North Carolina Veterans Disability Lawyer
If you sustained an injury, developed a medical condition, or aggravated a pre-existing health issue while serving in the military or working on a military base, you may be entitled to monthly VA disability compensation
At Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers, our experienced North Carolina veterans disability attorneys have been helping active-duty personnel, reservists, and military veterans throughout North Carolina obtain the disability benefits they deserve for over 40 years.
Whether you need help filing an initial claim, appealing a denied VA disability claim, or seeking an increase in your current VA disability rating, we are ready to fight for you. Justice Counts™ for North Carolina veterans.
For a FREE, no-obligation consultation with an experienced North Carolina VA disability attorney, please call (800) 525-7111.
Video Transcript
Dedicated Legal Advocacy Across North Carolina Military Installations
North Carolina is proudly home to some of the nation’s largest and most vital military installations. Our firm has deep family and community ties to the armed forces, and our home office in Goldsboro sits right in the backyard of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
We represent service members and veterans stationed across North Carolina, including:
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (Goldsboro, NC)
Serving airmen, flight crews, maintenance personnel, and civilian contractors at Seymour Johnson AFB. Air Force personnel face unique occupational hazards, including:
Hearing Loss & Tinnitus: High-noise environments on the flight line and in aircraft hangars.
Toxic Chemical & Jet Fuel Exposure: Conditions tied to JP-8 fuel exposure, solvents, and PFAS firefighting foams.
Musculoskeletal Injuries: Back, neck, and joint injuries from heavy equipment maintenance and rigorous duties.
Service-Connected PTSD & Mental Health: Combat deployment trauma, operational stress, and military sexual trauma (MST).
Fort Liberty / Formerly Fort Bragg (Fayetteville, NC)
As home to Airborne and Special Operations forces, Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) hosts thousands of active-duty soldiers and veterans. Airborne training and intense operational tempos frequently result in:
Parachute Jump & Training Injuries: Spinal cord injuries, herniated discs, knee/ankle fractures, and severe joint degeneration.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) & Blast Injuries: Concussions and brain trauma sustained during combat deployments or heavy artillery training.
Burn Pit & Environmental Exposures: Respiratory conditions, cancers, and chronic illnesses covered under the PACT Act.
PTSD & Depression: Operational trauma common among infantry, airborne, and special operations units.
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune & MCAS Cherry Point
We are here to advocate for Marines, Sailors, and veterans from Camp Lejeune (Jacksonville) and MCAS Cherry Point (Havelock), including veterans suffering from toxic water exposure, training accidents, and combat-related injuries.
Do I Qualify for VA Disability Benefits?
You do not need a combat-related injury or “battlefield wound” to qualify for VA disability benefits. Any physical or psychological condition that was caused, aggravated, or incurred during your military service may qualify.
To be eligible for monthly VA disability compensation, you must meet the following criteria:
Service History: You served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.
Discharge Status: You received a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable (Honorable, General, or Under Honorable Conditions).
Medical Evidence: You have a diagnosed physical or mental disability.
Service Connection (NEXUS): There is medical evidence linking your current condition to an injury, illness, or event during your military service.
Even if you were injured during off-duty base activities (such as playing sports or a motor vehicle accident on base), your injury may still be deemed service-connected.
By far the best law firm that actually cares about helping veterans.
–B. Fields, Riddle & Riddle client
Appealing a Denied VA Disability Claim
Roughly 36% of initial VA disability claims are denied, often due to missing medical records, lack of formal diagnosis, or insufficient evidence of a service connection. A denial is not the end of the road.
If your claim was denied or improperly rated, Riddle & Riddle can help you navigate the VA appeals process under the AMA (Appeals Modernization Act), including:
Supplemental Claims: Submitting new and relevant medical evidence.
Higher-Level Reviews (HLR): Having a senior adjudicator review the existing record for errors.
Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA): Requesting a direct review, evidence submission, or hearing before a Veterans Law Judge in Washington, D.C.
“A VA disability denial or low rating is not the end of the road. You still have options and we’re ready to help however we can.”
attorney and founding partner, Riddle & Riddle
Avoiding Backlogs with Fully Developed Claims (FDC)
The concept behind an FDC is that the veteran waives the right to VA assistance in developing a benefits claim. Instead, the veteran can bypass the lengthy processing times standard with traditional claims, and our attorneys can help assemble a Fully Developed Claim (FDC). By gathering all required medical records, military personnel files, and nexus opinions upfront, we submit a complete package directly to the Regional Office. This can often shorten the decision window from over a year to just a few months.
Free Case Review
Dealing with a long-term disability can be overwhelming. We’re here to fight for your rights and help you get the benefits you need to support your future and your family.
“Can I Increase My VA Disability Rating?”
If the Department of Veterans Affairs previously assigned you a low disability percentage that does not reflect the true severity of your impairment, you do not have to accept it.
As service-connected injuries progress or worsen over time, you have the right to file for a VA Disability Rating Increase. A higher rating can significantly increase your monthly payment and unlock additional health benefits and family allowances. Our attorneys can assist you in gathering medical evidence, nexus letters, and physician reports required to secure a fair rating.
Dual Eligibility: VA Disability & Social Security Disability (SSD)
Many disabled veterans are unaware that they may be entitled to both VA Disability Compensation and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) at the same time.
VA Disability pays based on a percentage rating (10% to 100%).
Social Security Disability requires proving that you are totally unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (work).
Winning one claim can often provide valuable supporting evidence for the other. Our firm handles both VA claims and SSDI claims, allowing us to manage both processes seamlessly under one roof.
A strong firm that fights professionally for your rights and wins.
–Donyelle S., Riddle & Riddle client
Why Choose Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers?
Many of our attorneys and staff have close family connections to the military. Our veterans deserve the best our country can give them in return for their service and sacrifice.
attorney and founding partner, Riddle & Riddle
- The Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers home office in Goldsboro is located close to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and many of our attorneys and family members have been in the military at one point or another. For your convenience, we also offer flexible consultations by phone, email, text, or video conference.
- We have a strong connection to the military and believe that all disabled veterans should receive the benefits they deserve.
- You pay nothing out-of-pocket. We only get paid if we win your case and secure your benefits.
Veterans Disability FAQs
Do I Have To Pay An Attorney Upfront for a VA Disability Claim?
At Riddle & Riddle, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means clients don’t pay anything upfront. Instead of charging hourly rates or requiring a retainer, the attorney’s fee is a percentage of the compensation recovered in the case, usually between 33% and 40%. If no compensation is awarded, the client typically owes nothing for legal services.
Can I Get VA Disability if I Was Injuryed in a Non-Combat Accident on Base?
Yes. Combat service is not required. If you were injured in a vehicle accident, training exercise, maintenance incident, or recreational activity while on active duty or stationed at a base like Seymour Johnson AFB or Fort Liberty, you are eligible for benefits.
What Should I Do If My VA Disability Claim Was Denied?
Do not give up. You have a limited window to appeal the decision. Contact our North Carolina VA disability lawyers immediately so we can review your decision letter, identify why your claim was denied, and gather the necessary medical evidence for an appeal.
Contact a North Carolina Veterans Disability Lawyer Today
If you have questions about eligibility requirements or any other veteran’s injury compensation issue, contact us today. We can explain your legal options and help prepare your claim.
For a FREE, no-obligation consultation with a North Carolina veterans disability lawyer, please call (800) 525-7111.
Justice Counts™ for those who have served our country, and we are dedicated to ensuring that you get the justice and VA disability benefits you deserve.