VETERANS DISABILITY BENEFITS LAW

A Decision Review Officer (DRO) is an employee of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs who review certain types of appeals concerning veterans’ disability benefits.

Obtaining a DRO review is much faster than appeal to the Bureau of Veterans Affairs. In handling a decision review officer hearing,...

An increasing number of veterans experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD as it is commonly known.  PTSD occurs after a traumatic event. The Rand Corporation reported that in 2008 over 300,000 veterans were afflicted with PTSD. In addition to veterans, other individuals who are at risk...

What do Social Security records have to do with VA benefits? Recently, a Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) judge decided a case involving the relevance of Social Security records for a veterans’ disability claims.  The case does not have precedential value, as a single judge made the...

Can Same Sex Couples Get VA Benefits? Under certain circumstances, spouses and children of disabled or deceased veterans are entitled to benefits.  Recently, an issue has arisen over what constitutes a “spouse” for benefits purposes.  More specifically, can a same-sex spouse claim benefits?...

Will the VA Fairly Hear Your Disability Claim? A recent veterans disability article noted that many veterans don’t apply for disability because they are unaware of the benefits or incorrectly believe their injury isn't severe enough to qualify.  If you have a service-related injury, the...

In a recent Social Security disability case, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) erred in returning claimant to past relevant work performed under special conditions. “When the SSA determines whether an individual is disabled for SSDI purposes, it does not take the possibility of 'reasonable...

You fought for your country. Let me fight for your veterans benefits. Joe Whitcomb's first fight for veterans disability benefits was his own.  When he was medically separated from service back in 2005, he did not anticipate running into difficulty getting his veterans benefits, but that is...