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» The Bridge

The Bridge: Battling Racism Insensitivity Discrimination &Gentrification (through) Education.

Even as protestors march across bridges across the nation, from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Golden Gate, history teaches us that America is resistant to acknowledging the persistent racism that plagues this country and even worse, resistant to do… Read More
July 24th, 2020
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Categories: Building a Better Law Firm, The Bridge

A Tale of Two Veterans.

Let me tell you the story of two veterans. The first veteran – we’ll call him Jim – claimed he was exposed to herbicides – Agent Orange – outside of the Republic of Vietnam. After the VA spent decades denying his claim,… Read More
May 16th, 2022
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Categories: Building a Better Law Firm, The Bridge

A Refreshing Voice to Follow Right Now.

  Bold and unapologetically honest, Pam Keith is a refreshing political voice you need to follow right now.  She smoothly articulates the most rocky and controversial topics of our time.  It is no surprise that this attorney with 25 years of expe… Read More
February 26th, 2021
Contributor: Yalitza Ledgister
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Categories: Building a Better Law Firm, The Bridge
Tags: Black Female Veterans, Black veterans, Female veterans, podcast, politician, US Senate, veteran

The Black Heroine Behind Amanda Gorman

By: Yalitza Ledgister, writing for “The Bridge” Single mothers! The poem “The Hill We Climb” recited by Amanda Gorman during the Inauguration on January 20th, 2021 was also written for you. It was created and articulated by a br… Read More
January 25th, 2021
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Categories: Building a Better Law Firm, The Bridge
Tags: Black Lives Matter

The Black Woman In Me.

As we approach Black History Month and Women’s History Month, I am presented with an opportunity to write about a Black woman.  So, I chose me!  I am an Afro-Latina who also identifies as Black. On my census bureau application last y… Read More
January 19th, 2021
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Categories: Building a Better Law Firm, The Bridge
Tags: Black Lives Matter, Black veterans

We the People.

Dear Veteran, We the People, the 79.8 million of us, voted that temporary economic stability should not come at the expense of Black, Hispanic, frontline workers, the immuno-compromised, and elderly lives. We demanded that the unity of our country m… Read More
December 2nd, 2020
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Categories: Building a Better Law Firm, The Bridge
Tags: Black Lives Matter, Black veterans, racism

Calling Out to End Racism

Racist Ideas, Attitudes, and Behavior On March 1, 2016, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it proposed disciplinary action against three Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) attorneys and two judges who had repeatedly sent racist… Read More
October 20th, 2020
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Categories: Building a Better Law Firm, The Bridge
Tags: Black veterans, Discrimination, racism

The Black Hero.

By: Yalitza Ledgister, writing for “The Bridge” One day my son came home from school and, pointing to his brown arms, asked, “Mom, why can’t I have white skin?”  After the initial shock and parent-fail slap wore off, I… Read More
September 1st, 2020
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Categories: Building a Better Law Firm, The Bridge

"I am a Black man who jogs."

“I am a Black man who jogs” was written by Augustus Turner, Mr. Turner retains all copyright to the image and content; it is republished here with his permission. Augustus Turner is a husband, a father, a soldier, and an attorney.… Read More
June 26th, 2020
Contributor: Chris Attig
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Categories: Building a Better Law Firm, The Bridge
Tags: Augustus Turner, Black veterans

Recent Cases

Client Win: CAVC No. 21-2655, (BVA overlooked evidence of suicidal ideation in claim for an increased PTSD rating)
This case involves the BVA judge’s inadequate reasoning of a denial of a veteran’s claim for an increased rating for PTSD.   The appeal was resolved through a joint motion to remand. ISSUE ON APPEAL TO THE CAVC (BVA overlooked evidence… Read More
Client Win: CAVC No. 21-0394, (BVA erred in denying past-due benefits in claim for an increased rating)
This case involves the BVA judge’s inadequate reasoning of his denial of a veteran’s past-due benefits in a claim for an increased rating due to an increase in the severity of the veteran’s PTSD. The appeal was resolved through a jo… Read More
Client Win: CAVC No. 21-0049 (BVA inadequately reasoned denial of service connection for peripheral neuropathy).
The BVA erred when it denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy by ignoring evidence of the veteran's symptoms of the condition. Read More

See More Appellate Results

Taking Point! Blog

May
23
Working with Purpose.
May 23rd, 2022
After years of exploring different fields, I’ve found purpose-driven work here, at Attig | Curran | Steel.   There are a lot of variables in the experience of “happy.” It is difficult to keep it continuous.  Do I feel happy when my kids… Read More
May
18
Four standards of review at the Veterans Court.
May 18th, 2022
When appellate courts review the decisions of lower courts – or in administrative law where a Court like the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) reviews the decisions of the BVA, an administrative tribunal – they use “… Read More
May
16
A Tale of Two Veterans.
May 16th, 2022
Let me tell you the story of two veterans. The first veteran – we’ll call him Jim – claimed he was exposed to herbicides – Agent Orange – outside of the Republic of Vietnam. After the VA spent decades denying his claim,… Read More
Mar
2
Veterans Court: What constitutes loss of use of a reproductive organ for purposes of SMC?
March 2nd, 2021
In January 2021, the loss of use of a reproductive organ for SMC purposes was the focus of a panel of judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals Veterans Claims issued a precedential opinion in Bria v. Wilkie.   The panel consisted of Judge Mere… Read More

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