Submitting a VA Appeal in California
Unfortunately, the VA does not always make the correct decision for a Veteran’s initial disability benefits claim. If an initial claim is denied, rated too low, or given an improper effective date, the Veteran has the right to appeal.
There are separate avenues for appeal depending on what kind of mistake the VA made. Berry Law helps simplify the process for our clients, crafting well researched appeals that have been a crucial part of helping Veterans get the compensation they sacrificed for, including back pay. Berry Law has helped its clients recover over $100 Million in backpay over decades of client service.
We have representatives in multiple cities, but the location of your attorney does not actually impact the process because all claims are Federally adjudicated. Therefore, it is not necessary to have a California VA disability lawyer physically located in California. We have helped clients in California, and every other state in America, along with Veterans living abroad.
The appeals process can be long, but as long as you have preserved your effective date by keeping appeals open, you are entitled to back pay for the whole period of the process.
Most appeals begin with filing a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with your VA Regional Office. The NOD, usually due within one year of a rating decision, notifies the VA that you disagree with the decision that has been made. NODs can be as simple as filling out the form and commenting “I disagree”, or can include dozens of pages of supporting material. The Regional Offices in California are located at:
- 11000 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024
- 1301 Clay St., North Tower Oakland, CA 94612
- 8810 Rio San Diego Drive San Diego, CA 92108
The Regional Office responds to NODs with a Statement of Case (SOC), which outlines of the case and is sent to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). The BVA will conduct their own review to reach a decision. If you feel that the BVA has made an incorrect ruling, the next step is to appeal to the CAVC.
If you would like help appealing a VA decision in California, you can contact a California VA disability lawyer from Berry Law for a free consultation on what your options may be.