Help filing your VA disability claim.
We help you file a VA disability claim from the first page to the decision letter. Hollie Robinson reads your file himself, tells you what the claim needs to be granted, and helps you file it the right way. We work with veterans in Columbus, Fort Benning, Phenix City and the towns around Cataula, and with veterans anywhere in the country by phone and secure intake.
What the VA needs to say yes.
Every disability claim comes down to three things. You have a physical or mental condition today. Something happened during your active service: an event, an injury, or an illness. And there is a link between the two.
The first two are usually on paper somewhere. The link takes the most work. The VA usually needs medical records or a medical opinion to connect today's condition to your service, and statements from people who know you can support it. That link is what we look at first.
How a claim moves.
- Protect the date. An Intent to File tells the VA a claim is coming. If the claim is granted, back pay can reach back to that date.
- Gather what you have. Your DD214, any rating or decision letters, and the names and dates of the doctors who have treated you. You do not need every record in hand to start. What goes in the folder.
- File the claim. The claim itself is VA Form 21-526EZ. It can be filed online, by mail, in person at a VA regional office, or with an accredited representative.
- The VA gathers and examines. The VA reviews your separation papers and service treatment records, and it may schedule a claim exam. Go to every exam it schedules.
- The decision letter. It states what was granted, the rating, and the effective date. Keep it. The date printed on it starts a one-year clock for every review option.
What the law says about cost.
Federal regulation, 38 CFR 14.636 (opens in a new tab), bars an accredited agent or attorney from charging a fee for work on an initial claim. A fee is only permitted for representation after the VA has issued its decision, such as a higher-level review, a supplemental claim, or an appeal.
Anyone charging you to file a first claim is working outside that rule. You can check anyone's accreditation, ours included, on the VA's public registry (opens in a new tab).
Questions veterans ask.
Do I need all my records before I start?
No. If you apply for VA benefits, the VA requests your DD214 for you, and it reviews your service treatment records with your claim. You can also give the VA permission to gather records from VA and private doctors. Bring what you have and we will work out what is missing.
What is a claim exam?
Often called a C&P exam, it is an appointment the VA may schedule to learn more about your condition. It is an evaluation, not treatment. Go to every exam the VA schedules, and call the VA right away if you cannot make one.
Do you work with veterans outside Georgia?
Yes. VA accreditation is federal, not state by state. We work with veterans in Georgia, Alabama, anywhere in the United States, and overseas, by phone, by email, and through the secure intake form.
What happens after I start the intake?
Hollie Robinson reads your file himself, and we reply within 2 business days, Monday thru Thursday. You receive a tracking code by email as soon as the form goes through, so you know it arrived.
More of what we help with.
- Getting a claim prepared and ready to file
- Reviewing which benefits you may qualify for
- Protecting your effective date with an Intent to File
- Guidance after a denial or a rating that sits too low
- Putting your records in order, from your DD214 to treatment records
- Connecting you with the right veteran resources
Start with a private intake.
MVAC reviews each submission and follows up directly, within 2 business days, Monday thru Thursday. Sensitive details are stored encrypted and viewed only through the protected admin.