Veterans: Is the deck stacked against you? The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) has unique statutory authority. Unlike any other federal appellate court, individual judges – not panels of judges – can decide Veterans’ appeals. This means, unlike any other set of citizens in the land, Veterans…
Has VA Really Reduced The Claims Backlog? The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proudly advertises that the disability claims backlog is now under control. Under Secretary for Benefits Alison Hickey has stated categorically that VA’s goal is to eliminate the claims backlog by the end of 2015 – “meaning all…
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kubina/414211811 On March 13, 2015, H.R. 1356 “Women Veterans Access to Quality Care Act of 2015” was introduced in Congress. Among other mandates, if passed this bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure every VA medical center has a full-time obstetrician or gynecologist. Can…
My ride to the VARO is here! A little over a year ago, on August 7, 2014, the “Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014,” P.L. 113-146, was signed into law. The so-called “Choice Act” was intended to improve Veterans’ access to medical services from the Department of Veterans…
Count to 10! 1. Don’t Make a Claim. Ever. This is probably the most common way Veterans miss benefits to which they are entitled. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will not contact you with information about how to claim benefits. No one will pass along your service information to…
Are you prepared? Constant vigilance is important in any estate plan involving Veterans benefits. Earlier this year, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a proposed rule to amend its regulations governing entitlement to certain pension benefits. Why is VA proposing changes now to an institution designed to assist wartime Veterans,…
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is in the middle of changing its Schedule for Rating Disabilities, the VASRD. If you’ve ever looked at the VASRD and been confused, you’re in good company. Unfortunately, the VASRD doesn’t function like a menu, so it can be quite misleading. Also, the current…
CUE Claim Denials? If you or I made a clear and unmistakable error which had a huge price tag, we’d expect some consequence. Like, we might get fired. Or demoted. Or something else undesirable would happen. That’s not at all the case with “Clear and Unmistakable Error” (CUE) actions by…
What you don’t know about VA benefits could cost you Many people assume new illnesses, aches, and pains are “normal.” Just part of aging. Or simply bad luck. Or even genetics. Veterans – don’t be lulled into passive acceptance of so-called common wisdom. Diet and exercise can only get you…
You can’t always believe what you’re told. Unfortunately, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) means business when it comes to telling you their new forms are mandatory. And the form that is probably the most harmful is the one you might need the most: VA’s Notice of Disagreement (NOD) form,…