10 Quick Tips On Veterans Disability Attorney
Veterans Disability Lawsuits - Why You Need a Lawyer Who is Accredited to Handle Veterans Disability Lawsuits
Attorneys who profit from disabled veterans disability attorneys to make money often use their benefits. This is why you need an attorney that is certified to manage VA claims.
A Connecticut veteran who suffered schizophrenia as well as post-traumatic disorder and other mental ailments related to an aircraft carrier collision which killed dozens has won a significant victory. However, it comes with a huge cost.
Class Action Settlement
According to a lawsuit filed Monday that the Department of Veterans Affairs discriminates against Black veterans when it denies their disability claims at a rate which 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 much more frequent rate than white veterans in the last three decades, according to agency records obtained by Monk and the Yale Law School veterans disability lawyers Legal Services Clinic.
Monk who is an a retired psychiatric nurse claims that discrimination by the VA has caused him and other black veterans to be affected in ways that have impacted their health, home work, education and employment. He is requesting that the VA reimburse him for the benefits it has denied him, and to modify their policies regarding race, discharge status, and denial rates.
Last year, Monk and the Veterans Legal Services Clinic obtained 20 years of VA disability compensation claim data by way of Freedom of Information Act requests which they submitted on behalf of the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress and the Black Veterans Project. The results showed that Black veterans were statistically less likely to receive an application for disability than white veterans between 2001 and 2020. The average denial rate for veterans of color was 6.3% higher than for white veterans.
Discrimination against PTSD
The Veterans Affairs Department systematically denies disability benefits to Black veterans, as per a lawsuit filed Monday. The lawsuit is led by an ex- Marine Corps veteran who was denied access to housing as well as education benefits for decades, even when he was suffering from an undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The suit cites evidence indicating that VA officials have previously denied claims made by Black Veterans in adisproportionate way.
Conley Monk was a member of the Marines as an active volunteer during the Vietnam War. He drove an unmarked transport vehicle as well as assisted in the movement of equipment and troops into combat zones. Conley Monk was later involved two fights, which he attributed to his PTSD. In 1971, he was awarded an unjust discharge that was not honorable. This "bad paper" kept him from receiving loans for homes, tuition aid and other benefits.
He filed a lawsuit against the military to overturn the discharge, and was awarded a range of benefits in 2015 and 2020. However, he claims the VA still has to pay him for his previous denials of disability compensation. He also suffered a lot of emotional trauma from reliving some of his most painful memories through each application and re-application for benefits the suit claims.
The lawsuit seeks financial damages, and wants 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 get the VA to address the long-running discrimination against victims of sexual assault.
Alimony Discrimination
The veterans who were in uniform or who accompanied those who served in the military, need to know the truth about the benefits for veterans with disabilities and their impact on divorce money issues. One of the biggest myths is that state courts are able to garnish veterans' VA compensation to pay for child support and alimony. This isn't the case. Congress has carefully designed Title 38 of the U.S. Code to protect veterans' payments from claims brought by family members and creditors in the case of alimony and child support.
Conley Monk decided to serve his country and spent two years in Vietnam driving bullet-ridden transport vehicles, moving equipment and troops out of conflict zones. He was awarded numerous medals for his service, but he was later issued a less-than-honorable discharge after getting into two fights that were caused by undiagnosed PTSD. It was a long, winding road for him to get the VA to accept disability compensation.
He was denied benefits at a more frequent rate than his white peers. 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. The lawsuit claims that the VA was aware of and failed to deal with decades of discrimination against Black veterans. It seeks redress for Monk and other veterans who are like him.
Appeal
The VA Board of Veterans Appeals examines claims for benefits in the event that an applicant disagrees with an opinion of the agency. If you are considering appealing a decision, it is crucial to file an appeal in the earliest time possible. A lawyer who is experienced in veteran disability appeals can assist you in ensuring that your appeal meets all the requirements and that it receives a fair hearing.
A lawyer with experience can look over the evidence that supports your claim, and if necessary, submit additional evidence. The lawyer will also be aware of the challenges involved in dealing with the VA and could create a higher level of understanding for your situation. This could be a great advantage in your appeals.
A claim for disability from a veteran is usually rejected because the agency could not accurately describe their condition. A lawyer with experience can make sure that your condition is properly categorized and rated, allowing you to claim the benefits you require. A professional attorney will also be able to work with medical professionals to provide additional evidence of your situation. For instance, a medical expert might be able demonstrate that the pain you experience is a result of your service-connected injury and that it is causing impairment. They may also be able help you obtain the medical records needed to support your claim.