Veterans Disability Benefits Lawyer

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Experienced California and Nationwide VA Benefits Representation

Knowledgeable Assistance and Strong Advocacy During the Appeals Process

The Department of Veterans Affairs has as its mission the lofty duty expressed by Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural address: “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.” Unfortunately, too many of those warriors and their dependents have their VA claims denied and face a long, frustrating appeals process. Unruh Law, P.C. is dedicated to delivering high-quality representation at every stage of the VA benefits appeal. With accreditation from the Department of Veterans Affairs and more than a decade of experience, the firm has established a strong record of success and is committed to securing the full benefits to which veterans are entitled.

Help With a Variety of Service-Related Disability Claims

Unruh Law, P.C. represents veterans and family members whose VA disability claims have been denied, including matters arising from:

Agent Orange exposure
Camp Lejeune water contamination
Iraq and Afghanistan burn-pit exposure
Service-related injuries and illnesses

Regardless of the source of the disability, the firm assembles the necessary medical and service-related evidence to demonstrate eligibility and pursue available benefits.

Helping You and Your Family Recover the Benefits You Deserve

The VA provides various benefits for disabled service members and their families, including:

Service-related disability compensation
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Death pension benefits
Compensation for injury/death caused by VA (1151 Claim)

Understanding the critical importance of these benefits, Unruh Law, P.C. develops comprehensive and well-supported claims designed to achieve timely approval.

Options for Appealing Your Denial of Your VA Benefits Claim

For VA benefits claims denied on or after February 2019, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 gives three options for appealing the adverse decision:

1. Higher-Level Review

An adjudicator with more experience at the VA may be assigned to review the claim for any errors made by the initial reviewer. The more experienced adjudicator will evaluate the claim as it was originally submitted, without giving any deference to the prior decision.

2. Supplemental Claim

This appeal option allows for the submission of evidence that is both new and relevant, consisting of information that was not previously considered by the VA. Upon receiving this new evidence, the VA will reevaluate the claim and determine eligibility for benefits based on the updated information.

3. Board of Veterans’ Appeals

This appeal option permits the claim to be reviewed by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. A Veterans Law Judge may perform a direct review and consider the claim based on the evidence already submitted to the VA. Alternatively, new and relevant evidence may be submitted prior to review by the judge. A third option allows for the submission of new and relevant evidence along with a direct hearing, during which all evidence in the claim will be considered by the judge.

If a VA benefits claim was denied prior to February 2019, the old “legacy” appeal system remains available, or one of the newer appeal options may be selected instead.

Selecting the appropriate appeal path requires careful consideration of the reasons for the denial. Regardless of the option chosen, strict deadlines apply, and failure to comply may result in dismissal of the appeal and the need to restart the application process.

Unruh Law, P.C.’s experienced and knowledgeable VA disability appeals lawyer has years of experience working with both legacy appeals as well as the modern appeal options available to veterans. When a case is submitted, Unruh Law, P.C. will evaluate the specific circumstances and work with the client’s objectives to determine the best course of action for appealing the denial of benefits.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

Unruh Law, P.C. provides thorough representation for disabled veterans who’ve had difficulty accessing their VA benefits. Our firm handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay no upfront attorney fees.

To schedule a free consultation, call 833-753-5168 or contact the San Francisco office online.

Unruh Law has been nothing but exceptional in helping with my VA disability claim. I have referred family and friends who have also received excellent service, and I will continue referring veterans to Mr. Unruh. Unruh Law is the... Read More

Sensei B.

Ms. Mikaya has been a wonderful help to me. She has been keeping me informed of any and all inputs to my case. She is a great help. Thanks Roger... Read More

Roger B.

I highly recommend Unruh... Read More

Bennett N.

John Unhru is a "one of a kind" attorney! He knows how to HELP VETERANS, especially when the Vet like myself has nearly given up all hope of getting any compensation from the VA. With years of experience he understands the VA Process,... Read More

Randy S A.

These guys are amazing I applied originally on my own for injuries sustained during service. The VA denied my claim. That when I contacted Unruh Law. They were friendly, professional and very helpful. that day I was sent over papers to... Read More

Dominic H.

I was skeptical at first but they took my case and after a time I went from a 90% to 100%. time frame can't be blamed on them as we all know how the VA works. it takes 8 months to a year for everything you file. Just be patient and things... Read More

Kevin w.

Steven and the others at Unruh Law were such a huge help in getting my VA disability processed, had no idea how to navigate some of the process and they made it practically stress free. So grateful and would easily recommend them to anyone... Read More

Elijah S.

John helped my mom get VA DIC after my father passed from an illness related to his Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. John’s initial take on how the case would progress was spot on. We are grateful for his counsel and diligence, and I... Read More

Chris D.

Started my claim journey with the VA many years ago. After a number of horrible experiences and frustration of the VA wanting to dismiss Veterans claims, I found Unruh Law firm. John Unruh and Steven the Claims Manager have my claim at... Read More

Private P.

Steven (and company) have been amazing to work with! Gets back to you right away and doesn’t give up. I am glad that I hit up the first lawyer that showed up on google after pretending that I didn’t get severely damaged by my... Read More

Veterans Disability

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