What s The Current Job Market For Veterans Disability Attorney Professionals Like

Veterans Disability Lawsuits - Why You Need a Lawyer Who is Accredited to Handle veterans disability law firms Disability Lawsuits

Veterans with disabilities are frequently victimized by lawyers who use their benefits to make a profit. This is why you need an attorney that is certified to manage VA claims.

A Connecticut veteran who was suffering from schizophrenia, post-traumatic disorder and other mental ailments related to an air carrier crash which killed dozens has a huge victory. But it comes with a hefty cost.

Class Action Settlement

The Department of Veterans Affairs has consistently discriminated against Black veterans by denying disability compensation claims at a significantly higher rate than white veterans, as per a lawsuit filed on Monday. Conley Monk is a 74-year old Marine Corps veteran from the Vietnam War who filed the lawsuit. Monk claims VA has denied his disability claims at a much greater rate than white veterans in the last three decades, according to documents obtained by Monk and the Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic.

Monk, a retired psychiatric nurse, says that discrimination from the VA has caused him and other black veterans to be affected in ways that have impacted their health, homes or work and education. He is requesting that the VA pay him back the benefits they have denied him and to change their policies regarding race, discharge status, and denial rates.

In the past year, Monk and the Veterans Legal Services Clinic obtained 20 years of VA disability compensation claim data by way of Freedom of Information Act requests, which they filed on behalf of the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress and the Black Veterans Project. The results showed that Black veterans disability lawyers were statistically less likely to receive a disability claim than white veterans between 2001 and 2020. Additionally, the average denial rate was 6.3% higher for veterans of color than for white veterans.

Discrimination against PTSD

The Veterans Affairs Department systematically denies disability benefits to Black veterans, according to a lawsuit filed on Monday. The lawsuit is brought by an ex- Marine Corps vet who was denied housing as well as education benefits, among others despite having been diagnosed with PTSD. The suit points to evidence suggesting that VA officials have historically denied claims made by Black Veterans disproportionately.

Conley Monk signed up to serve in the Marines during the Vietnam War, driving a damaged transport vehicle that was prone to bullets and helping to transport equipment and troops to combat zones. Monk was later involved in two fights, which he attributed to his PTSD. In 1971, he was given an unjust discharge that was not acceptable. The "bad paper" kept him from obtaining the home loan, tuition assistance and other benefits.

He filed a lawsuit against the military to rescind the discharge, and was awarded a full range of benefits in 2015 and 2020. But, he claims that the VA still owes him money due to the denials he received in the past of disability compensation. The suit asserts that he was emotionally damaged by the repetition of his most traumatizing experiences with every application for benefits.

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and seeks the court to require the VA to review its systemic PTSD discrimination. It is the latest effort by groups such as the ACLU and Service Women's Action Network to make it mandatory for the VA to end the long-running discrimination against victims of sexual assault.

Alimony Discrimination

The veterans who have served our country in uniform or those who accompany them deserve truthful information about veterans disability compensation and its effect on money issues in divorce. One of the most popular myths is that veterans can have their VA compensation seized in order to pay alimony or child support orders in state courts. This is not the case. Congress carefully crafted the law found in Title 38, U.S. Code to protect veterans' compensation from claims of creditors and family members with the exception of alimony and child support.

Conley Monk volunteered to serve his country and spent two years in Vietnam driving bullet-riddled transport vehicles, moving equipment and troops out of conflict zones. He was awarded numerous medals, but he received a discharge that was not honorable as the two battles he endured were caused by undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder. His battle for the VA to approve his claim for disability compensation was a long and difficult journey.

He was denied benefits at a much higher rate than his white counterparts. According to the lawsuit brought in his behalf by the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress at Yale Law School and the Veterans Legal Services Clinic, the discrimination against Black veterans was systematic and widespread. It claims that the VA knew about and failed to address decades of discrimination against Black veterans. It seeks redress for Monk and other veterans like Monk.

Appeals

The VA Board of Veterans Appeals examines claims for benefits in the event that the claimant is dissatisfied with an assessment made by the agency. It is important to appeal a decision as quickly as you can. A lawyer with experience in veteran disability appeals can assist you in ensuring that your appeal is in line with all the requirements and that you are given a fair hearing.

A lawyer with experience can look over the evidence used to prove your claim, and when necessary, submit additional evidence. A lawyer will also know the difficulties of dealing with the VA and could lead to a greater level of empathy for the situation. This can be a huge advantage during your appeals procedure.

One of the most common reasons a veteran's disability claim is denied is because the agency has not correctly described their condition. A skilled lawyer can make sure that your condition is properly classified and rated appropriately, giving you the benefits you deserve. A qualified lawyer will also be able to consult with medical professionals to provide additional proof of your situation. For instance medical experts might be able demonstrate that the pain you experience is a result of your service-connected injury and is causing disability. They might also be able to assist you get the medical records that are required to support your claim.