Veterans (VA) Disability Lawyer Serving Gillette, Wyoming

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers disability compensation to veterans with service-connected injuries and illnesses.  If you are a veteran living in Gillette, Wyoming with a medical condition related to your military service, you may qualify for such compensation.

If VA denied your claim for disability benefits, a Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD veterans (VA) disability attorney serving Gillette, Wyoming may be able to assist you in filing an appeal. Get in touch with CCK today to schedule a free consultation.

VA Facilities Serving Veterans in Gillette, Wyoming

There are several VA resources available to disabled veterans living in Gillette, Wyoming, including a Community Based Outpatient Clinic and a Regional Benefit Office.

VA Clinic

The Gillette VA Clinic offers primary care to veterans living in Gillette, Wyoming.  The clinic is open for in-person visits and telehealth appointments from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.  To schedule an appointment, veterans can call the office at 866-621-1887.

Regional Benefit Office

The Cheyenne Regional Office administers several VA services for veterans living throughout Wyoming, including disability compensation, education programs, pension, loan guaranty, information about VA health care and eligibility for benefits, and more.  Veterans living in Gillette can schedule telephone appointments with the Cheyenne Regional Office through their online scheduling system.

Securing Disability Compensation in Gillette, Wyoming

To qualify for disability compensation, veterans must first establish the three elements of service connection.  These include:

• An in-service event, injury, or illness;
• A current diagnosis of a disabling condition by a medical professional; and
• A nexus, or link, between the in-service event and current disability.

Veterans only need to show that their condition is “at least as likely as not” due to their military service.  Essentially, they must demonstrate there is at least a 50 percent chance that their condition is linked to service, and if there is a 50-50 tie, VA must decide in favor of the veteran.

There are different types of evidence that can be useful in proving a claim for disability compensation.  Some examples include:

• Service medical records
• Service personnel records
• Private and VA medical records
• Medical opinions from a treating doctor
• Employment records (especially if the veteran is seeking Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability, or TDIU)
• Lay evidence (i.e., lay statements or buddy statements)

Disability Rates for Service-Connected Conditions

Once service connection is established, VA will assign a disability rating, ranging from 0 to 100 percent, to the veteran’s condition.  A veteran’s combined disability rating (i.e., the combined percentage of each of their individual ratings using VA math) determines their monthly compensation amount.

As of December 1st, 2022 the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows:

• 0 percent disability rating: $0.00 per month
• 10 percent disability rating: $165.92 per month
• 20 percent disability rating: $327.99 per month
• 30 percent disability rating: $508.05 per month
• 40 percent disability rating: $731.86 per month
• 50 percent disability rating: $1,041.82 per month
• 60 percent disability rating: $1,319.65 per month
• 70 percent disability rating: $1,663.06 per month
• 80 percent disability rating: $1,933.15 per month
• 90 percent disability rating: $2,172.39 per month
• 100 percent disability rating: $3,621.95 per month

Veterans with a 30 percent rating or higher and qualifying dependents may also be eligible for additional compensation.

What Benefits Does a 100% Disabled Veteran Get in Gillette, Wyoming?

A veteran with a 100 percent disability rating may also qualify for additional benefits from VA, which include:

• Medical, dental, and mental health care from VA’s Health Care Priority Group 1
• A grant from VA to help build, modify, or buy a specially adapted home to meet a veteran’s needs
• Military identification cards
• Emergency care outside of VA
• State-offered benefits (e.g., vehicle registration)
• The Dependents Educational Assistance program
• Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment services
• And more.

Appealing a VA Decision in Gillette, Wyoming

If VA denied your claim for disability compensation, there are currently three ways to appeal the decision:

• 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.

Should I Get a Veterans (VA) Disability Attorney?

Hiring a veterans disability attorney can help ease the time-consuming and challenging process of gathering relevant evidence and developing an appeal.  However, it is important to note that VA regulates who may represent claimants in VA benefits cases and how much they can be paid under 38 CFR § 14.636.

Additionally, the lawyer or agent representing you must be accredited by VA.  The accreditation process exists to ensure that veterans and their family members received skilled and informed representation throughout the VA appeals process.

Reach Out to CCK Today

If VA denied your claim for benefits, a CCK veterans (VA) attorney serving Gillette, Wyoming may be able to help. CCK has decades of demonstrated success in representing veterans before VA and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Call us today at 800-544-9144 to schedule your complimentary case review.