"Ask Me Anything": Ten Responses To Your Questions About Veterans Disability Attorney

Veterans Disability Lawsuits - Why You Need a Lawyer Who is Accredited to Handle Veterans Disability Lawsuits

Veterans with disabilities are often targeted by lawyers who make use of their benefits to make a profit. You require an attorney who is licensed to deal with VA claims.

A Connecticut veteran who suffered from schizophrenia post-traumatic disorder, schizophrenia and other mental ailments related to an aircraft carrier crash which killed dozens has won a significant victory. But it comes with a substantial cost.

Class Action Settlement

According to a lawsuit filed Monday that the Department of Veterans Affairs discriminates against Black veterans in denying their disability claims at a rate that is significantly higher than white veterans. Conley Monk is 74 years old and a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Vietnam War, is the plaintiff in the lawsuit. Monk claims VA has denied his disability claims at a much more frequent rate than white veterans over the last three decades, according to documents obtained by Monk and the Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic.

Monk who is a retired psychiatric nurse, claims that the discrimination of the VA has caused him and other black veterans to be affected in ways that have impacted their health, home as well as their education, employment and home. He demands that the agency repay him for the benefits it has deprived him of, and to modify its policies on race discharge status, discharge status, and denial rates.

In the past year, Monk and the Veterans Legal Services Clinic obtained 20 years of VA disability compensation claim data via Freedom of Information Act requests which they submitted on behalf of the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress and the Black Veterans Project. These figures showed that Black Veterans were statistically less prone to be granted the claim for disability than white veterans from 2001 to 2020. The average denial rate for veterans of color was 6.3 percent higher than white veterans.

Discrimination against PTSD

The Veterans Affairs Department systematically denies disability benefits to Black veterans, as per a lawsuit filed Monday. The suit was filed by a former Marine Corps vet who was denied housing and education as well as other benefits despite having a diagnosis of PTSD. The suit cites evidence that VA officials have historically denied claims made by Black veterans.

Conley Monk was a volunteer in the Marines during the Vietnam War, driving a bullet-riddled transport vehicle and helping move equipment and troops to combat zones. Monk was later involved in two battles, which he attributed to his PTSD. In 1971, he was given an unjust discharge that was not acceptable. This "bad paper" kept him from getting home loans or tuition aid, as well as other benefits.

He filed a lawsuit against the military in order to revers the discharge and was awarded full benefits both in 2015 and in 2020. He claims that the VA is liable for past denials of disability benefits. He also suffered emotional harm from reliving some of his most painful memories through each application and re-application, the suit says.

The lawsuit seeks financial damages and also asks the court's order for the VA to review its systemic PTSD discrimination. This is the latest attempt by groups such as the ACLU and Service Women's Action Network to demand the VA to address long-running discrimination against survivors of sexual assault.

Alimony Discrimination

The veterans who were in uniform, veterans Disability lawsuits or those who accompanied them, deserve to know the truth about the benefits for veterans with disabilities and their impact on divorce financial issues. One of the most common misconceptions is that state courts are able to take away veterans' VA compensation to pay for alimony and child support. This is not the case. Congress has carefully designed Title 38 of the U.S. Code to shield the veterans' compensation against claims from family members and creditors in the case of child support and alimony.

Conley Monk, a devoted volunteer for his country, spent two years in Vietnam driving bulletproof transport vehicles and moving troops and equipment out of combat zones. He was awarded several medals, but then he received a discharge that was not honorable as there were two battles because of a post-traumatic stress disorder. The battle to get the VA to accept his claim for disability compensation was a long and winding path.

He was denied benefits at a higher rate than white counterparts. According to the lawsuit filed in his behalf by the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress at Yale Law School and the Veterans Legal Services Clinic, this racial discrimination was systemic and widespread. It alleges that the VA was aware of and failed to address decades of discrimination against Black veterans. It seeks justice for Monk and other veterans.

Appeal

The VA Board of veterans disability lawyer Appeals reviews claims for benefits if an applicant disagrees with an assessment made by the agency. It is essential to appeal a decision as quickly as you are able. A lawyer with experience in appeals for veterans disability can assist you in ensuring that your appeal meets all the requirements and that you are given a fair hearing.

A qualified lawyer will be able to review the evidence that was used to support your claim and submit additional evidence in the event of need. A lawyer also knows the challenges involved in dealing with the VA and can increase the level of empathy for your circumstance. This could be a great benefit in your appeals process.

A veteran's claim for disability is often denied because the agency could not accurately describe their condition. A lawyer who is experienced can ensure that your condition is properly classified and rated correctly, allowing you the benefits you deserve. A qualified lawyer will also be able of working with medical experts to provide additional proof of your situation. For example an expert in medicine might be able demonstrate that the pain you suffer is related to your service-connected injury and that it is causing disability. They may also be able to assist you obtain the medical records required to prove your claim.