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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.
Case Review: 16-1655, Hubert D. Bone v. Shulkin (PTSD Rating)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? The need for adequate reasons and bases from a BVA Judge is particularly acute when the findings and conclusions pertain to the degree of disability resulting from a mental health condition. Mittleider v. West, 11…
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Case Review: 16-3258, Efrem Knowles
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? The probative value of a medical opinion in a VA benefits claim derives from the factually accurate, fully articulated, sound reasoning for the conclusion. Nieves-Rodriguez v Peake, 22 Vet. App. 295, 304(2008). The…
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Case Review: 16-2192, Roderick C. Dean v. Shulkin
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? The Board of Veterans Appeals must analyze the legal credibility and probative value of the evidence, accounting for that which is persuasive or unpersuasive, and providing reasons for rejection material evidence f…
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Case Review: CAVC #16-2628, George Kemp, Jr. v. Shulkin
What is the “Deep Issue” in the case? A veteran is entitled to special monthly compensation (SMC) if, owing to a service-connected disability the veteran suffered anatomical loss of use of one or both feet. 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k), (l). A ve…
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The Business of Law
Anybody can hang out a shingle and start a small law firm, but the attorneys who will succeed must invariably learn something about the business of law. There are, in theory, so many resources available that one might think it would be hard to fail a…
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Veterans Law updates.
When I represent a veteran before the VA Regional Office or BVA, I build my client’s case based on the current law as I understand it. My Notice of Disagreement is shaped by the legal errors that the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC)…
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Your Complete Guide to the CAVC: the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
CAVC Court Background. The United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) was created on November 18, 1988, by Public Law 100-687. The CAVC is not a part of the Department of Veterans Affairs — the CAVC is a federal court and part of…
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