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"To the Best of my Knowledge" - The case against attorney use of VA Form 21-4138.
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…
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June 15th, 2018
Contributor: Chris Attig
Case Review: #17-0306, Schmoker v. Wilkie (Is Hearing Loss a VA disability even if its not compensable?)
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…
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May 21st, 2018
Contributor: Chris Attig
Yes, you should challenge all VA Medical Examiners' Competence.
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…
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May 1st, 2018
Contributor: Chris Attig
Episode 006: CAVC Oral Argument: Atencio v. Wilkie, 16-1561 (April 26, 2018)(Gulf War Syndrome presumptions and GERD)
What the ‘MUCMI’ is going on with GERD? PREVIEW OF THE CASE: General Overview of the Medicine Some terms you will hear in this argument: GERD is Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disorder. GERD can often – but not always -result from a dysfu…
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April 27th, 2018
Contributor: Chris Attig
Categories: Veterans Law Updates
Tags: 2018 CAVC Oral Arguments, 38 CFR 3.317, 38 USC 1117, 38 USC 1118, Alexandra Lio, Auer v. Robbins 519 U.S. 452 (1997), Catherine D. Vel, CCK, Chief Judge Robert N. Davis, Christian A. McTarnaghan, Denver CO VARO, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD), Gulf War Syndrome, Judge Amanda L. Meredith, Judge Michael Allen, Medically Unexplained Chronic Multisymptom Illness (MUCMI), Michelle L. Kane, podcast, presumption of service connection
Episode 005: CAVC Oral Argument: Simmons v. Wilkie (16-3039)(CAVC Application of Harmless Error Rule)
General Overview of Harmless Error law. The major question in this case is how the CAVC should apply the harmless error rule when it might involve making findings of fact. The Court stated in its supplemental briefing order that it “…has…
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April 25th, 2018
Contributor: Chris Attig
Categories: Veterans Law Updates
Tags: 38 USC 105(a), 38 USC 1111, 38 USC 7261(b), Chief Judge Robert N. Davis, Clear and Unmistakeable Error (CUE), Harmless Error, Joshua L. Wolinsky, Judge Margaret Bartley, Judge Michael Allen, Ken Carpenter, Kotteakos v. US 328 US 750 (1946), presumption of aggravation, presumption of soundness, Shinseki v. Sanders 556 U.S. 396 (2009), Winston Salem NC VARO
Episode 004: CAVC Oral Argument - Johnson v. Wilkie, #16-3808 (April 24, 2018) Successive Rating Criteria for Migraines)
General Preview of the Case: This is a complex case involving the complex issue of “successive rating criteria”, with a lot of regulatory interpretation and factual application issues at play. There is one, and possibly more, diagnostic c…
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April 24th, 2018
Contributor: Chris Attig
Categories: Veterans Law Updates
Tags: 38 CFR 4.21, 38 CFR 4.3, 38 CFR 4.7, Camacho v. Nicholson 21 Vet.App. 360 (2007), Chief Judge Robert N. Davis, DC 8100, migraines, NVLSP, Paul Sorisio, Pierce v. Principi 18 Vet.App. 440 (2004), Raymond J. Kim, Roanoke VA VARO, Sarah E. Wolf, successive rating criteria, Tatum v. Shinseki 23 Vet. App. 152 (2009)
Episode 003: CAVC Oral Argument: Spellers v. Wilkie, 16-4053 (April 19, 2018)
Issue for Oral Argument: General Overview of the Law When a veteran’s disability does not meet the requirements for the next higher schedular rating, but the evidence indicates his or her disability is more severe than the current rating, a veteran…
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April 23rd, 2018
Contributor: Chris Attig
FCOA Precedent Alert: Saunders v. Wilkie, #2017-1466 (A Veteran can service connect stand-alone pain)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? This case involves the question of whether a veteran can service connect stand alone pain as a disability for the purposes of VA disability compensation. The basic VA disability compensation statute is clear: the V…
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April 17th, 2018
Contributor: Chris Attig
Categories: Veterans Law Updates
Tags: 2018 Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, 38 CFR 4.1, 38 USC 1110, American Legion, Chief Judge Robert N. Davis, Circuit Judge Kathleen O'Malley, Circuit Judge Pauline Newman, Circuit Judge Timothy B. Dyk, Judge Coral W. Pietsch, Judge Mary J. Schoelen, knee, Mark E. Porada, Melanie L. Bostwick, NVLSP, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Patrick Berkshire, Roanoke VA VARO, Shereen Marcus, stand alone pain, Thomas J. Dannaher
Case Review: #16-3564, Gerhardson v. Shulkin (Can Inadequate Opinion make Inadequate Reasons and Bases harmless error)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? {Several issues were raised in the briefing of this case – this review focuses in on one: the CAVC harmless error rule.} When the BVA issues a remand order, the veteran or surviving spouse is entitled to subs…
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March 16th, 2018
Contributor: Chris Attig
Categories: Veterans Law Updates
Tags: 38 USC 5103A, American Legion, D'Aries v. Peake 22 Vet. App. 97 (2008), due process violation, Gardner Deference, H.N. Schwarz, Harmless Error, Judge Joseph L. Toth, Margaret K. Krasik, Mark D. Gore, Mathis v. Shulkin 137 S.Ct. at 1995 (June 26 2017), Prickett v Nicholson 20 Vet App 370 (2006), Rizzo v Shinseki 580 F.3d 1288 (Fed. Cir. 2009), Shinseki v. Sanders 556 U.S. 396 (2009), St Paul MN VARO, US Constitution 5th Amendment
PRECEDENTIAL FCOA CASE ALERT: Bly v. Shulkin (17-1287)(EAJA petition deadline at CAVC)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? This case involves the deadline to file an EAJA Petition at the CAVC. The Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”) requires applications for attorney fees must be filed within 30 days of a court’s fin…
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March 14th, 2018
Contributor: Chris Attig
Categories: Veterans Law Updates
Tags: 2018 Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, 28 USC 2412, Brandon Michael Selinsky, Circuit Judge Jimmie V. Reyna, Circuit Judge Timothy B. Dyk, Circuit Judge Todd M. Hughes, Disabled American Veteran (DAV), EAJA Petition, Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), Impresa Construzioni Geom Domenico Garufi v United States 531 F3d 1367 (Fed Cir 2008), Joseph Whitcom, Joshua E. Kurland, Judge Margaret Bartley, Judge William S. Greenberg, Justin P. Zimmer, Michael Martin, Senior Judge Bruce E. Kasold, Sioux Falls SD VARO