To establish representation, an attorney must be recognized as the vet’s representative by the VA. A VA Form 21-22 must be signed by the attorney and the veteran and be submitted to the VARO. It should be accompanied by a fee agreement.
The National Organization of Veterans Advocates (NOVA) was founded in 1994 and is exclusively composed of representatives of veterans. The organization identifies attorneys or representatives who are trained and qualified in VA law. Members are permitted to practice at the Court of Appeals for Veterans [...]
Yes! As of 2007, attorneys are able to assist clients with the claims process. In the past, the legislature has strongly restricted a lawyer’s ability to represent veterans. Since the Civil War, federal courts have upheld preemption statutes that severely limit the amount of compensation [...]
First, a claim is filed at the state Regional Office (RO). Most claims are judged and concluded at this level. If a veteran is unhappy with the decision made at the RO level, he or she may request that the RO review the decision. If [...]
Yes. A surviving spouse may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) if the death of the veteran was a result of his service. The spouse may also qualify upon the death of the veteran if the veteran had suffered a total disability for [...]
Military pension benefits do not refer to retirement benefits. Pension benefits are, in fact, more similar to Supplemental Security Income (SSI). They are needs-based benefits issued to veterans who have at least 90 days of wartime service (including stateside service during a time of war) [...]
To be eligible for compensation, a veteran must prove that he or she was discharged honorably, that there is medical evidence of current disability, that the disability occurred as a result of (or was aggravated by) military service, and a veteran must provide medical evidence [...]
Compensation is paid to a veteran due to a disability (or disabilities) if the injury or disease has occurred as a direct result of military service. The amount of compensation is not determined by need or time served but is determined by the extent of [...]
Veterans benefits are paid in two forms: compensation and/or pension.
According to Veterans Affairs (VA), a vet is “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air services, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” The VA reserves the right to determine whether a veteran’s discharge and disability were [...]