symptoms, the higher the rating.

If a veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities, VA “adds” the individual ratings together using VA math to get a combined disability rating.  Combined disability ratings determine a veteran’s monthly benefit amount.

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

Additional Benefits for Dependents

Veterans with a combined disability rating of 30 percent or higher may be eligible for compensation for any qualifying dependents.  Dependents can include:

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

Increasing Your Disability Rating

If VA incorrectly evaluated your condition and assigned a rating that does not accurately reflect the severity of your symptoms, you can request an increased rating.  There are several ways to do so:

• File an appeal within VA’s deadlines (one year for most types of appeals);
• File a new claim for an increased rating;
• File for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) if your service-connected condition renders you unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment;
• File a claim for secondary service connection if you have symptoms or conditions resulting from an already service-connected disability.

A CCK veterans (VA) disability lawyer serving Fayetteville, NC may also be able to help you with this process.

How to Appeal a VA Decision

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

• 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 (BVA).

If VA denies your appeal, you can file another appeal through a different appeal lane.  This CCK interactive tool can help you determine which lane to choose next if this occurs.

How CCK Can Help You Secure VA Benefits

If VA denied your claim, a Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD veterans (VA) lawyer serving Fayetteville, NC may be able to help.  The team of experienced advocates and attorneys at CCK knows how to win VA disability benefits for veterans who deserve them.  Call us today at 800-544-9144 for a free consultation.