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VA Disability for Veterans in Japan

You’re stationed in Japan — or you stayed after you got out — and now you’re dealing with a VA claim from 6,000 miles away. The VA website assumes you’re in Kansas. Stateside attorneys don’t return calls at reasonable hours. And you’re left wondering if you can even file a claim from here.
You can. And you don’t have to do it alone.
Pacific Valor Law is based in Okinawa. We represent veterans across Japan — Okinawa, Yokosuka, Misawa, Iwakuni, Sasebo, Camp Zama, and everywhere in between. We handle VA disability claims, rating increases, and appeals for veterans who are tired of being an afterthought to the stateside system.

No upfront costs. No fees unless you win.

Yes, You Can File
a VA Claim From Japan

Let’s clear this up:
Living in Japan does not disqualify you from VA disability benefits.
VA disability compensation is a federal benefit. If you have a service-connected injury or illness, you’re entitled to file a claim — whether you’re in Texas or Tokyo. The process works the same way:
  • File your claim through VA.gov or with representative assistance
  • Attend a C&P exam (these happen in Japan)
  • Receive a rating decision
  • Get paid via direct deposit, anywhere in the world
The challenge isn’t eligibility. It’s navigating the system from overseas — and that’s where we come in.
Learn more how to file a claim

Who We Help in Japan

Active Duty Service Members

Stationed at Kadena, Foster, Hansen, Futenma, Yokosuka, Yokota, Misawa, Iwakuni, or Sasebo? If you're preparing to separate or already have a pending claim, we help you get it done right before you PCS or transition out.

Retirees Who Stayed

You finished your 20 and decided Japan was home. Maybe you married here. Maybe you just love it. Either way, your VA claims shouldn't suffer because you didn't move back to the states.

Veterans Married to Japanese Nationals

Your life is here. Your family is here. You need an attorney who understands that you're not coming back — and who can work with your situation, not against it.

SOFA Employees Who Are Also Veterans

You served, got out, and now you're working on base as a GS, NAF, or contractor. Your VA disability claim has been sitting untouched for years. Let's fix that.

C&P Exams in Japan

One of the biggest questions veterans in Japan have: “How do I do the C&P exam?”
The VA uses contract exam companies — VES, QTC, and LHI — to conduct Compensation & Pension exams worldwide, including Japan. Depending on your claim and location, your exam may be:
  • In-person at a designated location (on or near base)
  • Telehealth via video call
  • ACE review (records-only, no exam) in some cases
The contractors will reach out to schedule. But here’s the problem: if you miss the call, don’t respond fast enough, or can’t make the scheduled time, your claim can stall or be decided without an exam.
  • We help our clients:
  • Track exam requests and scheduling
  • Prepare for what the examiner will ask
  • Understand what a good (and bad) exam looks like
  • Challenge inadequate exams that led to unfair decisions
View Va C&P exam

Common Challenges for
Veterans in Japan

Time Zone Nightmares

The VA call center operates on U.S. hours. For you, that's the middle of the night. We handle the calls, the follow-ups, and the hold music — so you don't have to set an alarm for 2am.

Japanese Medical Records

If you've seen doctors off-base, your records are in Japanese. The VA doesn't read Japanese. We help you get records translated, summarized, and presented in a way that makes sense to a VA rater in Wisconsin.

Feeling Like an Afterthought

Stateside VA attorneys take your case, then forget you exist. You're 14 hours ahead, your emails go unanswered, and you start to wonder if they even remember you're a client. We're in your time zone. When you call, we answer.

"I Didn't Know I Could File From Here"

Too many veterans assume they need to wait until they move back to the U.S. That's years of benefits lost. You can file now, from Japan. We'll show you how.

Why Veterans in Japan
Choose Pacific Valor Law

We're Based in Okinawa

This isn't a satellite office or a "we serve clients worldwide" footnote. Our firm is headquartered in Okinawa. We live here. We work here. We understand the military community in Japan because we're part of it.

Marine Veteran-Owned

I served as a Marine Corps officer. I've dealt with the VA myself. I know what it's like to feel like the system is designed to wear you down. That's why I built a firm that actually fights for veterans.

Same Time Zone, Same Reality

We don't treat Japan-based clients as an inconvenience. You're our primary focus. Meetings happen at normal hours. Responses come the same day. You're not waiting for someone in Virginia to wake up.

100% Federal Benefits Focus

We don't do Japanese law. We don't do car accidents or divorces. VA disability and federal benefits are all we do. That focus means we know the system inside and out.

What We Handle

  • Initial Claims — First-time filings for veterans who never applied or just separated
  • Rating Increases — Your conditions got worse, your rating should too
  • Appeals — Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claims, Board of Veterans' Appeals
  • Denied Claims — We figure out what went wrong and fix it
  • PTSD & Mental Health — Combat trauma, MST, anxiety, depression
  • Toxic Exposure — Burn pits, contaminated water, PACT Act claims
  • TDIU — Total disability based on individual unemployability
Full list of conditions

Frequently Asked
Questions

Can I file a VA disability claim while living in Japan?
Yes. VA disability is a federal benefit available to eligible veterans worldwide. You can file, attend exams, and receive payments from Japan.
The VA uses contract examiners (VES, QTC, LHI) to conduct exams in Japan. Exams may be in-person, via telehealth, or records-based depending on your claim.
No. The entire process — filing, exams, appeals — can be handled from Japan.
We help you get records translated and presented clearly for VA raters. Japanese records can absolutely support your claim when handled correctly.
VA disability payments are deposited directly to your bank account. You can use a U.S. bank or, in many cases, a Japanese bank.
View All FAQS

日本語でのご案内

このページの日本語版もご用意しております。
Va disability japan

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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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