On a Friday afternoon in late February, the US Department of Veterans Affairs filed a motion with the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. In this motion, the VA asked the court to stay (lawyer-speak for “pause”) the effect of the court’s decision in a case called Staab v. Shulkin. The Staab case addresses the question of when the VA […]
Most people are familiar with the statistics commonly bandied about regarding the relatively high divorce rates of military personnel. Although these rates generally are not quite as high in non-military populations, divorce remains relatively common among veterans. Questions commonly arise as to what impact the end of a marriage will have upon veterans’ military pensions.
Military Divorces: What Could Happen to My Pension? Read More »
Earlier today outgoing-US Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald published his Cabinet Exit Memo. The Memo shines a light on the high points of Secretary McDonald’s career, which began under difficult circumstances following the resignation of his predecessor, GEN Eric Shinseki. Although his tenure will come to a close as the new presidential administration
Secretary McDonald Publishes Cabinet Exit Memorandum Read More »
A hallmark of the veterans benefits system is the obligation that has been imposed upon the US Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans with the development of their claims. Congress has declared that the VA “shall make reasonable efforts to assist a claimant in obtaining evidence necessary to substantiate the claimant’s claim for a
The VA Casts a Shadow of Doubt Upon the Non-adversarial Claims Process Read More »
On December 14, 2016, Judge Mary Schoelen of the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) issued a memorandum decision granting the appeal of Amanda Thompson, a Wisconsin widow represented by West & Dunn. Ms. Thompson currently serves as a substitute party for her husband, James Thompson, who passed away during the pendency of his
West & Dunn Prevails on Behalf of Veteran’s Widow at CAVC Read More »
Last week the USA Today published an exclusive story addressing the manner in which the US Department of Veterans Affairs rates Veterans Health Administration medical centers. The amazing part of this story is not that the VA rates its own hospitals and clinics, but rather that it keeps these ratings secret from the veterans receiving
VA Hiding Hospital and Clinic Ratings From the Public Read More »
While many of us think of the US Department of Veterans Affairs as a single entity, its functions are actually divided among three separate administrations: The Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Health Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. The Veterans Health Administration, or VHA, reports that it currently administers over 1,700 health care sites, providing medical
When the Veterans Health Administration Commits Medical Negligence Read More »
All told, there are relatively few lawyers who practice veterans benefits law. This is particularly true in comparison with the number of legal advocates who are involved in similar administrative programs, such as Social Security. One of the primary reasons there are so few lawyers involved with veterans disability benefits claims process is that for
A Veteran’s Right To Choose His Own Advocate Read More »
In the early twentieth century the United States recognized November 11 in honor of the veterans who served in the first World War. The holiday was dubbed Armistice Day in recognition of the armistice signed at the conclusion of the war at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.
Gratitude to Veterans Read More »
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