VETERANS DISABILITY CLAIMS

I represent veterans in their claims for service-connected compensation and non-service connected pension.  I have represented veterans both at the administrative level and also in appeals at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.  I have represented veterans and their families from around the country in claims including post traumatic stress disorder, depression and other psychiatric disabilities, diabetes, orthopedic injuries, cancer, and medical negligence at VA hospitals resulting in death.

I am a Sustaining Member of the National Organization of Veterans Advocates, a Member of the Federal Bar Association, Veterans Law Section, and a Member of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Bar Association.

Due to a policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs to deny veterans the right to have a lawyer when they file their claim, for the most part a veteran cannot hire a lawyer except within one year after he or she receives an unfavorable decision from the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

 Although a veteran may hire a lawyer up to one year after a Board of Veterans Appeals' denial, the veteran has only 120 days from that denial in which to file an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.  Therefore, I suggest that veterans contact me as soon as possible after a BVA denial.  For a free consultation, you should fax your BVA denial to me at 1-301-670-6993, along with a cover letter including your name, address, and phone number.  Then call my office at 1-888-263-2630.

If I accept the case, I represent veterans for a contingent fee of 20% of back benefits, plus costs advanced.  No legal fees or costs are due if you do not win benefits.

Veterans are allowed to receive both service-connected compensation and, if they qualify, Social Security disability benefits.

Veterans who are seriously injured due to medical negligence at a VA hospital and the families of veterans who die as a result of medical negligence at a VA hospital are allowed to file claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act.  They may also file a claims for service-connected disabilities caused by this negligence.  There is a setoff between the two programs.  Sometimes due to Statute of Limitations or other litigation problems, it is not possible to bring a FTCA case, but the Statute of Limitations does not---and the litigation problems might not---prevent a veteran from bringing a service-connected claim against the VA.