What is “Special Monthly Compensation”? Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is an additional tax-free benefit that can be paid to Veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses, and parents. SMC is paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It’s Important to Understand SMC SMC eligibility can materially assist Veterans and their families,…
On October 26th and 27th, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is holding an Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation meeting. The meeting is open to the public. Last year, not one member of the public attended the meeting…probably because it was in Washington, D.C. This year, the Advisory Committee meeting is…
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…
What if you bought a refurbished concrete pump from someone who advertised it on a classified-advertisement website? What if the pump cost over $100,000? What if it turned out the pump was not refurbished and the seller wasn’t an authorized dealer as claimed? In a recently filed Galveston County Circuit…
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…
As a tenant, everything is good until it’s not. That’s when you finally read the fine print in your rental agreement. That’s when you discover maybe you aren’t covered for things you thought you were. What are some common landlord-tenant issues? Obvious problems include evictions, a landlord’s refusal to return…
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,…