Case Review: 17-0304, Burgess v. Shulkin (Federal appellate court commands professional work product)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? Very generally stated, the VA has a duty to notify the veteran of the elements of his claim for service connection and the evidence that might prove those elements. 38 USC 5103(a). The VA repeatedly denied service…
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March 9th, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
Monday Morning Coffee with Chris: The one project will drive MASSIVE revenue to your Veterans law firm.
How to drive MASSIVE revenue to your Veterans law firm. I was talking to attorney the other day, and I told her that I believe that drive and focus are the 2 biggest indicators of success for attorneys building a unique brand for their own law firm o…
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March 5th, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
PRECEDENTIAL CAVC CASE ALERT: Golden v. Shulkin (16-1208)(GAF Scores in PTSD Opinion)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? Preliminary note about GAF Scores: Effective August 4, 2014, VA amended the portion of its Schedule for Rating Disabilities dealing with mental disorders to remove outdated references to the DSM-IV and replace them…
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March 1st, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
What do Your Law Firm Brand and this Shoe have in Common?
My hope is that the metaphor of a running shoe changes the way you think about your law firm’s brand. I’m a runner – I run not just for fun, but also to raise money for my favorite non-profits. When a runner is ready to buy a pair o…
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February 28th, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
Monday Morning Coffee with Chris: Sizing up the Competition in Veterans Benefits law.
Sizing up the Competition in Veterans Benefits Law. A new veterans benefits lawyer told me the other day: “I can’t compete with the big law firms in Veterans benefits law. Those big firms have contracts with VSOs and scoop up all the good…
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February 27th, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
Episode 002: PRECEDENTIAL CAVC CASE ALERT: Turner v. Shulkin (16-1171)(Receipt of New and Material Evidence)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? New and material evidence received between the issuance of a VA Ratings Decision and a Notice of Disagreement is considered as filed in connection with the claim which was pending at the beginning of the appeal per…
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February 15th, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
Categories: Veterans Law Updates
Monday Morning Coffee with Chris: 3 Top Revenue Generating Activities for accredited VA attorneys.
When you are a solo or small law firm representing disabled Veterans, you do a lot to keep your law firm running. 3 revenue generating activities, however, are the key to building a viable and sustainable VA Benefits law practice.
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February 12th, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
PRECEDENTIAL CAVC CASE ALERT: Harvey v. Shulkin (16-1515)(Lawyer as Medical Expert)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims has laid out clear standards for determining the adequacy of a VA expert opinion in a VA disability compensation claim. Accord, e.g., Monzingo v. Shinseki, 26 Vet.App. 97 (2…
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February 9th, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
PRECEDENTIAL CAVC CASE ALERT: Foreman v. Shulkin (14-3463)(VA PTSD Effective Date)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? The general effective date rule says that the later of the date entitlement arose and the date of the claim for benefits is the effective date for a VA PTSD claim. 38 C.F.R. §3.400. When a liberalizing rule change…
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February 1st, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
PRECEDENTIAL CAVC CASE ALERT: Marcelino v. Shulkin (16-2959)(Service Connection of Obesity)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims shall have exclusive jurisdiction to review BVA decisions; however, the Court may not review the schedule of ratings for disabilities adopted under 38 USC 1155 – or an…
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January 31st, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
Categories: Veterans Law Updates
