VA Disability Lawyer in Buffalo, NY

Types of Veteran Disability Claims Our Lawyers Handle in Buffalo

No two service records are alike, and neither are the disability claims that follow. Whether you’re dealing with PTSD from combat, hearing loss from years around heavy artillery, or orthopedic injuries from active duty, the VA disability system is notoriously complex.

With a Buffalo veteran disability lawyer on your side, you don’t just get forms filed. You gain a legal ally who knows how to prove service connection, challenge unfair ratings, and push back against unnecessary denials. We represent veterans across all branches in claims involving:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
• Hearing loss and tinnitus
• Orthopedic injuries and chronic pain
• Agent Orange and burn pit exposure
• Gulf War Illness
• Spinal cord and back injuries
• Sleep apnea and respiratory conditions
• Secondary service-connected disabilities
• Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU)

As a full-service law firm, we provide legal assistance to a diverse range of clients with various and overlapping needs. At Hiller Comerford Injury & Disability Law, you won’t need to go through the hassle and financial burden of hiring multiple attorneys. Our VA disability attorneys in Buffalo will expertly assist you with all of your personal injury and disability needs under one roof.

Buffalo VA Disability Attorneys Who Take No Claim Lightly

Many law firms will shamelessly settle for less than you deserve, avoiding trial altogether due to the inconvenience and expense. Our VA disability attorneys are always ready to go to trial to ensure that you receive the best result. It’s not only the fair thing to do, but the smart thing to do.

We are not afraid of litigation. In fact, litigation is our specialty. Insurance companies are aware of this, which is why we often secure higher payouts and more reasonable offers than other law firms can obtain.

Cutting Through VA Red Tape

The VA process is notorious for slow responses, confusing rules, and inconsistent decisions. A VA disability attorney knows exactly how to cut through the bureaucracy. From gathering medical evidence to pinpointing service connection, we ensure your claim doesn’t get lost in the system.

Appeals that Actually Work

Most veterans are denied at least once. That doesn’t mean your claim is weak. It means the VA system is broken. We specialize in appeals, from Higher-Level Reviews to Board of Veterans’ Appeals hearings. With a VA disability lawyer by your side, a denial is just the beginning of a stronger case.

Coordinating VA and SSD Benefits

Many veterans qualify for both VA disability benefits and Social Security Disability, but the programs don’t always align neatly. A VA disability attorney at our firm can handle both under one roof, ensuring you maximize every benefit available without conflicting claims.

VA Disability Compensation and Benefits You May Qualify for in Buffalo

For many veterans in Buffalo, VA disability compensation is more than a monthly check. It can mean the difference between financial struggle and stability, between simply getting by and truly rebuilding your life. Unfortunately, too many veterans are underpaid, overlooked, or denied outright by the VA. That is why working with a Buffalo VA disability lawyer is so important.

We do more than file your claim. We carefully review every possible benefit, challenge unfair ratings, and fight to ensure you receive every dollar and every program you have rightfully earned through service.

• Monthly Disability Compensation: Tax-free monthly pay based on your disability rating and eligible dependents.
• Back Pay: VA calculates an effective date to retroactively award missed payments from when your entitlement began.
• Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): Extra support for veterans with severe impairments requiring daily aid, lost limbs, blindness, or similar hardships.
• TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability): For veterans who cannot maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, even if their combined rating is below 100%.
• Secondary (Service-Connected) Conditions: Compensation for new disabilities arising as a direct result of a service-connected condition, such as depression stemming from chronic physical pain.
• Aid and Attendance & Housebound Programs: Additional payments for veterans who need help with daily living or are primarily confined at home.
• Burial & Interment Allowance: Financial assistance toward funeral costs for eligible veterans.
• Dependent Child Benefits & Spina Bifida Allowance: Monthly benefits, medical care, and vocational help for minors impacted by their parent’s service-connected disability.
• Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC): Monthly tax-free payments for surviving spouses or dependent children if a veteran died from a service-connected cause.

At Hiller Comerford Injury & Disability Law, we know how much is at stake. Whether it means securing back pay for years of wrongful denials, obtaining TDIU so you can replace lost income, or unlocking overlooked programs like Aid and Attendance, your Buffalo VA disability attorney leaves nothing on the table.

The VA will not point out every benefit you deserve, but we will. When your health, your family, and your future depend on the outcome, you need a legal team that digs deeper, pushes harder, and will not stop until every benefit you have earned is secured.

How a Buffalo VA Disability Lawyer Fights to Win Your Case

Filing a VA disability claim is rarely straightforward. Veterans in Buffalo often face months or even years of delays, repeated denials, and confusing medical exams. Every missed deadline or incomplete form can cost you not only time, but also thousands of dollars in back pay and critical monthly benefits.

The VA does not make it easy, but with the right legal advocate, you can cut through the red tape and finally secure the compensation you have earned through service. When you work with us, your veteran disability attorney in Buffalo takes control of the process and fights for every benefit you deserve.

✓ We gather service records, medical reports, and expert opinions to prove that your disability is service-connected.

✓ We challenge low ratings and wrongful denials through appeals, hearings, and, when necessary, federal court action.

✓ We calculate the full value of your claim, including back pay, secondary conditions, unemployability benefits, and special monthly compensation.

✓ We handle VA correspondence, deadlines, and paperwork so nothing slips through the cracks.

✓ We take over every stage of the process (from initial filing to appeal) so you can focus on your health, recovery, and family.

When you go up against the VA alone, you risk being undervalued or denied the benefits you rightfully earned. Our VA disability attorneys understand the urgency of your situation and work diligently to expedite the progress of your case while pursuing the maximum benefits available under the law. You served this country. Now let us serve you by making sure no dollar, no benefit, and no opportunity for compensation is left on the table.

Service-Connected Disabilities That Qualify for VA Compensation

There are multiple paths to proving a service-connected disability. Choosing the right type of service connection can determine whether you are approved, denied, or underpaid. The VA recognizes various categories of service connection, and the type you file under depends on the specifics of your service and medical history.

Below are some of the most common ways veterans in Buffalo may qualify for disability compensation. Knowing which applies to your case is often the key to success. A Buffalo VA disability lawyer will help you identify every possible category, gather the right documentation, and build the strongest case.

Direct Service Connection

To qualify for disability with a direct service connection, you must be able to provide sufficient proof that an incident in-service caused your condition. You will need to provide important documents, such as medical records or incident reports, to validate your claim.

Sometimes, witness testimony or professional medical opinions will be sufficient, but it is essential not to rely on either one alone, and to include as much documentation as possible.

Aggravated Service Connection

To qualify for this type of service connection, you must prove that you entered service with a pre-existing illness or injury that was then aggravated as a result of your service. You will need to have evidence of your pre-existing illness or injury and additional evidence that your pre-existing illness or injury worsened as a result of being in service.

Presumptive Service Connection

These are medical conditions that are deemed to be a result of conditions you were subjected to in-service. This may include, but is not limited to, certain illnesses in POWs, exposure to one or more chemical agents, or certain chronic health injuries, cancers, brain injuries, and infectious diseases.

Secondary Service Connection

A secondary service connection may exist when a non-service-connected condition was caused by a different condition that was service-connected. For example, if you sustained a service-connected elbow injury that then led to a shoulder injury, which then resulted in disability, benefits may be available.

A secondary service connection may also exist if a pre-existing condition was aggravated as a result of your service-connected disability. Depression that was caused or substantially aggravated by chronic pain from a service-connected condition could entitle you to benefits, for example.

Paired Organs

A condition affecting paired organs may also make you eligible for benefits. For example, if you have a service-connected or aggravated condition in your right eye, you might qualify for benefits for your non-injured left eye. Because these two organs are linked, they may be considered together.

1151 Service Connection

Disabilities that fall under this category must be related to either hospital, medical, or rehabilitative care by a VA professional or facility. These claims don’t necessarily have to be the result of negligence on the part of the VA medical facility, provider, or personnel, but must result from an error on the part of one of these entities.

If your disability was caused by a VA-linked health provider, this is an important avenue to discuss with a VA disability lawyer in Buffalo, NY.

Many veterans in Buffalo are denied simply because their claim was filed under the wrong type of service connection or lacked the right evidence. The difference between approval and denial often comes down to how well your service connection is argued, and your veterans disability attorney in Buffalo will make sure no opportunity for compensation is left behind.

Time Limits for Filing VA Disability Claims and Appeals

Buffalo VA disability claims themselves have no absolute deadline, so veterans can file a new claim at any time after discharge. However, the sooner you file, the sooner benefits and back pay can start to accrue. Early filing is critical because back pay always begins from your effective date, which is typically the date you submitted your claim. Waiting years can result in thousands of dollars in lost compensation.

Appeals Deadlines:

While new claims can be submitted at any time, appeals have strict timelines under federal regulation (38 C.F.R. § 20.200 and § 3.2500):

• Supplemental Claim: Must be filed within one year of the VA decision.
• Higher-Level Review: Must be requested within one year of the VA decision.
• Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) Appeal: Must be submitted within one year of the VA decision, with options for direct review, submitting new evidence, or requesting a hearing.

Missing an appeals deadline can result in losing your right to challenge the VA’s decision. That is why having a Buffalo VA disability lawyer handle your case is essential. Our attorneys track every deadline, submit paperwork accurately, and guide you through each stage of claims and appeals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Navigating VA disability claims can be confusing and overwhelming. Veterans often have questions about what conditions qualify, how to appeal a denial, and how long the process takes. Below, our Buffalo VA disability lawyers have compiled answers to the most common questions to help you understand your rights and avoid costly mistakes. For legal assistance specific to your case, please contact our law firm today.