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PRECEDENTIAL CAVC CASE ALERT: Buffington v. Wilkie (17-4382).

What is the Deep Issue in the Case? This case involved one issue, framed in 3 ways. In this case, the veteran was receiving disability compensation from the VA when he returned to active military service. His VA benefits were automatically terminated… Read More
August 5th, 2019
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
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Categories: Veterans Law Updates
Tags: 38 CFR 3.654, 38 USC 1110, 38 USC 501, 38 USC 5304(c), A. Jaeger, American Legion, Chevron deference, Cleveland OH VARO, Debra L. Bernal, Judge Amanda L. Meredith, Judge Joseph L. Falvey Jr., Judge William S. Greenberg, NVL, Stacy Tromble, Surplusage Canon

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… Read More
May 21st, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
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Categories: Veterans Law Updates
Tags: 38 C.F.R. 3.303(b), 38 C.F.R. 3.385, American Legion, Caitlin S. Milo, hearing loss, Hensley v. Brown 5 Vet. App. 155 (1993), Judge William S. Greenberg, Julia A. Turner, Los Angeles CA VARO, M.E. Larkin, NVLSP

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… Read More
April 17th, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
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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… Read More
March 16th, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
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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

Case Review: 16-3392, Edmunds v. Shulkin (Lay Evidence & VA Exam Adequacy)

What is the Deep Issue in the Case? Medical examiners are not required to discuss every piece of favorable evidence or provide reasons or bases. Monzingo v. Shinseki, 26 Vet. App. 97 (2012) The veteran testified that he had pain related to 2 current… Read More
January 23rd, 2018
Contributor: Chris ("Chrys") Attig
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Categories: Veterans Law Updates
Tags: American Legion, Anita U. Ajenifuja, Judge Joseph L. Toth, lay evidence, Maxwell D. Kinman, Monzingo, Nathaniel J. Doan, Roanoke VA VARO, VA Exam Adequacy