Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Waco, Texas

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grants benefits for Waco, Texas, military veterans who suffer a qualifying health condition. All too often, though, VA denies these veterans disability benefits. If this happened to you, a Waco, Texas VA disability attorney from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you appeal the decision.

If we believe VA wrongfully denied your claim or did not have all the available information to approve your claim, we can help you file an appeal to get you the benefits you deserve. Call (800) 544-9144 now to speak with a veterans (VA) disability lawyer serving Texas, on our team.

Waco VA Regional Benefit Office

Waco Regional Office

Waco VA Local Benefit Offices

Waco Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Office

Waco Regional Benefits Satellite Office at Waco VA Medical Center

Waco VA Medical Center

Doris Miller Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Qualifying for VA Disability Benefits Based on Your Medical Condition

VA disability compensation helps veterans who suffer from a wide range of medical conditions. If your service-connected medical condition stops you from working as often, actively participating in some activities, or otherwise limits your abilities, you can file a claim based on your condition.

If you have a medical condition that occurred or became worse because of your military service, you may qualify for benefits through VA. This could include monetary benefits, health care benefits, and more.

Understanding the VA Disability Claims Process in Waco, TX

A little information can go a long way, so it’s important to understand how the Waco, Texas, VA disability claims process works. Generally, an approval, or grant, requires three things:

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

To get approved, though, you must have adequate documentation of each of the above. Challenges with documentation could include:

• Problems obtaining your service records, including missing or destroyed records
• Issues obtaining your medical records from non-VA providers
• A weak medical nexus that requires additional support

Then, if VA grants your claim, a VA rating specialist will assign you a disability rating based on:

• Your condition
• The severity of your condition
• How your condition affects your ability to work and your ability to accomplish the tasks of daily life

If you have only one service-connected condition, your disability rating determines the amount of disability compensation you receive each month from VA. If you have multiple service-connected conditions, VA will create a “combined disability rating” to determine your monthly benefit amount.

You Can Challenge a Denial or Low Disability Rating

There are several reasons why you may want to appeal a decision related to your VA disability claim. Two reasons you may want to enter the appeals process include:

• VA denied your claim for disability compensation benefits
• The disability rating you received was too low compared to your condition

You can appeal your VA’s decision on your claim within one year of receiving the decision. So, as long as you reach out to VA disability attorneys from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD within one year from the date on your decision letter, we can review your case and explain your options for challenging VA’s decision.

If you decide to appeal your claim following an application for VA monetary benefits, reach out to our team of veterans (VA) disability lawyers serving Waco, Texas today at (800) 544-9144 to see if we can help.

Navigating the Waco, Texas VA Disability Appeals Process

With the passage of the VA Appeals Modernization Act of 2017, VA completely overhauled the appeals system for all decisions made after February 19, 2019. If your decision falls into this new appeals system, you have three options for challenging a denial or other VA decision. The three options, or lanes, under the new appeals system include:

• Higher-Level Review. Requesting a second review by a senior VA rating specialist. In other words, getting a second opinion from a VA rater, using the same supporting evidence you submitted with your initial claim.
• Supplemental Claim. Under this option, you must submit new and relevant evidence to support your claim for VA to consider.
• Board of Veterans’ Appeals/Notice of Disagreement. This option takes your claim directly to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals in Washington, DC. Depending on whether you submit new evidence and/or request a hearing with a Veterans Law Judge, your claim may take more or less time to be processed ad adjudicated by the Board.

If you have a strong case for service connection and there is sufficient time to challenge the decision, we can take on your case and represent you through the entire appeals process.

One of our VA disability attorneys will help you understand which of the appeal options will work best for you, based on the facts of your case and the available evidence

From years of experience, our attorneys know how to navigate the VA appeals process and present a strong case for your VA disability benefits claim. We will help you obtain all of your relevant service records and medical records.

Talk to a Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Waco, Texas

Let one of our veterans’ advocates at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD determine if we can assist you as part of a complimentary consultation.  We understand how important VA disability benefits can be to you and your family and we will fight to help you get the disability compensation you deserve.

Call us at (800) 544-9144 today to discuss your case with a veterans (VA) disability lawyer serving Waco, Texas.