Retiree and Military Issue

October 16, 2020

Autoimmune Diseases and Your VA Benefits Claim

Autoimmune disease is a term that covers at least 80 different known conditions. An autoimmune disease or autoimmune disorder occurs when the immune system is unable to distinguish between foreign invaders and healthy tissue, producing antibodies that destroy the body’s own tissue instead of the infection.

Some of the most commonly-recognized autoimmune diseases include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, psoriasis, and fibromyalgia. Autoimmune diseases can be debilitating and they are difficult to diagnose because symptoms are broad, including fatigue, chronic joint pain, digestive problems, muscle weakness, inflamed skin, hair loss, and chronic, unspecified pain.

Rules for VA Compensation

August 5, 2020

How the VA Determines Your Disability Rating

by Bob Goss

Military service brings with it a complicated and often dangerous set of tasks, responsibilities, and experiences. The job usually takes a toll on a service member’s physical and mental health, creating lifelong problems. For this reason, service-disabled veterans can file a claim with the VA for compensation.

Based on the severity of your illness, syndrome, or injury, the VA will assign a disability rating to your particular situation. The ratings start at 0% and go up to 100% in 10% increments. They can be added together (although unlikely) but your overall rating can not go beyond 100%.

The first step in obtaining your VA rating is to submit an initial claim with all of your medical and military documentation. This includes your military medical records, service records, results of an independent medical exam, and personal statements from you and possibly others. You may be required to submit documentation of any conditions you had before entering the service.

August 5, 2020

Common Disabilities for Veterans

by Bob Goss

Obtaining VA Benefits for a service-related disability can be a very difficult process. If you are here doing research, you probably have received a denial letter. Don’t worry, we can help you. While complicated, the process of obtaining your correct service rating can bring about significant financial security for you and your family.

It has been shown that members of the military can experience a wide variety of service-related health issues that cause significant problems when trying to live a full life. As such, the VA offers financial compensation. Now, as you start the process you might be wondering what the most common disabilities for veterans are. In addition to hearing loss, arthritis, and eye issues, there are a few conditions that we regularly see:

Gulf War Syndrome

January 12, 2016

The One Simple Step All Active-Duty Military Personnel Should Take

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

Mission focus is why we justly admire our active-duty and Veteran military personnel. Unfortunately for our service members and Veterans, “Playing with pain” often evolves from a mantra to a way of life. This means that injuries and ailments are pushed aside and visiting the doctor is even viewed as a deplorable sign of weakness.

Even the most fit person should take preventive health measures. And there is one simple step all active-duty military personnel should take before leaving service. Failure to take this step can have traumatic results for you and your family. To protect yourself and your loved ones, before leaving service, all active-duty military personnel should make it their mission to take this one crucial step, preferably in the year before they separate. Here’s the step: get a pre-discharge physical. Continue reading

January 5, 2016

Robert B. Goss Designated “Master Advocate” by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

The National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) has designated Bob Goss (pictured at right) as an NITA “Master Advocate.” The Master Advocate award represents serious commitment to trial advocacy and requires completion of at least five intensive NITA trial-advocacy programs.

Why You Need a Trial Advocate

As a landlord or a tenant, you want an advocate who understands your rights. As a consumer in Texas, you want justice if you’ve been the subject of a deceptive trade practice. No matter what your legal issue, you want an advocate who will represent you zealously. You need an advocate who is both your counselor and your ally. Experience is important, of course. But also look for indications that your trial advocate keeps up with the latest advances in the law, art, and science of trial advocacy. Intensive training, such as that leading to NITA’s “Master Advocate” award, is one indicator that your advocate has the latest skills necessary to represent you when it matters most. Continue reading

December 28, 2015

Know Before You Stow! Handling Storage Unit Issues In 2016

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

The time between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a great opportunity to assess stuff. Particularly stuff that is cluttering your apartment or house. If you are considering storing your belongings, you are in good company! Self-storage facilities in the United States are so popular they have their own national association. According to the Self Storage Association (SSA), this industry generated $27.2 billion in annual U.S. revenues, in 2014 alone. SSA asserts that the self-storage industry has been the fastest-growing segment of the commercial real-estate industry over the last 40 years.

Texas, of course, has its own self-storage organization, the Texas Self Storage Association (TSSA). Some sources identify Houston and Austin as No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the “Top 10” U.S. cities for self-storage, with San Antonio not far behind.

December 19, 2015

Bob Goss Recognized By Avvo With The “Avvo 2015 Clients’ Choice Award”!

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

We at the Law Office of Robert B. Goss, P.C. are delighted to announce that our principal and founder, Bob Goss, has been recognized by Avvo, the well-known attorney rating and review site, with Avvo’s “Clients’ Choice 2015.”

Avvo’s attorney rating system identifies rankings of 10.0 – 9.0 as “Superb.” Based on Avvo’s mathematical model, which includes input from hundreds of attorneys, thousands of consumers, and legal professionals who understand the work attorneys perform, Bob received a perfect Avvo “10.0” score.

This is the second year in a row that Bob (pictured at right) has been recognized by Avvo as a “Clients’ Choice” attorney. Continue reading

December 18, 2015

Christmas for VA Bigwigs But Not For You

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

Then-Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Eric Shinseki, resigned in May 2014 after a shocking season of revelations regarding Veteran deaths at the hands of VA. On October 16, 2015, VA Under Secretary for Benefits, Allison Hickey resigned in the wake of a pay fraud scandal involving senior bureaucrats Diana Rubens (pictured left) and Kim Graves (pictured right). Rubens and Graves – ironically – were put in place by Hickey in 2014 to clean up following the international news coverage of Veteran deaths and VA’s back-log of benefits claims. World-wide exposure of VA’s actions highlighted the shameful treatment U.S. Veterans suffer at the hands of the very agency that supposedly is dedicated to Veterans’ well-being. Continue reading

December 13, 2015

How Can I Upgrade My Military Discharge?

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

When you are released from your obligation to serve, you are “discharged.” If you received an “Honorable” discharge, it’s unlikely there’s any need to request a subsequent upgrade. However, other types of discharge categories can have a serious, permanent affect on qualifying for Veterans benefits, including those issued by Texas as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans benefits are important, not only to you but to your family. If you currently do not qualify for Veterans benefits because of the nature of your military discharge, now is the time to consider pursuing a request to upgrade. But, be careful. You generally have one opportunity for a successful request – so make sure you do everything possible to get it right. Continue reading

December 10, 2015

How to Handle Debt Notices from VA’s Debt Management Center (DMC)

by Eleanor K. Meltzer for the Law Office of Robert B. Goss

This may sound like the start of a bad joke because it is so difficult to receive any type of benefit from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). However, Veterans and family members do receive collection letters from VA. This VA debt-collection correspondence is issued by VA’s Debt Management Center, or DMC.

The DMC has recently become quite aggressive about identifying and collecting on debt – even if it’s not really debt. DMC’s new “activism” is primarily a result of unfair atmospheric concerns that Veterans and their families are gaming VA’s benefits system to obtain an undeserved free ride.

I just received a letter which appears to be from VA’s Debt Management Center (DMC)? What do I do? Continue reading