YOU SERVED OUR COUNTRY. NOW LET US SERVE YOU.

Have You or Your Spouse Served in the Military?
Have You Been Denied Veterans Benefits by the VA?
Do You Have an Injury or Illness that was Caused or Aggravated by Your Military Service?

We may be able to help!

About Veterans Services Group (VSG)

Our team of experienced and compassionate Veterans Advocates includes accredited attorneys who represent Veterans across the nation in their appeals for VA benefits for current medical conditions caused by their military service. Read more about our attorneys here.

We handle VA service-connection claims related to combat wounds, PTSD, TBI, toxin (such as Agent Orange, toxic fumes from waste disposal) and environmental exposures, and other service-related medical problems. We also represent surviving spouses in their appeals for death benefits including accrued benefits.

How We Can Help

It is important for you to protect your rights and entitlements once a VA Regional Office has denied your initial claim, or the RO or BVA renders a decision on your claim. Timing is critical.

We assist Veterans at every level of the appeals process including:

VA Regional Office (RO)
Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA)
Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, if necessary and appropriate

General Information About the VA Claims Process

Download Our Informational Brochure

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Are Veterans Disability Benefits?

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides benefits to Veterans with disabilities that result from or are aggravated by their military service. The VA also provides a pension program for wartime Veterans with a non service-related disability who have limited income and are over 65 or totally disabled.

The VA offers many other benefits for Veterans and eligible family members, including healthcare and education benefits.

What is VA Service-Connection (Disability) Compensation and Who Qualifies for it?

You may be eligible for compensation if you have a current diagnosis or medical condition that is related to a wound, injury, or illness acquired while on active duty in the Armed Forces. Although most service-connected disabilities appear during or soon after military service, some conditions may not appear at all, or appear but are not too “disabling” until many years after discharge from the service.

Pre-existing injuries or illnesses which were aggravated by military service may also entitle you to VA compensation.

Who Is Eligible for Veterans Disability Benefits?

Eligibility for most VA benefits is based on discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service as a member of the

Army
Navy
Air Force
Marine Corps
Coast Guard, or
as a commissioned officer of the:
- Public Health Service,
- Environmental Services Administration, or
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

If you are applying for a VA benefit for the first time, you must submit a completed VA application for benefits (VA Form 21-526) along with a copy of your service discharge form (DD-214, or for WWII Veterans, a WD form), which documents your service dates, type of discharge, military service number, and branch.

How to Apply for Veterans Benefits

Initial applications for benefits must be filed with the VA Regional Office in your state. For a listing of Regional Offices and Veterans Centers in all 50 states visit www.va.gov. You may also apply for benefits online at www.ebenefits.va.gov/.

Veterans, their dependents, and surviving spouses may obtain assistance in filing the initial application for VA benefits from any state or county Veterans Service Office or with the assistance of one of the Veterans Service Organizations. Locations and phone numbers may be found under “State Government, Veterans Service Officer” in the Yellow Pages of your phone book. The VA also operates a toll-free number for general questions, 1-800-827-1000, or TDD 1-800-829-4833.

What to Do if You are Denied Benefits or You Disagree with the VA’s Decision About Your Rating

Like other federal benefits programs, decisions by the VA concerning benefit entitlements can be appealed.

A claimant can appeal the decision by filing a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within one year of the VA’s notification to protect the claimant’s appellate rights.
A Veteran has an absolute right to retain an attorney to represent her/him before the VA. A Veteran can be represented by counsel once s/he receives the first denial of benefits.
- In the event you are denied benefits, we encourage you to call us at 1-800-LAWAMPM (1-800-529-2676) for one of our Veterans Advocates to assist, guide, and/or direct you through the VA claim and/or appeal process at no cost to you.
- We handle claims nationwide!
After the VA receives the NOD, the Veteran can request a review of the case by a Decision Review Officer (DRO) at the VA Regional Office, or the Veteran can appeal to the BVA by filing a VA form 9 (Substantive Appeal).
If the Veteran is dissatisfied with the decision in her/his appeal, s/he can file an appeal with the CAVC, a specialized court that only hears Veterans’ appeals.
If the CAVC does not reach a favorable decisions, some cases can be further appealed to the Federal Circuit Court for review.

How Long is the Appeal Process?

The process can be long and involve many appeals. The amount of time varies based upon the status of the Veteran’s claim and/or appeal and her/his agreement or disagreement with various decisions.

Attorney Fees for VA Benefit Claim

Finkelstein & Partners does not require any up front payment for representation.
We only receive a fee if we are successful with your appeal.
Our standard contingency fee for VA Disability representation at the RO or BVA levels is 20% of only the retroactive benefits awarded to the Veteran on appeal. This means that our fees are paid from the benefits that the Veteran should have received, but did not because the VA wrongly denied the claim.
Simply put, our office earns no money and does not get paid unless and until a Veteran’s appeal is actually granted and service-connected compensation is paid to the Veteran.
There is no legal fee for future monthly benefits awarded.
At the CAVC, the VA pays the attorney’s fees.

VA Accreditation of Agents and Attorneys; Agent and Attorney Fees