“He found the X-ray from 2019 that Social Security never saw. That one page changed the judge's mind.”
Darlene W.
Social Security and VA disability claims
Your claim, read closely and argued plainly
I'm Odell Keplinger, a lawyer in downtown Johnson City who takes only disability claims: Social Security disability, SSI and VA compensation. Tell me where yours stands, and I'll call you to talk it through.
214
hearings attended1,180
medical records requested326
medical timelines built97
VA appeals filed
Counted from the office's own case files. They show the work, not how any claim will end.
What I handle
Three kinds of claims, and nothing else
Disability benefits are the whole practice, so the rules, the forms and the judges are familiar ground.
Social Security disability and SSI
For people who can't keep working because of an illness or injury, from the first application to a hearing.
About SSDI and SSI claimsVA compensation claims
Service connection, ratings that seem too low, and conditions that have gotten worse since your last exam.
About VA claimsAppeals after a denial
A no isn't the end. Many good claims are denied at first, and the appeal is where they get a real hearing.
About appeals
From clients
In clients' words, after the decision
A few words from past clients, shared with their permission. Each claim is different, and none of these predicts how yours will go.
“My rating went from 30 to 70 percent after he lined up my service records with the new exam.”
Ray T.“I called him with a question about my hearing. He called me back that afternoon and explained it like a neighbor would.”
Monique S.
Before you call
What callers usually ask first
What does it cost to hire you?
Nothing up front, and nothing at all unless you're awarded past-due benefits. On a Social Security claim, the fee is a share of your back pay, capped by law and approved by Social Security before I'm paid. On a VA claim, the fee is a share of past-due benefits in a written agreement filed with the VA. You may still owe small costs, such as copying fees some doctors charge for records.
Should I apply on my own first?
You can, and many people do. If you'd like help from the start, call before you file. The answers you give on the first forms follow you through the whole claim.
I just got a denial letter. How long do I have?
For Social Security, the general rule is 60 days from the date you receive the letter. For the VA, it's usually one year from the decision. The letter itself states your deadline, so keep it and call soon.
Do I have to come to the office?
No. Most of the work happens by phone and mail. If you'd rather sit down in person, the office is on East Main Street with parking out back, and I'm glad to come to you if getting out is hard.
Can you help if I live outside Johnson City?
Yes. Social Security and VA claims are federal, so I can work with clients across the region and beyond. Hearings can be in person, by phone or by video.
Have a letter from Social Security or the VA?
Read me the date and the first paragraph. That's enough to tell you what comes next.
No fee unless you're awarded past-due benefits. On a Social Security claim the fee is a share of back pay, capped and approved by Social Security; on a VA claim it's set in a written agreement filed with the VA. You may still owe small costs, such as fees some doctors charge to copy records, and I'll tell you before any come up.