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 that an attorney may charge for his or her services for cases regarding Veterans Benefits. These limits made it frustratingly impossible for an attorney to represent these injured victims.
Until recently, veterans were represented exclusively by Veterans Service Organizations (VSO’s) such as the VFW, the American Legion, or AMVETS. These organizations offer representatives who often provide great services at the beginning of the benefit filing process. However, these representatives are not attorneys and they have been criticized for failing to spot issues or for not continuing appeals.
Now that law has been amended, veterans have the right to seek legal representation. Dedicated attorneys who become members of the National Organization of Veterans Advocates (NOVA), such as those lawyers at the Marshall Grinder Debski Pitts Law Firm, are able to pursue a veteran’s claim for benefits with maximum effort to obtain the best possible results.