Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

If you have a service-connected medical condition that affects your everyday life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, you may be eligible to receive U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits. There are resources available in Philadelphia to help you prepare and file your claim.

If you already filed a claim for VA disability benefits and received a denial, a VA disability lawyer serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD can review your case and may be able to appeal the decision. Call (800) 544-9144 for a complimentary case review.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania VA Regional Benefit Office

The Philadelphia Regional Benefit Office serves Philadelphia and the eastern part of Pennsylvania. This office is located at 5000 Wissahickon Avenue in Philadelphia, PA. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Regional benefit offices provide support and guidance to military veterans and their families. Staff at this facility can help you understand VA benefits available and help you prepare your claim.

There is also VA regional benefit office in Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Benefit Office

While VA regional benefit office is nearby and staff can provide you with assistance for preparing and filing your claim, some veterans prefer to work with The Philadelphia Veterans Advisory Commission for support related to their claim. This office can help you and your family identify all potential local, state, and federal benefits and discuss your eligibility.

The Philadelphia Veterans Advisory Commission office is in Room 127 of the Philadelphia City Hall. You may access this location through the courtyard. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Their services are available to veterans and their families for free.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania VA Medical Center

Your medical records and the documentation of your service-related medical condition can play a significant role in your VA disability case. You must have a diagnosis for a current physical or mental condition before you apply. Without documentation of your condition in your medical records, you may not be eligible for compensation through VA.

If you qualify, you may be able to seek care at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia. This facility is located at 3900 Woodland Avenue.

In addition, this VA medical center runs several community-based outpatient clinics, including:

• Victor J. Saracini VA Outpatient Clinic in Horsham, PA
• Burlington County, NJ, VA Clinic
• Gloucester County, NJ, VA Clinic
• Camden, NJ, VA Clinic

While you require a diagnosis and documentation of your condition, VA does not have a preference about who diagnoses your condition or oversees your care. This diagnosis can be from a private primary care doctor, an emergency room physician, VA doctor, or a military doctor who diagnosed you in the field.

Building a Compelling Case to Overturn a Philadelphia VA Disability Benefits Denial

If your initial claim for VA disability benefits in Philadelphia was denied, you have one year from the date of your denial to act. You may be able to identify the reason for your denial, gather additional evidence to support your claim, build a compelling argument to overturn the denial, and secure disability compensation. A VA disability lawyer serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to assist you during the appeals process.

Generally, a grant of benefits requires three things:

• An in-service event, injury, or illness;
• A current diagnosis by a medical professional; and
• A link between your in-service event, injury, or illness and your current diagnosis

VA requires that you submit evidence as part of your claim to prove that you meet these three criteria. Without evidence that you likely meet all three factors, you may not receive a grant of benefits. In some cases, VA may determine a link between your service and health condition without evidence, such as when a veteran’s illness is the result of contact with hazardous materials or time spent as a POW.

If VA rejects your initial claim, a VA disability lawyer serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to determine how to proceed. In other cases, we can obtain the supporting documentation to try to pinpoint what is missing. We may be able to identify alternative forms of evidence, such as written statements from friends and family, to fill in any gaps missing from service records.

Under the Appeals Modernization Act there are now three options for veterans who wish to appeal a denial of VA benefits in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

• Requesting a Higher-Level Review by a more senior VA employee;
• Filing a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence; and
• Filing a Notice of Disagreement asking the Board of Veterans’ Appeals in Washington, DC to review your case.

We may be able to instruct you on which option best fits your unique situation and guide you through the process. We handle these cases on a contingency basis, meaning we only collect attorney’s fees if we win you a grant of retroactive benefits. Call us today at (800) 544-9144 to discuss your options for appealing a benefits denial.

Talk to VA Disability Attorney Serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

If you received a denial in response to your VA disability claim, a VA disability lawyer serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help. You have a right to request reconsideration or file an appeal for up to a year following VA’s decision.

Discuss your options with one of our veterans advocates for free today by calling (800) 544-9144.