Gerling Law's Guide to VA Disability Benefits

Questions about your VA disability claim, benefits, or appeal? We've got a free guide available right now. Complete the form below and we'll email you a link to download the guide directly.

Download a Guide to VA Disability Benefits

Over $500 Million in Recoveries

$7.5 Million Brain Injury to Child; Auto & Tractor-Trailer Collision
$3.7 Million Wrongful Death; Auto & Tractor-Trailer Collision
$3.2 Million Permanent Brain Injury; Auto Collision
$3.01 Million Permanent Brain Injury; Motorcycle - Tractor-Trailer Collision

I called my insurance company to start my claim โ€“ then I immediately called Gerling. They know the laws; they know the ins and outs. If you want something done โ€“ and done right โ€“ call Gerling. They know what they are doing.

When Do You Not Need a VA Disability Lawyer?

You may not need a VA disability lawyer if you are merely applying for benefits for the first time. In that case, you could be better off seeking the free-of-charge assistance of a VSO.

How the VA Qualifies Attorneys to Represent VA Disability Claimants

An aspiring VA claims lawyer must apply for VA training to help veterans navigate the VA benefits system. This training teaches lawyers about the VA compensation system as well as some of the legal nuances involved in pursuing VA disability claims. The VA will then accredit the lawyer to represent claimants before the VA. An accredited VA claims lawyer must meet certain standards of professional conduct and continuing education to remain accredited.

What to Look for in a VA Disability Lawyer

The best veteran disability attorneys combine many of the same skills that make any lawyer outstanding, with a specific skillset dedicated to handling VA disability claims. The first qualification to look out for, of course, is VA accreditation. Without this qualification, the lawyer is not even qualified to represent you. The lawyer should also be part of a generally successful practice to demonstrate their skills as a lawyer.

In addition to the foregoing qualifications, the following personal qualities are important:

  • Caring: If the lawyer doesn’t care about your claim, nothing else matters. If they do care about your claim, every other positive quality possessed by your lawyer is magnified. There is no mathematical formula for determining how much your lawyer cares. It’s a gut feeling you get from talking to them.
  • The ability to listen: Your lawyer cannot understand your claim or your concerns unless they listen. When you speak with your lawyer, note how many and what kinds of questions they ask. Observe how much attention they are paying to what you are saying.
  • Patience: Dealing with VA disability claims can be tedious, and it often involves dealing, directly or indirectly, with tiresome VA representatives. Patience also applies to how thoroughly your lawyer explains the claims procedure to you.
  • Judgment: Ultimately, you are the decision-maker in your own case. When it comes to tactics, however, your lawyer will likely be making a lot of small decisions that could determine the outcome of your claim. Sound judgment is a must.
  • Integrity: Your lawyer represents you and only you. Any lawyer who allows their loyalties to be compromised, or who sacrifices your interests in favor of theirs, doesn’t belong in practice.
  • Knowledge: Your lawyer must be familiar not only with the broad strokes of VA disability law, but also with the little nuances that have been defined by case law. They must be able to apply facts to the law to come up with plausible and persuasive inferences.
  • Persistence: Some claims require the lawyer to stick to them like a bulldog. A good VA claims lawyer will have successfully resolved claims, through sheer persistence, that initially appeared hopeless.

If you are unsure whether your lawyer possesses any of the above-described attributes, try looking on the Internet for comments from former clients. Your lawyer’s most obvious personal qualities will come through again and again, for better or for worse.

We Will Help You Fight Back! Start Today

A VA claim denial, or an unsatisfactory result, doesn’t have to be the end of the road for you. Thousands of disabled veterans have overcome this obstacle, and so can you. Experience counsels that your chances of eventual success, however, are much better if you retain a VA claims lawyer. 

The veterans disability attorneys at Gerling Law serve clients from throughout the nation and even overseas. Call us at (888) 437-5464 or contact us online for a free claim evaluation. We look forward to hearing from you!

  • Watch Video