The Law Office of Derek T. Smith: Your Veterans’ Lawyer

Derek is very professional and thoughtful. He does his job well, and is always a plus, when your attorney has military experience. It makes easier to understand one another.

If you”ve decided to file a claim for VA disability then save yourself months or years of grief and frustration trying to navigate the beauracracy you’re about to face if you haven’t already. Contact Derek Smith. First of all, you’ll get him on the phone, not a raft of screeners who are not attorneys. He is your attorney, advocate, and the one that will personally handle your case. He is familiar with the system, knows what the VA is and is not looking for and knows case law, which makes it difficult for the VA to argue against as they do their best to deny your claim. He’ll listen to you, then be upfront with what he thinks. If you both agree on a course of action, then sit back, relax, and he’ll do the rest. The only thing he can’t do is speed up the wheels of bureaucracy, though he has in my case due to age. I’d gotten 10% due to Agent Orange presumptive ischemic heart disease when I finally found Derek. Previously, I’d barely gotten the time of day from my VA assigned VSO. Other diseases in my claim went nowhere. Derek now has me at 60% disability rating and is working on 100%. I could say more but just give him a call you won’t be sorry. Brian Cook Utah

Mr. Smith is very knowledgeable on VA process. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking help with the VA.

Great lawyer he go me to 100 percent thank you sir I will let my friend know

Great lawyer and great person.

Excellent Lawyer, Very professional, Completed Everything I could ask for ! Highly recommend him for anyone needing help with Va Claims. Thank You

Derek is very professional, knowledgeable and stays in communication with you throughout the process. He has exceeded my expectations and is on your side.

Working with Derek was definitely the smartest move for me. Without him I wouldn’t be service connected. I started at 0% to now a pretty good rating. He managed to get everything pushed through the VA asked for. Highly recommend if you need any help with service connected disability.

Derek is awesome! He helped me so much and was with me every step of the way. I went from a 30% to 100% rating. I cannot thank him enough.

Derick is a rock star!!! He is the best in the business.

Derek is very knowledgable and efficient at helping Veterans with their claims. He’s an amazing Attorney and recommend him for any Veteran trying to service connect their disabilities.

The main difference with Derek is he actually cares about his fellow veterans and has compassion only matched by his knowledge and expertise in navigating the maze put before us . I have the utmost respect and gratitude for Derek and would recommend him to any of my fellow veterans.

I highly recommend Derek to any veteran fighting an uphill battle with the VA. Seven years ago, I was exposed to a deadly chemical in service. The incident was deliberately covered up—records altered, evidence buried, fraud committed at multiple levels—all to deny me the benefits I earned and to hide what really happened. For years I woke up every single day repeating to myself, “Nobody is coming for me.” I was alone, sick, and running out of hope. Then Derek took my case. He never backed down. He dug through decades of lies, forced the VA to face the truth, and fought relentlessly until justice was done. Because of Derek, I finally have the rating and benefits I should have received long ago. More importantly, the cover-up was exposed and the record was set straight. Derek didn’t just represent me—he showed up when no one else would. He’s the real deal: brilliant, tenacious, and genuinely cares about his clients. If you’re a veteran being stonewalled or denied what’s rightfully yours, hire Derek. He will fight for you like he fought for me. Thank you, Derek. You changed my life.
5 stars isn’t enough.

Very good job got me everything and more.

Derek is absolutely amazing and is very thorough and responsive. He will fight for you. You have to remember anything with the VA is a long game but he will be there right beside you. I was referred to him by other veterans in my fire department and I have referred many of my friends to him as well. He will be the only one I recommend to anyone that is in need of assistance with the VA. As always do the work he is asking remember it’s the long game and he will get you everything humanly possible.

I can not recommend Derek high enough. When I started with Derek I didn’t understand the VA Claims process. Derek was very patient and helpful in educating me and keeping me on track. I truly believe without Derek’s help I would not be where I am today. If you’re looking for representation with the VA you can’t go wrong by calling Derek.

Have been working with Derek for about five years now. I had exhausted everything I could in my power to get an increase on my VA rating. I kept getting the run around from the VA in regards to denials, and what I considered subpar C&P exams. I was referred to Derek by a fellow co worker who had great success with Derek’s services. I was a little hesitant at first because I figured I had exhausted all my options. Boy was I wrong. From my initial consultation, Derek was up front with me and let me know that it was going to be a battle with the VA, but after looking at my records he noticed that I was a perfect candidate for an increase. I chose to use his services. Best decision ever. He kept me up to date on my appointments, any movement on the VAs part, and helped me get the rating that I deserve. Truly satisfied with Derek’s services, I cannot emphasize enough how much knowledge he has to navigate to get you a rating you deserve. If you are like me, give it a shot. The worse that can happen is you get an increase. Thank you Derek for your help with getting me an amazing VA rating, I couldn’t have done it without your help.

Dear Mr. Derek T. Smith, Veterans’ Attorney I would like to extend my extreme gratitude to Mr. Derek T. Smith for helping me obtain the highest veteran disability rating possible. Securing this rating has brought immediate and profound relief to my life and the lives of my family. It was through your tireless efforts, Mr. Smith, that I met the requirements needed to obtain a 100% rating. You listened to my issues and concerns and did so with genuine empathy. You worked hard on my case. I reached out to you because you have a reputation for showing confidence in your work experience with veterans and delivering on your promises in bringing about favorable outcomes for your clients. You steadfastly assured me that you would win this case. You are a fighter who stands up for the rights of veterans who served our country and who deserve to be taken care of after their sacrifices. Mr. Smith, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done to help me. You are a true hero to the military veterans community, consistently helping to make their lives better. Sincerely, Ernesto Morales Jr.

A lawyer for the people, works hard because he knows you're struggling.

Derek worked for years in my claim and was ultimately successful. His perseverance as an advocate truly was life changing and I will always be so thankful for his representation.