Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Chattanooga, Tennessee
If you are living with a disabling medical condition stemming from your military service in Chattanooga, Tennessee, you may qualify for a grant of benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For eligible veterans, VA will pay monthly disability benefits based on your combined disability rating. There are many resources available to veterans in the Tennessee Valley that offer information and support when filing a disability benefits claim.
If VA denies your claim, a veteran (VA) disability lawyer serving Chattanooga, Tennessee from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you challenge the decision and get you a grant of benefits. Call (844) 549-4500 to speak to one of our veterans’ advocates today.
Chattanooga, Tennessee, VA Regional Benefit Office
The closest VA regional benefit office to Chattanooga is about 120 miles away, in Nashville. The Nashville Regional Benefit Office is northwest of Chattanooga, about two hours away by car. However, you may not need to travel to this office to get help, file your claim, or challenge a denial.
Instead, you can get help with your application for VA benefits over the phone by calling (800) 827-1000. If you would prefer to speak to someone in person, there are additional options in and around Hamilton County and in the greater tri-state area.
Vet Centers Serving Chattanooga, Tennessee
While there is no VA regional benefit office in Chattanooga, there are places where veterans and their families may be able to learn about the benefits they may qualify for or file an initial claim. The Chattanooga Vet Center provides a wide range of services, and staff may be able to offer assistance. You can reach this facility by calling (423) 855-6570 to learn more.
In addition, a VA clinic or medical center will likely have staff that can give you more information about possible VA benefits. There are also Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Offices in Huntsville, Knoxville, and Nashville that provide many services for veterans with service-connected medical conditions.
VA Clinics Serving Chattanooga, Tennessee
There are two VA outpatient clinics where veterans can receive primary care in Chattanooga. For specialty care or treatment that requires hospitalization, the closest VA medical center is in Murfreesboro, TN. The two Chattanooga-area outpatient clinics include:
- Chattanooga VA Clinic, 6098 Debra Road, 6200 Building, Suite 5200, Chattanooga, TN 37411-5702
- Pointe Centre VA Clinic, 1208 Pointe Centre, Pointe Centre Properties, Suite 100, Chattanooga, TN 37421-3989
The VA medical center that serves the Tennessee Valley region is the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, and there are two inpatient campuses to serve veterans. These include the Nashville Campus and the Alvin C. York Campus in Murfreesboro.
It is important to know about your options for medical care and to be aware of these facilities, as having a current diagnosis of a medical condition is typically one of the requirements for getting a grant of service connection.
If you qualify for VA medical care, you can see a doctor at any of the facilities on this list. Alternatively, you can also see a private physician if that is your preference and that is available to you. With your permission, the rating specialist or other VA employee can request your medical records and evidence from your doctor when evaluating your claim.
Appealing a Denial of VA Benefits
If you are in the Chattanooga area and VA denied your claim for disability benefits, you have the right to challenge that decision. You also have the right to a representative if you choose, such as an attorney. A veteran (VA) disability lawyer serving Chattanooga, Tennessee from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you gather more supporting evidence, ensure you meet critical deadlines, and build a strong case for appeal.
In most cases, getting 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.
Whether you are filing your initial claim or challenging a wrongful denial, it is important to keep these three factors in mind. Oftentimes, your medical and military service records are important pieces of evidence that can support your claim or appeal.
If VA denied your initial claim, you have three options to fight the denial under the Appeals Modernization Act:
- File a supplemental claim with which you submit new and relevant evidence;
- Request a higher-level review of your file by a more senior VA staff member; or
- File a notice of disagreement with which you can request a hearing and/or submit additional evidence with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
You have one year following VA’s decision on your claim to file an appeal.
How CCK Veterans’ Advocates Serving Chattanooga, TN Can Help
A veteran (VA) disability lawyer serving Chattanooga, Tennessee from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you overturn a wrongful benefits denial and secure a grant of benefits from VA for your service-related medical condition.
Reach out to Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD today at (844) 549-4500 to discuss your case with a member of our team. All of our initial consultations are free, and we will review your case to see if we can assist.
Chattanooga Blog Posts
- CCK LIVE: Recent Federal Circuit Rulings and Their Impact on Veterans
CCK Partner Zach Stolz sat down with fellow CCK Partner Barbara Cook and VA appellate practitioner Kerry Baker to discuss two recent rulings from the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and how they impact veterans’ claims: Acree v. O’Rourke and Martin v. O’Rourke. Play What Is the Court of Appeals for […]
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Government shutdowns have been increasingly common throughout recent history, leading many veterans to wonder how this affects VA benefits. A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass, or the president refuses to sign, a spending bill to fund the federal government’s operations. This causes a disruption to normal government functions. Since VA benefits are […]
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