» Veterans Law Updates

What is the Deep Issue in the Case? 38 U.S.C. §7107(b) (2012) requires “[t]he Board shall decide any appeal only after affording the appellant an opportunity for a hearing.”  On remand from the Veterans Court, the veteran asked for a new BV… Read More

Coffee w/ Chris: (Monday, November 5, 2018) The Supreme Court takes on Agent Orange. It is not often that the Supreme Court takes up a veterans disability claim. This past Friday, SCOTUS granted cert in a case called Gray v. Wilkie. The question… Read More

UPDATE – January 29, 2019: Procopio Wins!  Presumption of Agent Orange Exposure extended to Blue Water Navy Veterans. Click here to read the Federal Circuit’s opinion – and stay tuned, as there is a lot to unpack in this decision,… Read More

In June 2018, it appears that the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) has set 1 case for Panel Decisions and 4 cases for Oral Argument and Panel Decision.  I do my best to seek out and find all cases submitted to a CAVC Panel or set for Oral… Read More

What is the Deep Issue in the Case? VA regulations provide that a veteran’s “appeal may be withdrawn as to any or all issues involved in the appeal.” 38 C.F.R. § 20.204(a). a statement made by a veteran at a board hearing qualifies as an effe… Read More

In a recent court appeal, the VA was relying on the unsigned and unsworn statement of a random government bureaucrat. This bureaucrat was “testifying” to the lack of existence of any evidence that my client was exposed to the herbicide ag… Read More

What is the Deep Issue in the Case? {Several issues were raised in the briefing of this case – this review focuses in on one: continuity of symptomatology for hearing loss} A veteran is entitled to service connection for loss of hearing if his�… Read More

In today’s post, I am going to teach you how to become a better advocate by challenging the VA Medical Examiner’s competence – or at least rebutting the presumption of competence in your client’s BVA appeals. VA claims and app… Read More