Claims
VA compensation claims
For veterans whose service left an injury or illness behind, and for anyone whose rating seems too low.
VA compensation is a monthly, tax-free payment for conditions connected to your service. The two questions are always the same: is the condition tied to service, and how severe is it? The rating, from 0 to 100 percent, sets the payment.
I work on ratings that came back too low, conditions the VA said weren't service connected, and conditions that have gotten worse. VA rules don't allow a lawyer to charge for the first claim, so I come in once there's a decision to challenge; if you haven't filed yet, a county veterans service officer can help at no cost, and I'm glad to point you to one.
Ratings that came back too low
Conditions denied service connection
Conditions that have gotten worse
What I do on a VA claim
Most of the work is reading. Your claims file is often hundreds of pages, and the answer is usually in one of them.
- 01
Get your full claims file
I request your C-file and service treatment records, so we're working from what the VA has, not what it summarized.
- 02
Find what the decision missed
I compare each rating with the rating schedule and the exam notes, page by page.
- 03
Line up new evidence
A buddy statement, a private medical opinion or a newer exam, chosen for the gap the decision named.
- 04
Pick the right review lane
A supplemental claim, a higher-level review or the Board. Each has its own pace and its own rules about new evidence.
VA claim questions
Can my rating go down if I ask for a review?
It can, in a few cases. Before we file anything, I'll read your file for that risk and tell you plainly if I see it.
What is a nexus letter?
A doctor's opinion that your condition is at least as likely as not connected to your service. It's often the piece a denied claim was missing.
Does a discharge status matter?
It can. An other-than-honorable discharge doesn't always rule out benefits, and the VA has a process to decide it. Call and we'll look at yours.
Have a VA decision on your table?
Send the decision letter, or read me its reasons over the phone. The deadline to act is usually one year from its date.
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.