Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon National Park A Little Bit About Me I am Chris Burnette. I am an attorney, Air Force veteran, former federal employee, and someone who has spent most of my life working in and around public service. At my core, I believe in duty, service, and showing up with integrity. This law practice grew out of that background and a simple belief. People deserve clear guidance when navigating complex systems. Why This Work Matters to Me Too often, indi

VA disability compensation is not charity or a favor. These are benefits created for veterans whose military service caused or aggravated disabilities—but under the system we have today, veterans still need to know how to protect their claims.

A Practical Guide to Communicating With Your Doctors and Protecting the Medical Record Behind Your VA Claim If you receive health care through VA, one of the most useful tools available to you may already be sitting on your phone. Secure messaging through VA.gov and the VA health care system lets you communicate directly with members of your VA health care team. Most veterans probably think of it as a convenient way to ask about a prescription, request an appointment, or send

What Freund v. Collins Could Mean for Veterans and Survivors For years, some veterans believed their VA disability appeals were slowly moving through the Board of Veterans’ Appeals backlog. In reality, their appeals were no longer moving at all. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ former appeals-tracking system had marked the appeals closed, sometimes because a timely appeal document had not been properly scanned, identified, or entered into the system. The affected veterans

One of the most common misconceptions I encounter is that there is a single person who can guide a veteran through every challenge they face. Veterans are often told to "get a VSO," "talk to your doctor," "hire an attorney," or simply "call the VA." Each of those suggestions has merit. Each professional plays an important role. The problem is that no one person sees the entire picture. Some veterans are also encouraged to handle everything on their own. While learning to advo

One of the most common misconceptions I encounter is that a conscientious objector discharge automatically prevents a former service member from receiving VA disability benefits. That simply is not true. I'm pleased to share that my article, "Conscientious Objector Discharges and Post-Service VA Eligibility: What Practitioners Need to Know," has been published in the Summer 2026 edition of On Watch, the quarterly publication of the Military Law Task Force of the National Lawy

Too often, we think about healthcare, disability benefits, or mental health one appointment at a time. We see our doctor. We talk with our therapist. We file a claim with a VSO or attorney. We attend church. We lean on our spouse. Those relationships are all valuable. But they're even more valuable when they work together.

When people think about veteran-owned businesses, they often picture defense contractors, consultants, security firms, or government contractors. Those businesses certainly matter, but some of the most mission-driven veteran-owned businesses I have encountered look very different. They are family farms. They are breweries. They are distilleries. They are ranches. They are agricultural operations and small manufacturing businesses rooted in local communities. Before focusing m

Many traditional law firms are built around a physical office. They pay rent, utilities, furniture costs, office equipment, maintenance, parking, reception staff, and a variety of other expenses that have little to do with solving a client's legal problem. Those costs have to be paid somehow, which often means higher hourly rates, larger retainers, and invoices for every phone call, email, or meeting.

Federal systems are complicated. That is not a criticism. It is simply reality. Whether someone is navigating: VA disability claims, federal employment issues, retirement decisions, accommodation requests, Social Security questions, or agency procedures, most people eventually realize the same thing: The system often expects you to understand rules that were never clearly explained in the first place. For many veterans, federal employees, and transitioning service members, th

One thing I’ve been thinking about lately is expectations when it comes to VA claims, appeals, VSOs, accredited reps, and attorneys. I watched a video recently from a retired rater who made a point that stuck with me. He basically said that unless someone has worked for the VA, they’re never going to fully understand VA claims the way VA employees do. There’s some truth to that. Former raters absolutely bring valuable experience to the table. But I also think that statement g

Navigating the VA claims system can feel overwhelming. I know this firsthand. The process is complex, filled with paperwork, deadlines, and legal jargon. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right approach and clear guidance, veterans can successfully manage their claims and get the benefits they deserve. In this post, I’ll share practical advice and insights to help you understand and simplify the VA claims process. Understanding the VA Claims Process Guidance The fi

Why I Put Together This Guide One of the most common things I hear from veterans is some version of: “I don’t even know where to start.” That’s understandable. The veterans benefits system is large, fragmented, and often confusing. Most people hear about disability compensation, but many veterans are unaware of the broader network of programs and resources that may be available to them. That includes: VA health care home loan programs education benefits employment support car

You Don’t Need a Disability Rating to Access Veteran Benefits When most people think about VA benefits, they think about disability compensation. That makes sense. It’s one of the most visible parts of the system. But it creates a problem. A lot of veterans assume that if they don’t have a service-connected disability, or don’t think they qualify for one, there’s nothing available to them. That’s not accurate. And it causes a lot of veterans to walk away from benefits they’ve

Starting a VA disability claim is not just paperwork. For many veterans, it’s one of the hardest things they’ll do after leaving service. Not because the forms are complicated. But because of what the process forces you to revisit. And if you’ve ever started a claim and thought, “This is a lot harder than it should be,” you’re not wrong. The Part No One Talks About On paper, the process looks straightforward: File a claim Submit evidence Attend exams Wait for a decision That’

Many veterans never apply for the benefits they earned. Not because they don’t qualify. Not because they don’t need them. But because, somewhere along the way, they decided they don’t deserve them. That belief is more common than most people think. And if you’re reading this and thinking, “That might be me,” you’re not alone. Where This Comes From It usually isn’t one thing. It’s a mix of experience, culture, and how veterans talk to each other. You hear it all the time: “Oth

Attorney Chris Burnette testing hydration levels in field corn prior to harvest. This particular corn is called "pre-whiskey" and is used to make Bourbon. If you’re a veteran, a federal employee, or someone dealing with Social Security or a federal agency, you’ve probably heard this advice: “Find a local attorney.” It sounds reasonable. It’s also often wrong. In many of the most common legal issues people face, especially veterans and federal employees, the law is not local.

One of the most important pieces of evidence in many VA disability claims is the nexus letter. A nexus letter is a medical opinion that explains the connection between a veteran’s current medical condition and military service. Without a clear nexus, the VA may conclude that the condition is not service connected, even when the veteran strongly believes the connection exists. What a Nexus Letter Does A nexus letter explains how a current condition is related to military servi

Many veterans assume that filing a VA disability claim simply requires explaining what happened during military service and describing current symptoms. In reality, the Department of Veterans Affairs evaluates claims based on specific types of evidence. Understanding what evidence the VA looks for can help veterans build stronger claims and avoid some of the most common reasons for denial. The Three Core Elements of a VA Disability Claim Most successful VA disability claims i

After the Department of Veterans Affairs approves a disability claim, the next step is determining the disability rating. This rating determines the level of monthly compensation a veteran may receive. Understanding how VA disability ratings work can help veterans better interpret their decision letters and understand how their benefits are calculated. What a Disability Rating Represents VA disability ratings are expressed as percentages. Common ratings include: • 10 percent