Veteran (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Norfolk, Virginia
You may qualify for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits if you have a currently diagnosed medical condition stemming from military service. There are veterans’ advocates in Norfolk, Virginia who may be able to help you understand your eligibility and prepare your application.
If you applied for VA disability benefits and received a denial, call (401) 237-6412 for a complimentary consultation with a veterans’ advocate serving Norfolk, Virginia.
VA Regional Benefit Office(s) Serving Norfolk, Virginia
Two regional benefit offices serve Virginia: the Roanoke Regional Benefit Office or the National Capital Regional Office in D.C. Staff at either of these facilities can help you to learn more about eligibility for VA disability and how to apply, as well as answer any questions about VA healthcare eligibility.
Norfolk, Virginia Benefits Office
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services is available to veterans in the Norfolk area, as well as:
- Southampton County
- Sussex County
- Isle of Wight County
- Chesapeake
- Franklin
- Portsmouth
- Suffolk
- Virginia Beach
The main office is in Norfolk, at 6350 Center Drive, Building 5, Suite 100. The Norfolk Benefits Offices also offers additional services at other nearby locations, including:
- Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story on the second, third, and fourth Thursday of each month.
- Naval Air Station Oceana on the first Thursday of each month.
- Virginia Beach on the third Thursday of each month.
- Damneck on the first and third Wednesday of each month.
The staff at any of these locations can identify the benefits available to you and your family, and help you prepare and file your claim.
VA Medical Center Serving Norfolk, Virginia
A diagnosis of a disabling condition is typically necessary to be eligible for monthly VA disability compensation benefits. While there is no VA medical facility in Norfolk, there are several nearby options if you want to see a VA doctor for a diagnosis, including:
These outpatient clinics offer primary care services and referrals for secondary and tertiary services. In addition, Norfolk is less than 20 miles from the Hampton VA Medical Center in Hampton, Virginia.
You can also receive a diagnosis from your personal physician or a specialist at a private facility. You can submit these medical records with your claim, or give VA authorization to request them for you.
You Have One Year to Challenge VA Disability Denial
If you received a denial based on your VA disability application and want to challenge VA’s decision, you have one year from the date on your denial notice to file an appeal in VA’s modernized appeals system.
Veteran (VA) disability lawyers serving Norfolk, Virginia from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD know what is necessary to receive approval for monthly benefits from VA. You can reach us at (401) 237-6412 for a complimentary case evaluation.
Building a Strong VA Case for Appeal
Generally, a grant of VA disability compensation requires proof of:
- 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.
A veteran’s service and medical records can be useful to demonstrate that an injury or illness is service-connected. When you file your claim, you can obtain these records on your own and include them with your application or request that VA obtain them for you.
Once we get a copy of a client’s claim file from VA, we review the evidence of record to determine what additional development needs to be done. Sometimes we find that service records are missing or incomplete, or that current medical records are not in the VA claim file. Upon identifying missing evidence, we obtain this evidence on behalf of our clients and submit it to VA with compelling legal arguments as to your entitlement to benefits.
Options for Challenging VA Disability Compensation Denial
If you receive a denial based on your claim for VA disability benefits, you have one year to challenge this decision in VA’s modernized appeals system. For help filing an appeal, consider contacting a veterans’ service organization or an accredited legal representative. In VA’s modernized appeals system, you have several options to appeal an initial denial:
- request a Higher-Level Review of the decision by a more senior VA employee;
- submit new and relevant evidence along with a supplemental claim; or
- file a Notice of Disagreement directly with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
Call the Veterans’ Advocates at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD
If you experience a disabling medical condition due to service in the military, you may qualify for monthly VA compensation benefits. If you filed a claim and were denied, the team at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD may be able to help you build a case for appeal.
Our initial consultations are always free, and we do not collect any attorney’s fees unless we are successful in obtaining a grant of retroactive disability benefits from VA.
Call (401) 237-6412 to see if we can assist you with your Norfolk, Virginia VA disability benefits appeal.