Legal Help for Veterans blog.
Claims Processing, Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press, Veterans Law
The White House has announced that the same-sex spouses of military vets are now granted spousal benefits. The Supreme Court’s rejection of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) means that the spouses of vets can collect federal benefits, regardless of their gender. Prior to this ruling, both the Defense departments and Veterans Affairs only […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press
To commemorate September 11, a group of disabled vets worked together to climb several peaks at Yosemite National Park. The group of 15 military veterans, most of whom served in Iraq and Afghanistan, climbed to the summits of El Capitan and Half Dome, in a climb sponsored by nonprofit Paradox Sports, an adaptive sports organization. […]
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Employment, Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press
There is a significant tax benefit for employers who hire a qualified veteran. A tax return credit is available to those who hire vets before December 31, 2013. The business can receive up to $9,600 in tax credit as part of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). The credit is part of other business-related tax […]
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Claims Processing, Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press
In an address to disabled veterans, President Obama announced that the backlog of disability claims was shrinking. At the Disabled American Veterans annual meeting earlier this year, Obama stated that the backlog of disability benefits claims had shrink by as much as 20 percent in the past five months. But, he conceded, a new […]
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Claims Processing, Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press
Jim Fausone Veteran Disability Lawyer In every conflict, the records of the chaos of war become lost or destroyed. This is as expected as multiple versions of success and failure in the field. However, for veterans, the loss of records have the opportunity to damage their claims for veteran benefits. Will they be able to […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press
Jim Fausone Veteran Disabilty Lawyer Those veterans who flew on C-123 airplanes dropped more than 10 million gallons of Agent Orange to destroy enemy cover and crops during the Vietnam War. After the war between 1972 and 1982, about 1,500 men and women served aboard 34 C-123s that were previously deployed in Operation Ranch Hand, a […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, Mental Health, PTSD
Kristina Derro Veterans Disability Lawyer Unfortunately, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an all too common condition for soldiers returning home after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many veterans choose to seek counseling to cope with this and other effects of their service overseas. Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began a program by which […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press, Veterans Law
Jim Fausone Veteran Disability Attorney New benefits may be in the pipeline for veterans. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has voted to add numerous initiatives to the “omnibus” bill, S 944. The Committee voted to expand programs aimed at helping more veterans find work, helping more injured vets get reproductive health services, and to pay […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press, Veterans Law
Kristina Derro, Esq. Just two years ago, gay and lesbian individuals were prevented from serving openly in the military. Now, same sex spouses of these veterans and service members will be able to share in their government benefits. In a recent decision, the United States Supreme Court invalidated a portion of the Defense of Marriage […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, Mental Health, News and Press
More than 500 military veterans participated this July in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The annual multi-event program features vets who compete in sports events using wheelchairs due to amputations, neurological issues or spinal cord injuries. Approximately 25 percent of the competitors competed for the first time. The games promote both national and world-class sports […]
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