VA Disability Claims Assistance

Attorney Cullen Elrod is an Army and Air Force Veteran with 12 years of combined military service. At Elrod Legal, we understand how important VA disability compensation is to a Veteran’s health, stability, and family security. Our goal is simple: help you pursue the correct service connection, the correct rating, and the benefits you earned.

We’ve assisted hundreds of Veterans nationwide with VA disability claims and appeals—and we may be able to help you, too.

Results Snapshot
- In 2024, Elrod Legal clients obtained $3.12 million dollars in back pay.
- In 2025, Elrod Legal filed 3,300 VA claims and Elrod Legal clients obtained $7,233,864.27 in back pay.

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers monthly compensation to eligible Veterans who have disabilities connected to military service. If you have a current condition caused or worsened by your service, you may qualify for monthly benefits.

Unfortunately, many Veterans are wrongfully denied, underrated, or forced to navigate a complicated process without clear guidance. That’s where experienced representation can make a difference.

How We Can Help

Appeals (Contingency Fee) - If you have been denied VA disability compensation—or received an incorrect rating—Mr. Elrod can help you pursue an appeal. Appeals are handled on a contingency basis, meaning we only get paid if you receive back pay based on an appeal we submit for you.

Claims and Increases (Pro Bono) - We can also help with:

filing an initial claim
requesting an increase for an already service-connected condition
submitting a supplemental claim to reopen a previously denied issue when appropriate

For initial claims and increase claims, our assistance is pro bono, and any back pay you receive is 100% yours. While this is not common among law firms, we believe Veterans should have access to strong advocacy.

Specific Types of Claims Assistance

New Claim (VA Form 21-526EZ) - A new claim is used when you are seeking disability benefits for a condition you have not previously claimed. This form can also be used to request an increase for an already service-connected disability (but it is not used for most appeals of prior denials).
Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0996) - A supplemental claim must include new and relevant evidence to support reopening or changing a prior VA decision. This is often the correct path when:
- you are attempting to reopen a previously denied claim, or
- you need to challenge a prior decision using new evidence
Higher Level Review (VA Form 20-0996) - An HLR requests a new look by a more senior reviewer. An informal conference may be available. No new evidence can be submitted for an HLR—the VA reviews only what was already in the record at the time of the original decision.
Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Form 21-10812) - If needed, we can help you appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. Depending on your case, you may choose a path that includes a hearing or review on the record.

VBMS - Veteran Benefit Management System

As a VA-accredited attorney, Mr. Elrod can access the VA’s Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) after you appoint him as your representative. That access is often critical to understanding what the VA has actually done in your file—without waiting months for a C-file request.

VBMS may include:
- prior VA decisions not visible on VA.gov
- Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam results
- rating code sheets (including diagnostic codes)
- medical opinions relied upon by the VA
- internal documents and communications relevant to your claim

Why does accreditation matter?

VA accreditation isn’t a marketing term—it’s what allows an advocate to access systems like VBMS and represent Veterans properly through the VA process. Without VBMS access, you or your advocate may be working without critical information.

If you’re curious about the terms “claim shark” or unaccredited “consulting” companies, we’ve created a separate page explaining what VA accreditation is (and what it isn’t), and why it matters.