VA Disability Lawyers

There are more than five million veterans with a service-related disability in the U.S., accounting for 30% of all veterans nationwide. If you’re one of them, you know how hard it is to file and navigate the ins-and-outs of a VA disability claim.

Gordon & Partners veteran disability lawyers have decades of combined experience and expertise in national VA disability law. Depending on the specifics of your claim, services may include:

• Gathering medical records, service records, and other supporting documents
• Submitting all relevant paperwork within strict VA deadlines and guidelines
• Ensuring your appeal addresses all of your service connected medical issues
• Research showing that your VA disability claims are service connected
• Requesting and overseeing your case with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals

A missed deadline or small error on your application is all it takes to prevent you from getting the veterans disability compensation you’re owed. As your legal advocates, our VA disability attorneys have guided countless veterans and their loved ones through this process and will make sure your paperwork is submitted on time and with all required documents. Contact us for a free consultation and an overview of the VA disability benefits you may be entitled to.

Before you go through the trouble of filing a VA disability claim, get familiar with VA eligibility requirements and what you must prove to collect compensation.
The VA’s disability benefits program provides compensation to veterans who became sick or injured as a direct result of their service or whose service caused a worsening of a pre-existing condition. In some cases, disability benefits may also be available for family members such as spouses, dependent children, or dependent parents.

VA disability benefits can be distributed in several ways, including tax-free monthly payments, reduced-cost healthcare, and/or coverage for long-term care needs. In order to receive them, you must:

• Have a current service-caused disability
• Have served on active duty
• Have not received a dishonorable discharge
• Apply for benefits and either receive a disability rating or be denied

One or more of these statements must also be true:

• You were injured during service, and the injury can be linked to your current medical condition
• You were suffering from a disability or illness before your service started, and your time in the service caused your condition to get worse
• You have a disability that did not cause symptoms until your service had already ended

Unsure whether or not you are eligible for VA benefits? Gordon & Partners VA disability lawyers provide veteran support nationwide and are available to discuss your eligibility status at no cost.

When you apply for disability, a staff member from the VA reviews your application and all supporting evidence. Based on that information, they assign you a rating based on the severity of your disability and the impact of your disability on your daily functioning and quality of life. If you struggle with multiple conditions, all will be considered to provide you with a single disability rating. The higher your rating, the more benefits you may be eligible to receive.

Our national VA disability lawyers can help you get a disability rating and find out what benefits you qualify for. Get in touch for your free consultation.

Service members who were dishonorably discharged are not eligible for VA disability benefits. However, in certain circumstances, you may be able to upgrade your discharge status and access critical VA benefits programs across the country.

It may be worth applying if your discharge was related to:

• Sexual orientation, such as a discharge under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy
• Sexual harassment or assault
• Traumatic brain injury
• Mental health issues like PTSD

Every branch of the Armed Forces has a discharge review board with the authority to change a service member’s discharge status. View your current discharge status on your DD214 papers, and contact our VA disability attorneys for help in applying for a discharge upgrade.

There are three steps to applying for disability benefits through the VA:

1. Gather all necessary documents
2. Fill out and submit your application
3. Wait for a response from the VA review board, providing more information as needed

Documents To Support Your Claim

The more you can prove the connection between your disability and your service, the better. The VA accepts a wide range of documentation in support of disability benefit claims, including:

• DD214 discharge papers
• Medical records from the VA, including hospital records relating to the diagnosis or treatment of your disability
• Medical records from private doctors and hospitals showing the progression of your symptoms
• Statements from those you served with in support of your claim and how and when you became disabled
• Statements from family members and friends and possibly coworkers who can attest to your physical and/or mental limitations due to your disability

Your Application

Applications for VA benefits can be filed online, by mail, or in person at a VA office near you. To be accepted, they must be accurate, supported with documents, and filed on time.

The VA takes an average of 145.6 days to review an application and approve or deny the claim. Our VA disability lawyers can’t make the VA go any faster, but we can provide you with the assistance you need, efficiently managing your claim from start to finish. We help veterans in every state – call or fill out an online form to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.

If your claim was denied, you generally have one year (12 months) from the date of the denial or decision letter to file an appeal. To appeal your VA disability claim, you can:

• File a Notice of Disagreement (NOD)
• File a Supplemental Claims
• Request a Higher Level Review (HLR) or …
• Request a Board of Veterans’ Appeal hearing in front of a Veterans Law Judge in Washington D.C. (this can be done virtually or in person)

A VA-certified veterans’ disability lawyer from Gordon & Partners Law Firm can help you through every step of the appeals process, including advice on the best strategy for getting your VA benefits denial or low rating decision overturned. Contact us today to get started.