A National Force in Veterans Disability Law

About Our Veterans Law Practice

CCK Law Serves Those Who Served Our Country

Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick assists individual veterans with their VA disability appeals, taking pride in serving those who have served our country. Our firm has represented over 36,000 veterans or dependents before VA regional offices, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. With a nationwide practice, over 100 individuals who are accredited by VA or admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and one of the largest veterans law litigation teams in the country, we are equipped to represent veterans in a variety of highly technical and complex actions and appeals, including total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU), Special Monthly Compensation, permanent and total (P&T) disability ratings, exposure to environmental contaminants and herbicides, and much more.

What benefits do disabled veterans receive?

Veterans law is among the most complex areas in the U.S. legal system, and VA is one of the largest bureaucracies in the world. This results in veterans not receiving many of the benefits that Congress intended for them, including monthly compensation, health care, training and education, and dependent support. Our firm is committed to helping veterans receive any VA disability benefits that they might be entitled to. We have one of the largest VA-accredited teams of any law firm; we offer an array of services tailored to the needs we have seen reflected across over 36,000 clients, and we advocate constantly for improvements to laws and VA policies through thoughtful litigation and engagement with lawmakers and other advocates.

Some Types of VA Benefits

VA Disability Compensation – VA offers disability compensation as a tax-free monthly monetary benefit to qualifying veterans. Veterans who have one or more qualifying service-connected conditions (i.e., conditions incurred in or caused by active military duty) may be eligible for this benefit. After confirming service connection, VA assigns a disability rating to the veteran’s conditions. Disability ratings – ranging from 0 to 100 percent and increasing in severity by increments of 10 – determine a veteran’s monthly compensation rate. Veterans can file a disability benefits claim on VA’s website.

Dependency and Indemnity (DIC) Compensation – Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free, monthly benefit dispersed to surviving spouses, children, and sometimes parents of veterans whose death was related to military service or a service-connected condition. DIC has its own monthly rates separate from disability compensation.

VA Pension – VA offers Pension, or Veterans Non-Service-Connected Disability Pension, to wartime veterans who are 65 or older or have a permanent and total (P&T) non-service-connected disability, and who have limited income and net worth. Monthly payment amounts for VA pension are based on the difference between the veteran’s countable income and the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR), a limit on pension rates set by Congress.

Check out the full list of VA disability benefits.

File Your VA Disability Claim

If a veteran has a medical condition related to their active duty military service, they can file a claim for disability benefits with VA at any point following their service (however, there are exceptions). The sooner a veteran files a VA claim, the more benefits they are likely to receive.

To apply for disability compensation, military veterans should file a claim with VA through their website.

To reopen a previously denied claim (e.g., for PACT Act-related conditions), veterans can also file a Supplemental Claim by submitting “new and relevant” evidence.

If Your Claim Was Denied

If you received an unfavorable decision from VA, it is important to thoroughly read the Rating Decision letter. Pay attention to which condition(s) VA did or did not grant service connection, the individual disability ratings, and the effective date of benefits.

Under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), veterans have multiple appeal options from which they can select the one best suited to the unique needs of their case. These are:

• Higher-Level Review: Request a review of your current claim by a senior VA employee;
• Supplemental Claim: Submit new and relevant evidence as part of a Supplemental Claim; or
• Notice of Disagreement: File a Notice of Disagreement with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

Hiring a VA Disability Lawyer for Your Appeal

A VA disability lawyer can help take the burden of the VA appeals process off your shoulders. Veterans’ claims advocates and attorneys have knowledge and experience when it comes to navigating VA’s claims and appeals system.

How To Choose a Veterans Disability Lawyer

When researching representatives to handle your VA disability claim or appeal, it is important to determine whether a representative is accredited by VA. VA-accredited attorneys or representatives are individuals recognized by VA as legally authorized and capable of assisting claimants in pursuit of benefits before VA. Accreditation is crucial because it helps determine whether the representative meets or exceeds the minimum standards set forth by VA to represent you.

Claimants can use the VA Office of General Counsel (OGC) database to find out if the representative who wants to help them is accredited.

Other questions to consider when researching representatives: 

VA Disability Lawyers: Is It Worth It?

When working on your appeal, VA disability lawyers can help you gather supporting evidence (e.g., doctor’s reports, medical records, vocational evidence, lay statements, etc.). They can also file an appeal or related claim on your behalf.

Representatives are knowledgeable about the VA claims and appeals system and can track your claim, making sure you meet all of VA’s required deadlines for submitting documents and medical evidence. Veterans’ representatives should be committed to working collaboratively and keeping you informed and up to date on the progress of your case.

Having a veterans disability lawyer on your side may help you avoid any delays in the process which, in turn, can move your VA case faster. An experienced attorney may improve your chances of identifying and obtaining the maximum possible benefits related to your medical condition or situation.

Get a Free Case Evaluation From CCK Law

Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick has decades of experience representing tens of thousands of veterans before VA, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, the CAVC, and the Federal Circuit.

At CCK Law, we hold ourselves to the highest legal and ethical standards while ensuring that promises made to our clients are kept through focused, experienced, and compassionate advocacy. We offer an array of legal services tailored to our clients’ needs, based on decades of observing VA’s decision-making processes and the circumstances of each individual case.

If VA denied your claim for benefits or made a decision that you feel is in error, the accredited attorneys and claims advocates at CCK Law may be able to help you contest the decision. Contact CCK Law today at 800-544-9144 to schedule your free case evaluation.