veterans disability lawsuits (see this website) - Why You Need a Lawyer Who is Accredited to Handle Veterans Disability Lawsuits

Attorneys who exploit disabled veterans to make money often use their benefits. You need an attorney who is licensed to manage VA claims.

A Connecticut veteran who suffered from schizophrenia post-traumatic disorder, schizophrenia and other mental disorders related to an air carrier crash that claimed the lives of dozens has been awarded a significant victory. But it comes with a significant price tag.

Class Action Settlement

According to a lawsuit filed on Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs discriminates against Black veterans by refusing their disability claims at a rate which is significantly higher than white veterans. Conley Monk, a 74-year-old Marine Corps veteran who served during the Vietnam War, is the plaintiff in the lawsuit. Monk claims VA has denied his disability claims at a greater rate than white veterans over the past three decades, as per documents obtained by Monk and the Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic.

Monk, a retired psychiatric nurse, claims that discrimination at the hands of VA has led him, and others of black veterans, to suffer in a way that has affected their health, home life, employment, and education. He is requesting that the VA repay him for the benefits he has been deprived of and to amend its policies on 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 submitted on behalf of the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress and the Black Veterans Project. The results showed that Black veterans were statistically less likely to receive the right to claim disability benefits than white veterans between 2001 to 2020. In addition the average denial rate was 6.3 percent higher for black veterans disability law firm than it was for white veterans.

Discrimination in PTSD

According to a lawsuit filed Monday that the Veterans Affairs Department denies disability benefits to Black veterans. The suit is filed by a former Marine Corps veteran who was denied access to housing, education, and other benefits for years, even having been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The suit cites evidence to show that VA officials have historically disproportionately rejected claims filed by Black veterans disability lawyer.

Conley Monk was a member of the Marines as a volunteer during the Vietnam War. He drove an armored transport vehicle as well as assisted in the movement of troops and equipment into combat zones. Conley Monk was later involved two battles, which he attributed to his PTSD. In 1971, he was awarded a discharge that was not acceptable. This "bad paper" kept him from receiving home loans or tuition aid as well as other benefits.

He filed a lawsuit against the military in order to reverse the discharge and was awarded full benefits both in 2015 and 2020. He claims that the VA has a debt for the past denials of disability benefits. He also suffered emotional harm from reliving the most traumatic memories in each application and re-application for benefits the suit states.

The lawsuit is seeking monetary damages and seeks to have the court decide to require the VA to examine the systems-wide PTSD bias. 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 address the long-running discrimination against victims of sexual assault.

Alimony Discrimination

People who have served their country in uniform or those who accompany them deserve honest answers about the veterans disability compensation and its effect on money issues in divorce. One of the biggest misconceptions is that veterans can have their VA compensation seized to pay alimony or child support orders in state courts. This is not true. Congress carefully designed Title 38 of the U.S. Code to safeguard the veterans' compensation against claims from creditors and family members in the case of alimony and child support.

Conley Monk, a volunteer for his country, served two years in Vietnam driving bulletproof transport vehicles and moving troops and equipment out of combat zones. Monk was awarded several medals in recognition of his service, but he was later issued a less-than-honorable discharge when he got into two fights triggered by undiagnosed PTSD. His battle for the VA to accept his claim for disability compensation was a long and arduous journey.

He was denied benefits at a much higher rate than white peers. 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, this discrimination against blacks was systematic and widespread. The suit claims that the VA knew about and failed to take action to end decades of discrimination against Black veterans. It seeks justice for Monk and other veterans.

Appeals

The VA Board of Veterans Appeals examines claims for benefits if the applicant is not satisfied with an opinion of the agency. It is essential to appeal a decision as fast as you can. An experienced lawyer in appeals to veterans' disability cases can help you ensure that your appeal is in line with all the requirements and that it gets a fair hearing.

A qualified lawyer can review the evidence that supports your claim, and should it be necessary, present additional evidence. A lawyer who knows the VA's issues can be more sympathetic to your circumstances. This can be a huge asset in your appeals process.

One of the main reasons why a claim for disability benefits from a veteran is rejected is because the agency has not properly described their condition. A skilled lawyer can make sure that your condition is classified and rated properly, which will allow you to get the benefits you're entitled to. A qualified attorney will be able to collaborate with medical professionals to provide additional evidence of your condition. A medical expert could, for instance, be able show that the pain you are experiencing is due to the injury you sustained while working and is in a way limiting. They could be able to assist you in getting the medical records required to support your claim.