Legal Help for Veterans blog.
Mar
28

VA Blogging Good or Bad

Claims Processing, News and Press

by Jim Fausone Veterans Disability Lawyer Social media has made its way to the VA.  Blogging is now in the VA’s communication tool box. VA has hired former bloggers who were critical for VA to come to the other side and blog for VA.  The mission is to revolutionize how the VA interacts with veterans […]

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Mar
14

No Foreclosures for Service Members

News and Press, Veterans Law

by Jim Fausone Veteran Disability Lawyer Banks and mortgage companies continue to step in it.  There are state and federal laws which protect service members from home foreclosure when they are active duty.  But Michigan recently had a case go to trial, and settle before the jury decided the case, on just this issue.  An Iraq War […]

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Mar
04

Rare US Supreme Court Case

Claims Processing, News and Press

by Jim Fausone Veteran Disability Lawyer It is rare for the US Supreme Court to take up a case involving veteran issues.  In a recent decision known as Henderson, Justice Samuel Alito said, “The (Department of Veterans Affairs) is charged with the responsibility of assisting veterans in developing evidence that supports their claims, and in evaluating […]

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Mar
03

Sacrifice of Few for Many

News and Press

by Jim Fausone Veteran Disability Lawyer My nephew is still in Afghanistan with the Marines. His year is almost up.  My wife,  a retired Brigadier General, and I pray he returns safely.  But it is clear that not all families in this country are making sacrifices during this decade of war.  While an all volunteer military is a good […]

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Mar
02

Korea DMA Agent Orange

Claims Processing, News and Press

by Jim Fausone Veterans Disability Lawyer We hear from veterans who served in Thailand, Korea, Japan, Philippines, etc., that claim to be exposed to Agent Orange. Boots on the ground in Vietnam results in presumed AO exposure. The evidence about certain Thailand bases is pretty solid. VA also recognizes spraying of AO around the Korean […]

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Feb
25

Sledge Hammer to EAJA Fees

News and Press

by Jim Fausone Veterans Disability Lawyer        So the government lets veterans hire lawyers, but it is not happy about that.  When the VA is wrong at the Court of Appeals, which it is about 75% of the time, VA has to pay legal fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).  The fees are limited, but […]

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Feb
17

DOD Tolerates Rape

News and Press

by Jim Fausone Veterans Disability Lawyer A group of former military members are suing the senior leaders of DOD claiming they have been slow to change the DOD culture. They claim the senior leaders are tolerating rape and harassment of women service members. The suit was filed this week and NBC reported the story this […]

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Feb
09

Korea AO

Claims Processing, News and Press

by Jim Fausone Veteran Disability Lawyer Vets were exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, Thailand and Korea. Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving along the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Korea will have an easier path to access quality health care and benefits under a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) final regulation that will expand the dates […]

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Jan
31

Costly Delay

Claims Processing

by Jim Fausone Veteran Disability Lawyer Anyone involved with the VA disability system knows about the delays that quickly turn from months into years. It starts with the Regional Offices not being able to process the mail and get it in the correct file. It happens at the Board with the snail- slow transfer of […]

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Jan
24

Technology Improves Decision Making

Claims Processing, News and Press

by Jim Fausone Veteran Disability Attorney We see so many errors by VA RO raters that technology improvements are warranted. A VA employee developed a hearing test calculator to automate the steps for determining compensation owed for varying degrees of hearing loss. After testing, the hearing loss calculator worked so well that VBA has rolled […]

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