Veterans Disability Compensation Attorneys. Founded by a Combat Veteran.

You can file an initial VA disability claim without an attorney. Where legal representation matters most is at the appeals stage: Supplemental Claims and Higher-Level Reviews, Board of Veterans Appeals hearings, and especially the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), which follows federal court rules and procedural standards that most claimants are not equipped to navigate alone. An attorney who has handled VA appeals will know which arguments the Board has historically accepted and how the rating system operates in practice.

The VA assigns a disability rating from 0 to 100 percent, in increments of 10, based on how severely a service-connected condition limits your ability to function. If you have multiple conditions, the VA uses a "combined ratings" formula rather than simple addition: each new condition is applied to your remaining able-bodied percentage, which means the combined rating is almost always lower than the sum of individual ratings. The rating determines your monthly compensation amount, your access to VA health care, and eligibility for additional benefits such as Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

These are the three appeal lanes under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). A Supplemental Claim lets you submit new and relevant evidence that was not part of the original decision. A Higher-Level Review asks a senior VA adjudicator to re-examine the same record without new evidence, looking for clear error. A Board Appeal goes to the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington, D.C., where you may request a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. Each lane has different strengths depending on why the claim was denied and what evidence is available.

Processing times vary by lane and by the Board's current docket. Supplemental Claims and Higher-Level Reviews at the Regional Office level typically take several months. Board Appeals, particularly those requesting a hearing, have historically taken one to three years. Representation by an accredited attorney does not slow this process and, in some lanes, can shorten it by ensuring submissions are complete and correctly framed the first time.

The CAVC is a federal Article I court in Washington, D.C. that reviews final Board of Veterans Appeals decisions. It is the last administrative appeal available to veterans before federal circuit courts. CAVC practice requires understanding federal court procedure, the standard of review for Board decisions, and the body of CAVC case law interpreting the Veterans Benefits Manual and the Code of Federal Regulations. Mark Smith, who handles veterans matters at Corcoran Smith Law, is a U.S. Army combat veteran with two Bronze Stars and a UC Berkeley Law graduate.

Federal law (38 U.S.C. § 5904) governs attorney fees in VA matters. After a final Board decision, an accredited attorney may charge a fee, typically a contingency percentage of past-due benefits recovered. There are no attorney fees on initial claims. We will explain the fee structure clearly at the outset so there are no surprises. The first conversation costs nothing.

No. Our veterans practice is focused on VA disability compensation claims and appeals, and we do not handle discharge upgrades. If your discharge status is affecting your eligibility for benefits, let us know during your consultation and we will point you toward a qualified resource or attorney who handles discharge upgrades through the Discharge Review Board or Board for Correction of Military Records.