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I began practicing Veterans Law in 2007. Shortly after the law changed to allow veterans to hire attorneys to appeal VA ratings decisions, I became one of the first attorneys to become accredited by the VA to represent veterans.
When I started advocating for veterans, there were no blogs covering Veterans Law. I created the wildly popular Veterans Law Blog®, teaching the law and procedure of VA claims and appeals to veterans, VSOs, agents, and attorneys alike. That blog, now a subscription-based educational resource separate and distinct from this law firm, now reaches more than a quarter-million veterans every month.
Today, owing to the prominence and value of the Veterans Law Blog®, a law firm seeking to represent veterans can not be taken seriously if it lacks a blog on veterans law and advocacy.
Today, so many of our Black veterans, veterans of color, women veterans, and veterans who identify as LGBTQI, are abandoned and neglected as the definition of what a veteran is, and how veterans act, shrinks smaller and smaller.
The Attig | Curran | Steel blog is going to"take point" and expand what it means to be a veteran.
Veterans Law Updates.
This category will cover changes and updates in the law that flow from the decisions of the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. and VA rule-making.
Building Sustainable Law Practices.
The lawyer representing veterans faces unique challenges. This category will share how we are building a sustainable and profitable law firm that prioritizes the well-being of the attorney and support staff.
The Bridge.
Throughout history, the experiences certain subsets of veterans have been overlooked or hidden behind a curtain of racism and a veil of misogyny we have heretofore pretended does not exist.
In this category of posts we expose the reality minority veterans face, elevate their voices and educate and validate each other in the hope of beginning to remedy the systematic oppression of Black veterans, veterans of color, women veterans and veterans identifying as LGBTQI.
Learn how to follow and receive updated content from the Taking Point blog.
It's not bad to be an Unhappy Lawyer.
“I am not happy doing what I’m doing.” I’ve had that thought several times in my life. We all have – I hope. In fact, the thought that I was unhappy doing what I was doing was the thought that led me to law school. Back in 1999, I was worki…
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Federal Circuit Precedent Alert: Shea v. Wilkie (scope of an informal VA claim)
WHAT IS THE DEEP ISSUE? In determining whether or not a veteran’s formal claim for one condition raised an informal VA claim for a second condition, the CAVC must ensure that the BVA liberally construes the record to determine if the veteran id…
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Replace yourself from the ground up.
“I can’t take a day off or a vacation. Someone has to get the work done.” If you are a lawyer and that is the reason you are not taking a vacation, or at least a day off, then you are bailing water from a sinking ship. Working to keep from drow…
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Lawyer Wellness in the practice of law.
“To be a good lawyer, one has to be a healthy lawyer.” So begins an August 2017 report from the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being. The problem with this statement, however, is that it is a false comparison. Some of the best attorne…
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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…
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How to Talk to an Attorney When Seeking Representation in VA claims.
In the past decade or so, Attig | Steel has talked with thousands of veterans seeking help with their VA Claims and Court Appeals. During that time, we have reviewed all kinds of VA claims, at all stages of appeal, and communicated with Veterans and…
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PRECEDENTIAL CAVC CASE ALERT: Martinez v. Wilkie (17-1551)(38 USC 5103A, the Duty to Assist and C&P Opinions)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? This case had two issues: one statutory and the other constitutional. Issue#1: 38 U.S.C. §5103A(a)(1) requires the Secretary “assist a claimant in obtaining evidence to substantiate the claim.” The Secretary d…
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How the BVA misapplies the Presumption of Soundness.
Reviewing the Record Before the Agency (RBA) may be the most important thing you do in your CAVC appeal.
Every appeal to the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) begins by filing a Notice of Appeal with the CAVC. Shortly after receiving a Notice of Appeal, the CAVC assigns a docket number. The CAVC Docket Number is the reference number that is…
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3 common errors in BVA "continuity of symptomatology" decisions.
If I could write a list of the most common errors in BVA decisions, erroneous continuity of symptomatology decisions would top the list.
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