practicing veterans law part 1 @ nosscr
DESCRIPTION
Practicing veterans law, representing veterans as part of your current law practice.TRANSCRIPT
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Presenters:
Jeff Bunten & Katrina Eagle,
Veterans Law Attorneys
NOSSCR Fall Conference
Las Vegas, NV
Friday, October 10, 2014
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Vote for a question
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NOSSCR.CNF.IO
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Getting cases in the pipeline The reality all veterans and their
advocates are facing Other issues for advocate’s radar Questions???
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Tackle 1-5 cases and build from there
Good work begets good work
Expect 4-5 years before a return on investment of time and $$$
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Screening cases – challenging, time consuming, but necessary and rewarding
Don’t be like the VA – give the veteran an answer, even if it’s a rejection
Figure out why VA denied claim; then obtain/submit that evidence
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VA is NOT like SSA
VA is NOT like VA of yore
Veterans’ appeals are “litigated” very differently from SSA cases
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1. Notice of “proposed” action cannot be NOD’ed
2. Fiduciary Issues – get a court-approved POA whenever possible
3. VA is communicating with represented veterans; you ok with that??
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Katrina’s Wish List for Advocates:
◦ Take charge of your veteran’s claim. Whenever possible, be pro-active, not reactive, and get ball back in VA court asap.
◦ Don’t just know why you’re submitting certain evidence to VA. Tell the VA why too! And give clear instructions as to what the VA should do in light of submitted evidence!
◦ No more vague, unclear cover letters. Still “KISS” but identify “enclosed” evidence as if C file had been dropped and need to reconstruct.
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When To Contact A Competent Veterans Benefits Attorney
◦ Work / Representing Veterans at the CAVC EAJA Fees
◦ Work / Representing Veterans During VA-level Appeal MUST Be Accredited by VA – see Office of General
Counsel (OGC) in VA’s website for info Contingency Fee (20% deemed reasonable by VA) Atty is not paid til Veteran Wins and is Paid, and
ONLY 20% of retro-benefit award (debunk myth of being paid portion of all future monthly VA benefit)
Atty can choose – VA withhold atty fee or no?
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◦ NOVA (National Organization of Veterans Advocates): www vetadvocates . Com
◦ Veterans Benefits Manual (produced annually by NVLSP, published by Lexis/Nexis)
◦ US CAVC: www uscourts.cavc .gov
◦ Dept of VA: www va .gov
◦ www .military .com
◦ www. VAWatchdogToday. Org
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10755 Scripps Poway Parkway; # 353 San Diego, CA 92131
858 549 1561 (o) / 858 549 1167 (fax)
www. eagleveteranslaw . com