Veterans Legal Lowdown: VA Benefits Explained

Three new conditions were recently added to VA’s list of presumptive conditions for Vietnam-era veterans affected by exposure to Agent Orange. This means that qualifying veterans suffering from bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, or Parkinson’s-like symptoms will receive a grant of service connection from VA. Tune in as CCK Founding Partner Robert Chisholm and Managing Attorney Courtney Ross explain t...

Join CCK Founding Partner Robert Chisholm and Managing Attorney Jenna Zellmer as they consider the recent delay in the mailing of decisions from the Board of Veterans Appeals. They will explain the 120-day period veterans have upon receiving their decision letter to appeal the Board’s decision, as well as how this period has been affected by the mailing delay. In addition, they will discuss next s...

On this episode of the Veterans Legal Lowdown, CCK attorneys Jenna Zellmer, Alyse Phillips, and Kevin Medeiros break down everything you need to know about VA disability benefits for neck pain. They will discuss common neck injuries among veterans, how VA determines service connection for these injuries, and how ratings are assigned. The CCK team will also explain related issues including TDIU and...

This year has brought about many changes which have impacted a wide range of people, including the veteran community. On this episode of Veterans Legal Lowdown, the CCK team will break down the changes in laws, regulations, VA processes, and more. We will explain what will change for veterans, as well as what will remain the same. Join us for this 2020 year in review! For more information, visit o...

A VA buddy letter, also known as lay evidence or a lay statement, is a credible statement in support of a claim for VA disability benefits. Buddy letters can serve as valuable pieces of evidence for VA claims, and help VA to get a more detailed picture of the veteran’s condition. On this episode of Veterans Legal Lowdown, the CCK team breaks down the components of a strong buddy letter, explains w...

Tune in to this week’s episode of The Veterans Legal Lowdown as the CCK team discusses VA disability benefits for secondary conditions to tinnitus. Join us as we explain the causes and symptoms of tinnitus, one of the most frequently claimed conditions among veterans, and discuss common secondary conditions that develop as a result of tinnitus. In addition, we will review the steps veterans must t...

Tune in as the CCK team explains everything you need to know about Protected VA Disability Ratings. We will discuss what it means to have a rating that is protected and review the main types of protected ratings. In addition, we will answer questions regarding VA reexaminations, Permanent and Total Ratings, and what happens when your rating is not protected. For more information, visit our website...

On this episode of The Veterans Legal Lowdown the CCK team discusses two important topics: DBQ access and the outsourcing of C&P Exams. Join us as we review the purpose of DBQ forms and explain why VA removed DBQ forms from their website. Additionally, we will discuss the effects of this decision now that VA has begun outsourcing all Compensation & Pension examinations. For more informatio...

Join the CCK team as we discuss the most common mistakes veterans make during their Compensation and Pension examinations. We will explain how these exams work and why they are important. In addition, we will offer advice and tips to help veterans achieve better outcomes during their C&P exams. For more information, visit our website at cck-law.com Follow us on social media: YouTube - http://bit.l...

Join the CCK team as we discuss the US District Court of Northern California’s recent decision concerning Blue Water Navy Veterans. We review how Blue Water Navy Veterans, or those who served within 12 nautical miles off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War, are entitled to a presumption of herbicide exposure, as well as how the Nehmer case is now being applied to this group of veterans. Ou...

There are several types of accredited representatives who can help veterans with their cases before the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Many veterans benefit from the assistance of an accredited representative, but it can be difficult to find the right one. Tune in as we discuss the requirements for accreditation, how much a representative can legally c...

Tune in as the CCK team discusses the recent recall of Zantac by the FDA and the legal options for those affected. We will review how this drug is being linked to cancer, examining the specific substances that are considered harmful to humans and the types of cancers that may result. In addition, we will consider how the Zantac recall has impacted veterans, many of whom took the medication to mana...

In this episode the CCK team sheds some light on the backlog of claims at the Board of Veteran’s Appeals. Looking at both Legacy and AMA appeals, we will review how the BVA processes appeals, explain the reasons behind wait times and delays at different points in the process, and more. We will also introduce our BVA Backlog Transparency Tool and discuss how it breaks down VA’s complicated and conf...

This episode of The Veterans Legal Lowdown covers VA disability claims for Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs).  CCK’s Emma Peterson, Bethany Cook, and Kevin Medeiros discuss the common causes of TBIs in military service, how to file for service-connected compensation, the types of benefits available, important evidence to include with your claim, and more. For more information, visit our website...

Veterans with any disability rating (even 0%) can qualify for certain benefits aside from just disability compensation. Tune into this episode of the Veterans Legal Lowdown as CCK’s attorneys break down these benefits, their eligibility, and application processes. For more information, visit our website at cck-law.com Follow us on social media: YouTube - http://bit.ly/CCKYTL Facebook - http://bit....

The Department of Veterans Affairs has processed over 30,000 Blue Water Navy claims, since eligibility opened in January 2020. Today, CCK Partner Robert Chisholm joins fellow attorneys in breaking down these statistics. Plus, we discuss a recent development related to the Nehmer class action, which could extend some Blue Water Veterans’ effective dates who have previously filed claims. For more in...

The Board of Veterans Appeals has hit a historic milestone in FY 2020 when it reached 100,000 decisions. CCK Partners break down the reasons for this increased productivity, whether we think BVA can sustain these results in the future, and whether this increase has led to reduced accuracy in decisions. Plus, CCK announces a new feature coming to our website soon breaking down key BVA metrics, givi...

Service-connected knee conditions are ailments Veterans suffer from all too often due to the strenuous nature of military service and potential injuries. During this week’s Veterans Legal Lowdown, learn common knee conditions Veterans experience, how they're rated, special Veterans Law considerations to be on the lookout for in your decisions, tips for your C&P exam, and helpful claim advice. For...

VA disability claims for Respiratory Conditions can get complicated. Join CCK's VA disability attorneys as we break down common service-connected respiratory conditions, how they're rated, their causes among all eras of Veterans, and how to build a strong claim for disabilities such as Sleep Apnea, Asthma, COPD, Bronchiolitis and more for VA disability compensation. For more information, visit our...

A Total Disability rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) allows Veterans to receive disability compensation at the 100% rate if their disabilities prevent them from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The CCK team breaks down common misconceptions about TDIU ratings and reinforces important rules for Veterans to keep in mind during this edition of The Veterans L...

In order to prove a service connection claim for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Veterans must first verify their stressor. Today’s discussion breaks down how to verify your stressor, whether combat-related or not, and the special rules VA must consider when adjudicating a claim for PTSD. For more information, visit our website at cck-law.com Follow us on social media: YouTube - http://bit....

Women Veterans often face distinct challenges compared to their male peers during and after service. Join the CCK team as they discuss common conditions affecting women Veterans and how to navigate the VA disability system. For more information, visit our website at cck-law.com Follow us on social media: YouTube - http://bit.ly/CCKYTL Facebook - http://bit.ly/CCKFBL Instagram - http://bit.ly/CCKIN...

Decades of water contamination at Camp Lejeune, NC left many Veterans and who served there and their family members seriously ill. Learn more about Camp Lejeune, and VA benefits for conditions caused by this exposure the CCK team. For more information, visit our website at cck-law.com Follow us on social media: YouTube - http://bit.ly/CCKYTL Facebook - http://bit.ly/CCKFBL Instagram - http://bit.l...

VA has provided further insight into the removal of public facing DBQs from its website, including whether it is feasible getting them back online. Additionally, VA has alluded to proposing legislation allowing them to exclude some evidence while adjudicating claims; something they cannot currently do due to the non-adversarial nature of the claims process. Learn more in today’s podcast. For more...

Learn from the CCK team about VA’s proposed 2021 budget and the potential impact these changes could have on Veterans and the VA as a whole next year. For more information, visit our website at cck-law.com Follow us on social media: YouTube - http://bit.ly/CCKYTL Facebook - http://bit.ly/CCKFBL Instagram - http://bit.ly/CCKINL Twitter - http://bit.ly/CCKTL