Hi, I’m Chris.

A veteran helping veterans

I’m Donald Christopher Burnette. Most people call me Chris. I’m an Air Force veteran and a Missouri-licensed attorney. I help veterans with VA disability claims, appeals, and related federal veterans-law matters.

 

I believe you deserve someone who listens, takes your concerns seriously, and helps you understand your choices.

 

You served. You deserve to be heard.

 

My Air Force service

I served in the U.S. Air Force from 1996 to 2000 as an aircraft maintainer. I worked on the F-111 Aardvark, F-16 Fighting Falcon, B-2 Spirit, C-130 Hercules, T-38 Talon, and F-117 Nighthawk. I also did occasional maintenance on the C-5 Galaxy.

 

The work called for care, teamwork, and close attention to details. It also taught me about the demands of military life.

 

That experience helps me ask better questions about a veteran’s duties, injuries, noise exposure, and working conditions. It does not replace medical evidence or prove that a condition is linked to service.

 

I know military records may not tell the whole story. Sometimes service members work through pain or do not report a problem because the mission comes first. I want to understand what happened, including what may be missing from the records.

 

Restoring The Great Artiste

At Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, I helped run the rehabilitation and repainting of The Great Artiste display aircraft in 1998–1999. These were assigned extra duties alongside my regular flight-line work. The project included repainting the nose art.

 

The display is a surviving B-29 Superfortress painted to honor the historic Great Artiste. It is not the original wartime aircraft.

 

I also worked on restoring and repainting a B-47 Stratojet and an F-111 Aardvark. Caring for those aircraft gave me another way to serve and help preserve Air Force history.

 

My roots in Appalachia

I have strong family and personal ties to Cleveland, Tennessee, and Appalachia. Today, I live in South Carolina and stay closely connected to eastern Tennessee.

 

My regional outreach includes Cleveland, Athens, and Chattanooga; South Carolina, including Columbia; western North Carolina; and northern Georgia. Those are communities I connect with, not states where I hold a general law license.

 

I am licensed in Missouri. Through my VA accreditation, I represent veterans nationwide in federally authorized VA disability matters. You can work with my virtual practice from wherever you live.

 

Writing about the place I call home

Outside the law, I write about Appalachian life and the people who call it home. My creative work includes No Longer Quiet, Christmas on the Ocoee, and The Long Divide.

 

Writing reminds me that everyone has a story, and details matter. A VA decision or medical record may leave out much of what a veteran has lived through. Some details may be hard to share or may never have been discussed openly.

 

I listen carefully and help develop evidence so VA can fairly consider the claim.

 

Why this work is personal

I live with a disability and have worked through my own VA claims. I have also helped my father navigate the VA disability system.

 

I know how confusing and time-consuming the process can feel. That experience strengthens my commitment to clear answers, practical guidance, and helping veterans understand their options.

 

Service has been a steady part of my life: from the Air Force to federal public service, including work with the National Park Service, and now veterans advocacy. I am also an Eagle Scout.

 

How I work with you

I listen before making assumptions. I take mental-health concerns seriously. I know that talking about trauma can be hard, and you do not have to tell your whole story at once.

 

We can use plain language, written steps, shorter conversations, and a pace that helps you take part. Tell me what makes communication easier for you.

 

I offer remote communication and secure document exchange. Depending on the matter and my capacity, I may offer free help with selected initial claims, limited-scope services for agreed tasks, or contingency-fee appeals. We discuss the scope and any fee before you agree. Not every veteran or claim qualifies for free representation.

 

My goal is practical help shaped around your needs. You can start with an inquiry even if you are unsure what to ask.