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Spinal cord injuries are catastrophic, meaning the potential damages are significant and the legal hurdles are high. Insurance companies are highly motivated to minimize payouts in these cases and will often dispute the long-term nature of your care or the extent of your disability. A specialized attorney acts as your shield against these tactics. At Berry Law, we know how to calculate the true, lifelong cost of a spinal cord injury, ensuring that any settlement accounts for future needs you may not even realize you have yet. We remove the burden of negotiation from your shoulders so you can focus on your recovery.

During a PTSD Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam, the VA examiner will check four main types of symptoms to determine the severity and frequency of your PTSD. The four symptom clusters are: - Unwanted thoughts or flashbacks (re-experiencing the trauma) - Actively avoiding places, people, or conversations that trigger memories - Changes in mood or memory (like an inability to remember the traumatic event or having a negative outlook) - Being easily startled or irritable (hyperarousal), which often manifests as severe trouble sleeping or reckless behavior Your final disability rating, which ranges from 0% to 100%, depends directly on how often these symptoms occur, how much they interfere with your social life and relationships, and your overall ability to hold a job and perform at work. The examiner will use a standardized evaluation tool to grade the impact of these symptoms.

The consultation is free. Fees for representation are explained in your written agreement. VA-accredited attorneys can charge only after an initial VA decision and after VA receives both the signed fee agreement and the form appointing the representative.

A Higher-Level Review is a fresh look at your claim by a more experienced VA reviewer. The primary goal of the HLR is for a senior decision reviewer to determine if there was an error based on the evidence already in your claims file. You cannot submit new evidence under the Higher-Level Review option. The reviewer is strictly limited to checking the evidence already in your file from the previous decision to find clear mistakes in law or fact that affected the original outcome. This process is generally faster than submitting a Supplemental Claim or going to the Board because no new development or evidence collection is required. It can be useful when you believe the VA misinterpreted the law or overlooked existing medical or service records.

Yes. Berry Law’s experienced VA-accredited attorneys can review the claims file, identify errors in the VA's decision, develop supporting evidence, prepare legal arguments, and represent you throughout the appeals process before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

If a serious personal injury tragically results in death, the eligible family members of the deceased can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages. Compensation in these cases is intended to make the family financially whole for the losses caused by the death. The money recovered covers specific, quantifiable losses, including costs for the funeral and burial, all medical bills incurred before death, and the loss of financial support and future pay the person would have contributed to the household. It also covers harder-to-measure emotional losses for the surviving family, such as the loss of companionship, care, and guidance from the deceased person. The total amount is determined by the jury or through a negotiated settlement.