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About Pacific Valor Law

Pacific Valor Law is a veteran-owned law firm based in Okinawa, Japan. We represent veterans, surviving spouses, and military families in VA disability claims, survivor benefits, and federal benefits matters — with a focus on clients living overseas.
We exist because too many veterans outside the continental U.S. have been treated as an afterthought by the legal system that’s supposed to serve them.

Why We're in Okinawa

Most VA disability firms are stateside. They’ll say they serve clients “worldwide,” but what that usually means is: you’re 14 hours ahead, your emails go unanswered, and the only call times available are 2am your time — if they show up at all.
We didn’t bolt overseas clients onto a stateside practice. We built the firm here, in Japan, specifically to serve veterans and families who can’t walk into a law office in Virginia or Texas.
Our founder is a Marine veteran who first came to Okinawa on active duty, returned years later as a civil servant, and saw the gap firsthand: talented service members, retirees, and military spouses struggling with VA claims while being treated as low-priority cases simply because they weren’t in the U.S.
Pacific Valor Law was built to close that gap.

Who We Serve

Veterans Living Overseas

Active duty, retired, or working as a federal civilian or contractor — if you're a veteran living in Japan, Korea, Guam, the Philippines, or anywhere outside the U.S., we're built to serve you.

Surviving Spouses and Families

Military widows and dependents navigating DIC, survivors pension, and other benefits after the death of a veteran — including Japanese and Filipina spouses who need help understanding the U.S. system.

Federal and SOFA Employees

DoD civilians, NAF workers, and SOFA contractors who are also veterans — or whose families need help with survivor benefits.

Our Approach

Fighting for the benefits
you deserve

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Our Mission

  • safeguard the future of veterans, service members, and federal employees.
  • Protect and restore rights for those who have served and sacrificed for the nation.

Our Vission

  • safeguard the future of veterans, service members, and federal employees.
  • Protect and restore rights for those who have served and sacrificed for the nation.

Our Values

  • safeguard the future of veterans, service members, and federal employees.
  • Protect and restore rights for those who have served and sacrificed for the nation.

What We Believe

We represent veterans with all types of service-connected disabilities, including:

You shouldn't be penalized for living overseas.

VA disability and survivor benefits are federal entitlements. Where you live doesn't change what you earned. We fight to make sure the system works for you, not against you.

Communication matters.

You deserve to know what's happening with your case. We operate on Pacific time, respond promptly, and keep you informed — no chasing, no guessing, no 2am calls.

Preparation wins cases.

We don't file and hope. We build claims with the evidence to support them — medical records, nexus opinions, service documentation — and we prepare clients for C&P exams so nothing is left to chance.

You risk nothing to work with us.

We work on contingency. No upfront fees. No hourly billing. We only get paid if you win — and our fee comes from back pay, not your monthly benefits.

Our Practice Areas

VA Disability Claims & Appeals

Initial claims, rating increases, denied claims, and appeals — including PTSD, toxic exposure, TDIU, and more.
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Survivor & Pension Benefits

DIC, survivors pension, accrued benefits, and Social Security survivor benefits for military widows and families.
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Federal & SOFA Employee Benefits

VA disability for veteran federal workers, and survivor benefits for families of federal employees who pass overseas.
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James Smith, VA disability attorney based in Okinawa Japan

Meet the Founder

Pacific Valor Law was founded by Frederic “James” Smith — a Marine veteran, former air traffic controller, and attorney who has called Okinawa home for years.

James built this firm after watching veterans and families overseas struggle with a system that treated them as an afterthought. His approach is simple: prepare thoroughly, communicate clearly, and never outsource accountability.

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Ready to Talk?

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Pacific Valor Law

Based in Okinawa, Japan — Serving U.S. veterans and military families worldwide

VA-accredited attorney | Licensed in New Jersey

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

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