After time spent serving your country in the military, the least you deserve from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is financial benefits to help you pay for a related disability. Unfortunately, obtaining fair benefits from the VA can be difficult. Claim denials are common. A VA disability benefits lawyer in California can help you submit your claim to minimize the odds of rejection. If your first attempt is unsuccessful, an attorney can also help you appeal a denial. Contact the lawyers at Stone Rose Law to find out how we can help you.
Veteran Affairs disability benefits provide monthly compensation to help injured veterans return to civilian life without financial strife. VA disability benefits give financial relief to injured vets, offering compensation to help a veteran pay for a service-related disability. Benefits can help cover costs such as necessary medical care, medications and therapies, as well as make up for the inability to work and earn a living wage due to an injury. Our veterans law firm is committed to fighting for fair compensation for you or your loved one that was injured while serving our country.
As of 2020, California is home to more than 1.8 million servicemember veterans. California has the largest veteran population in the U.S. Thousands of these vets returned from service with injuries they will have for the rest of their lives. Many different types of disabling conditions can qualify a veteran for VA disability benefits, including:
Veterans benefits can help provide greater peace of mind to an injured veteran – but they are not always easy to collect. To obtain VA disability benefits, the applicant must have an official diagnosis of a disabling condition and proof that the condition is connected to his or her service.
The VA determines benefit amounts using a combined disability rating, which is calculated with a specific formula. These ratings range from 0 to 100 percent disability. At 0 percent, you will not be eligible for monthly benefits, but you may still qualify for veteran’s healthcare assistance and other benefits. As of December 2021, the pay rates for VA disability benefits are:
These amounts increase for veterans with dependents. The amount of VA disability benefits that you are eligible to receive depends on your specific circumstances. One of our national VA disability benefits lawyers can help you prove the extent and degree of your disability to achieve the amount that you need.
If you were injured in the course of your military service, you should be able to obtain VA disability benefits without issue by submitting an application and the required paperwork. Yet hundreds of veterans find themselves stuck at an impasse with the VA when trying to recover the benefits that they are owed. The VA may make administrative errors that get in the way of your eligibility for benefits, or they may deny your claim based on an argument, such as alleging that your injuries are not connected to your military service.
If your VA claim has been denied for any reason, you can take action to appeal the decision. You will need to submit a Notice of Disagreement Form or a Statement in Support of Claim Form. This form should state that you disagree with the VA’s decision and are appealing it. You do not need to list all of your reasons for the appeal. Send this letter to the VA Regional Office that sent you your letter of denial. The office will review your claim again and may change its original decision. You have one year from the date that you receive a denial to file an appeal.
It is extremely common for veterans to get denied on their first attempt to collect disability benefits. Do not get discouraged or think you are ineligible if this happens to you. Instead, contact a California VA disability lawyer at Stone Rose Law for assistance appealing a benefits denial. We can help you prove your case and submit the strongest appeal letter possible. For example, our lawyers can help you prove a service connection using evidence such as your military service records, medical documents and testimony from qualified experts. Working with an attorney can significantly increase your chances of securing the California veterans benefits that you deserve.
If you are a veteran in California, you have access to resources, offices and personnel who can help you file a disability benefits claim, review the status of a submitted claim, and more. You also have access to exclusive health care facilities and veterans hospitals near you. Here are some helpful resources on California veterans benefits. You can also see our VA Disability Calculator here.
VA Los Angeles Regional Office
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(800) 827-1000
8810 Rio San Diego Dr.
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 400-5495
1301 Clay St., North Tower
Oakland, CA 94612
(800) 827-1000
West Los Angeles VA Medical Center
11301 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90073
(310) 478-3711
3350 La Jolla Village Dr.
San Diego, CA 92161
(858) 552-8585
10535 Hospital Way
Mather, CA 95655
(916) 843-7000
For a complete list of all VA facilities in California, click here.
At Stone Rose Law, we are dedicated to helping veterans in California collect the disability benefits that they require. We can help you prepare your VA disability claim, monitor your claim status and consult with you before disability examinations – all for free. If your claim is denied, our law firm will help you pursue an appeal while providing our services on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay us unless we win your case. Our legal team offers affordable, high-quality legal services to many veterans throughout California.
For more information about how we can help you with a VA disability benefits claim, request a free consultation at (480) 498-8998.