Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Erie, Pennsylvania

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers disability compensation for veterans living with a service-connected medical condition in Erie, Pennsylvania. There are resources available to help you file a claim and find out if you qualify for these benefits.

If VA denies your initial claim, Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help. A member of the team can review your claim for free today. You may be able to secure disability benefits by filing an appeal through the VA decision reviews and appeals process.

Call (844) 549-4500 now to speak with a CCK representative serving Erie, Pennsylvania.

VA Regional Benefit Offices Serving Erie, Pennsylvania

There are two VA Regional Benefit Offices serving Pennsylvania. The closest one to Erie is in Pittsburgh. There is also a Philadelphia Regional Office that serves the eastern part of the state.

The Pittsburgh Regional Office provides many resources for military veterans and their families. Not only can staff members help veterans understand if they qualify for benefits, but they can assist in gathering evidence and filing claims.

This office is also most likely where a rating specialist will review your claim and any supporting documents.  If you do not submit evidence, they may request your medical and service records to determine if you qualify.

However, most Erie veterans may not have to visit the Regional Office. There are similar resources available in Erie to help you prepare and file for VA disability compensation.

VA Services in Erie, Pennsylvania,

If you have questions about VA benefits or need help with your disability claim, the Erie County Department of Veterans Affairs offers free assistance. You can call (814) 451-6265 to learn more.

The Erie County Department of Veterans Affairs office is located at 140 West 6th Street. The staff at this office can explain your eligibility and may be able to help you gather evidence to develop your claim.

VA Medical Center Serving Erie, Pennsylvania

All VA disability benefits cases require proof of a service-connected and current medical condition. If you do not have a diagnosis of your disability, it may be very difficult to get approved for VA disability benefits.

How to Get a Diagnosis for VA Disability Benefits

There are few ways to get a medical examination to prove your service-related disability. You can see your private physician, , or schedule a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam at a VA facility.

The Erie VA Medical Center is located at 135 East 38th Street Boulevard. This full-service facility provides primary care and has a wide range of specialists. In some rare cases, they may refer you to another facility.

Appealing an Erie VA Decision

When you file a claim for VA disability compensation in Erie, securing an grant of benefits generally requires proof of 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 the rating specialist does not feel you have met these requirements, they may issue a denial. If this happens to you, you still have the option to file an appeal  Please note that it is critical to submit your appeal within one year from the date of VA’s notification.

If you received a notification of denial, we encourage you to reach out to Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD by calling 800-544-9144. One of our veteran (VA) disability attorneys serving Erie, PA can review your case for free. We may be able to assist you in gathering additional evidence to challenge VA’s decision.

There are three ways to file an appeal under the Appeals Modernization Act implemented in February 2019:

• Request a Higher-Level Review of your existing claim;
• File a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence; or
• Submit a Notice of Disagreement to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

How a CCK Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Erie, Pennsylvania Can Help

The team at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD understands that the VA Claims and Appeals Process can be frustrating. If you have a service-related medical condition but VA denied you compensation, you still may be able to secure benefits by filing a formal appeal.

A CCK veterans’ advocate can review your case for free today. Call 800-544-9144 now to get started.