Legal Help for Veterans blog.
News and Press
by Jim Fausone, Veteran Attorney This week the U.S. Supreme Court takes up the issue about when a veteran misses the 120-day appeal period. The Veterans Court has taken the position that it could not grant a deadline extension for any reason. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed, based on a high court 2007 decision, […]
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Claims Processing, News and Press
by Jim Fausone VA just announced that it will test quicker ways to access private medical records. It wants a private contractor to quickly retrieve the records from the health-care provider, scan them into a digital format and send the material to VA through a secure transmission. But we have found that most Regional Office […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press, Veterans Law
by Kristina Derro A recent decision by the Court, on one of our client’s claims, stressed the importance that VA must get a medical opinion before it summarily declined to refer an issue for extraschedular consideration for unemployability. Our client worked as an accountant, handling his clients’ taxes. He was forced to stop working because […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press
by Jim Fausone There is no way the VA is going to be able to help every veteran in every situation. I think it is important that Veteran Service Organizations (VSO), veteran business owners and veteran centric groups step up and help out. This requires a local effort of neighbors helping neighbors. Stop worrying about VA getting […]
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Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press
by Jim Fausone Tinnitus, commonly known as ringing in the ears, is a major health issue for soldiers returning from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is also a major and common disability for those from Vietnam combat. The condition was the most-claimed service-connected disability for veterans receiving compensation in fiscal year 2009-10, according to the Veterans Affairs Health […]
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News and Press
by Jim Fausone VSOs play an important role in the reintegration of troops into society and the delivery of veteran benefits information. The reduction in members is of concern to the survival of VSOs. These groups have to make themselves more relevant to today’s veterans. The groups are adopting the use of social media. The American […]
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News and Press
by Jim Fausone I am often asked about being married to a General. Believe me it has its benefits but it is not always easy. Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone has spent 32 years wearing the Air Force blue uniform with assignments all over the world. Currently, she is the Assistant Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs […]
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Claims Processing, Medical Issues / Disability, News and Press, Veterans Law
by Jim Fausone VA announced that on November 1st it has finally started making payments under the new AO rules. Providing initial payments – or increases to existing payments – to the 200,000 Veterans who now qualify for disability compensation is expected to take several months. The three new presumptive diseases which have been in the press all year are: […]
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News and Press
by Jim Fausone The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) set up an independent political action committee (PAC) years ago. The VFW has about 1.5 million members, and the endorsement from its PAC is usually widely advertised by the candidates. Now the VFW PAC is being challenged for endorsing incumbents in Congress. VFW’s commander in chief, Richard […]
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Claims Processing, News and Press, Veterans Law
by Jim Fausone We get asked all the time – “can you make VA move faster on my claim?” My answer is “No one can make VA move fast”. The US Supreme Court just agreed with me. On Monday the Supreme Court announced it will not hear a case challenging a lack of speed by the government. The Vietnam […]
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