Applying for veterans benefits is not easy, and the denial rate is high. There are a couple of excellent reasons for hiring attorneys for veterans benefits: you will have fewer problems and headaches, and attorneys can help you get a better result than you might do if you tried to do it alone. The VA cannot be rushed, no attorney can make the VA hand down their ruling any faster, but what attorneys can do is help you get all the benefits that you are rightfully yours. The VA, being a government agency, is burdened with complex rules and regulations that must be met. Attorneys for veteran benefits know these rules and regulations and keep pace as they change.
When to hire an attorney:
An attorney can be of little help until such time your application for benefits has been denied. If you intend appealing the decision, then you should contact an attorney. As veterans benefits attorneys work at the federal level, it is not necessary that you engage one that lives close to your home. The majority of the work will be done via email or telephone; you may never actually meet your attorney.
Questions to ask an attorney:
Attorneys for veterans benefits must be accredited by the VA, ensure this is the case. There are a few questions that you should ask, including:
- How long has the attorney been representing disabled veterans?
- Will you help get the highest disability rating and the earliest onset date?
- Will you continue representation right through the Court of Appeals if necessary?
How much do veterans benefits attorneys charge?
The fee arrangement is usually based on percentage, usually anything from 20 to 33 percent of the retroactive award. The fee depends on whether you have hired the attorney to help you appeal the original decision to deny benefits or whether he or she has been engaged to help you get a discharge upgrade.
If you have been denied what you believe are your rightful disability benefits, you should hire experienced attorneys for veterans benefits. For a free initial consultation, contact Jackson & MacNichol, Attorneys at Law.
