» 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

Categories: The Bridge

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

Categories: 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

Categories: 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

Categories: 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

Categories: 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

Categories: The Bridge

Tags: Augustus Turner, Black veterans

Recent Cases

Client Win: Cause No. 19-8187 May v. Wilkie (TDIU denial not supported by adequate reasons and bases)

This case involves the application of a duplicitous legal standard by the BVA to a veteran’s TDIU appeal, in what is called a “reasons and bases” error by the Board of Veterans Appeals. While it favored a VA C&P medical opinion… Read More

Client Win: 19-6722, Ford v. Wilkie (TBI & Migraine Ratings)

This case involves several issues but centered around two: the veteran’s entitlement to increased TBI (Traumatic-Brain-Injury) and migraine ratings. ISSUE ON APPEAL TO THE CAVC (TBI & Migraine Ratings). The veteran in this case was in a c… Read More

Client Win: 19-5619, Fernandez v. Wilkie (PTSD rating higher than 50-percent)

ISSUE ON APPEAL TO THE CAVC: PTSD rating higher than 50-percent. The veteran appealed to the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) seeking a PTSD rating higher than 50-percent. The VA had performed a VA C&P examination and opinion in January 2019. Rely… Read More

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