"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 taken advantage of by lawyers who use their benefits as a way to earn money. This is the reason you need an attorney with the right qualifications to handle VA claims.

A Connecticut veteran who suffered from schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health disorders linked to a deadly aircraft carrier crash has clinched an important victory. But it comes with a significant cost.

Class Action Settlement

According to a lawsuit filed Monday the Department of Veterans Affairs discriminates against Black veterans when it denies their disability claims at a rate that is much higher than white veterans. Conley Monk is a 74-year-old Marine Corps veteran from the Vietnam War who filed the lawsuit. Monk claims that VA has denied his disability claims at a higher rate than those of white veterans disability attorneys over the last three decades, according to agency records obtained by Monk and the Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic.

Monk, an psychiatric nurse who retired, says that the discrimination by the VA has caused him and other black veterans to be affected in ways that have impacted their health, homes or work and education. Monk wants the VA to reimburse him for benefits he has been deprived of and to amend its policies on race discharge status, discharge status and denial rates.

Monk and the Veterans Legal Services Clinic received 20 years of VA disability claim information in the last year, thanks to a Freedom of Information Act request that they made on behalf of National Veterans Council for Legal Redress as well as the Black Veterans Project. The data revealed that Black Veterans were statistically less prone to be granted the claim for disability than white veterans from 2001 until 2020. Additionally the average denial rate was 6.3 percent higher for veterans of color than for white veterans.

Discrimination basing it on PTSD

The Veterans Affairs Department systematically denies disability benefits to Black veterans, as per the lawsuit filed on Monday. The lawsuit is led by an ex- Marine Corps veteran who was denied housing, education, and other benefits for decades, even though he suffered from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The suit points to evidence suggesting that VA officials have denied claims submitted by Black Veterans in adisproportionate way.

Conley Monk served in the Marines as a volunteer during Vietnam War. He drove an armored transport vehicle and assisted in moving equipment and troops into combat zones. He was eventually involved in two battles that he blamed on his PTSD. In 1971, he was awarded an unjust discharge that was not acceptable. That "bad paper" hindered him from receiving mortgages, tuition assistance and other benefits.

He filed a lawsuit against the military in order to revers the discharge and was awarded full benefits in 2015 and 2020. He claims that the VA is owed money for previous denials of disability benefits. He also suffered severe emotional damage from having to relive some of his most traumatic memories through each application and re-application, the suit claims.

The lawsuit seeks financial damages and seeks the court to order the VA to examine its systemic PTSD discrimination. The lawsuit is the latest attempt by groups like the ACLU and Service Women's Action Network, to pressure the VA to address the long-standing discrimination against victims of sexual assault.

Alimony Discrimination

People who have served in the military, lawsuits or those who accompanied those who served in the military, need to know the truth about the benefits for veterans disability law firms with disabilities and their impact on divorce money issues. One of the most common misconceptions is that state courts can take away veterans' VA compensation to pay for child support and alimony. This isn't the case. Congress carefully designed Title 38 of the U.S. Code to safeguard veterans' payments from claims made by creditors and family members including alimony and child support.

Conley Monk volunteered to serve his country. He spent two years in Vietnam driving bullet-ridden transport vehicles, moving equipment and troops out of conflict zones. He was awarded numerous medals, but later was discharged that was not honorable as he had two fights because of a post-traumatic stress disorder. It was a long and difficult road to get the VA to accept disability compensation.

He was denied benefits at the rate of significantly more than white people. According to the lawsuit filed on 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 asserts that the VA was aware of but did not deal with decades-long discrimination against Black Veterans. It seeks redress for Monk and other veterans like Monk.

Appeal

The VA's Board of Veterans Appeals reviews claims for benefits when a claimant disagrees with a decision the agency has made. It is essential to appeal a decision as soon as you are able. A veteran disability lawyer can ensure that your appeal fulfills all requirements and receives an impartial hearing.

A licensed lawyer can examine the evidence to support your claim, and if needed, provide additional and more convincing evidence. A lawyer who is familiar with the challenges of the VA will be more understanding of your circumstance. This could be a great benefit in your appeals.

One of the main reasons why a claim for disability benefits from a veteran is denied is due to the agency hasn't correctly characterized their condition. A lawyer with experience can ensure that your condition is classified and rated correctly, thus granting you to receive the benefits that you deserve. A lawyer who is qualified will be able to collaborate with medical experts to provide additional evidence of your health condition. For instance an expert in medical practice might be able prove that the pain you suffer is related to your service-connected injury and that it is causing disability. They may be able to assist you in getting the medical records you require to support your claim.