Why Nobody Cares About Veterans Disability Attorney

Veterans Disability Lawsuits - Why You Need a Lawyer Who is Accredited to Handle Veterans Disability Lawsuits

Veterans with disabilities are often targeted by lawyers who make use of their benefits as a source of cash. This is the reason you need an attorney that is certified to deal with VA claims.

A Connecticut veteran who suffered from schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions related to a deadly aircraft carrier crash has clinched an important victory. However, it comes with an expense.

Class Action Settlement

According to a lawsuit filed Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs discriminates against Black veterans when it denies their disability claims, at a rate that is significantly higher than white veterans. Conley Monk is a 74-year old Marine Corps veteran from the Vietnam War who filed the lawsuit. According to records obtained by Monk and Veterans Disability Lawsuits the Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic and Monk, he claims that the VA denied his disability claim at a much higher rate than white veterans in the last three decades.

Monk, who is an ex-psychiatric nurse and retired, says that discrimination from the VA has caused him and other black veterans to suffer in ways that have impacted their health, homes as well as their education, employment and home. He demands that the agency repay him for the benefits he has been deprived of, and to modify its policies on race as well as discharge status and denial rates.

Monk and the Veterans Legal Services Clinic received 20 years of VA disability claim data last year via a Freedom of Information Act request, which they submitted on behalf of National Veterans Council for Legal Redress as well as the Black Veterans Project. These figures showed that Black Veterans were statistically less prone to be granted the right to claim disability benefits than white veterans from 2001 until 2020. Additionally, the average denial rate was 6.3 percent higher for veterans of color than for white veterans.

Discrimination due to PTSD

According to a lawsuit filed Monday the Veterans Affairs Department denies disability benefits to Black Veterans. The suit is filed by an ex- Marine Corps vet who was denied housing, education and other benefits despite having been diagnosed with PTSD. The suit cites evidence that suggests that VA officials have previously denied claims submitted by Black Veterans in a disproportionate manner.

Conley Monk served in the Marines as a volunteer during the Vietnam War. He drove a vehicle that was prone to bullets, as well as assisted in the movement of troops and equipment into combat zones. He ended up in two fights with fellow Marines that he blamed on his PTSD, and received a less-than-honorable military discharge in 1971. This "bad paper" prevented him from receiving home loans or tuition aid as well as other benefits.

He sued the military to reverse the discharge and was awarded full benefits in 2015 and 2020. However, he claims the VA still is owed money for his previous denials of disability compensation. The suit claims that he also suffered emotional damage by reliving the most painful memories with every application for benefits.

The lawsuit seeks damages in the form of money and also asks the court to order the VA to examine its systemic PTSD discrimination. The lawsuit is the latest effort by groups such as the ACLU and Service Women's Action Network, to pressure the VA to confront discrimination that has been in place for decades against victims of sexual assault.

Alimony Discrimination

Veterans who have served our country in uniform or who accompany them deserve truthful information about the benefits for veterans and their impact on money issues in divorce. One of the biggest myths is that veterans can have their VA compensation garnished to pay alimony or child support orders in state courts. It's not true. Congress carefully crafted the law that is found in Title 38, U.S. Code to shield veterans' funds from claims of creditors and family members in the case of alimony or child support.

Conley Monk volunteered to serve his country. He spent two years in Vietnam driving bullet-ridden transport vehicles, transferring equipment and troops out of combat zones. He was awarded several medals, but later he received a discharge that was less than honorable because the two battles he endured were due to an undiagnosed post-traumatic disorder. It was a long and difficult road to get the VA to accept disability compensation.

He was denied access at the rate of significantly more than white people. This discrimination against Blacks was systematic and pervasive, according the lawsuit filed on his behalf by the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress and the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School. It claims that the VA was aware of and failed to confront decades of discrimination affecting Black veterans. It seeks justice for Monk and similar veterans disability law firm.

Appeals

The VA's Board of Veterans Appeals reviews claims for benefits when a person is not satisfied with a decision that the agency has made. It is crucial to appeal a decision as quickly as you are able. An experienced lawyer in appeals for disabled veterans will help you ensure that your appeal meets all the requirements and that it gets a fair hearing.

A lawyer who is qualified can review the evidence used to support your claim and submit additional evidence should it be required. The lawyer will also understand the challenges involved in dealing with the VA and can create a higher level of empathy for your circumstance. This could be a valuable benefit in your appeals process.

One of the primary reasons a veteran's disability claim can be denied is because the agency has not correctly characterized their condition. A qualified lawyer can ensure that your condition is classified and rated appropriately, giving you to get the benefits you're entitled to. A lawyer who is qualified will be able to work with medical experts to provide additional proof of your medical condition. For example medical experts could be able to prove that the pain you are experiencing is a result of your service-connected injury and is disabling. They may be able to assist you in getting the medical records you require to support your claim.