Victory Over V.A. Podcast

How much does it really cost to hire an attorney for a VA disability claim? And what happens if your claim is denied? In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast, attorneys Francis Jackson and Alexandra Jackson break down contingency fees, case expenses, VA payment rules, and court appeals. Learn what veterans should understand before signing a fee agreement and why knowing the difference betwe...

What if a condition you are already service connected for is causing another medical problem that could also qualify for VA disability benefits? In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorneys Francis Jackson and Kristian Terison explain secondary service connection, how one condition can create or aggravate another, and why veterans may be overlooking conditions that could affect their...

For many survivors of military sexual trauma, the hardest part of pursuing VA disability benefits may begin long before a claim is ever filed. Shame, silence, and the difficulty of acknowledging what happened can keep veterans from seeking help for decades. In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorneys Francis Jackson and Kristian Terison discuss what they call the "silence tax," why...

For Blue Water Navy veterans exposed to Agent Orange, changes in the law have opened doors that were once closed. But what happens when a veteran’s ship is missing from the VA’s list, or a claim was denied decades ago? In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorneys Francis Jackson and Kristian Terison explain why an old denial may not be the end of the story, what evidence can help est...

Faster VA disability decisions sound like good news, but what happens when speed comes at the expense of a careful review? In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorneys Francis Jackson and Kristian Terison examine how automation is changing VA claims processing, why complex claims can still fall through the cracks, and what veterans should understand before choosing an appeal path aft...

What happens when an Agent Orange claim that was denied years ago may qualify under today’s rules? In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorneys Francis Jackson and Kristian Terison revisit Agent Orange presumptions, explain how the PACT Act changed the landscape for some veterans, and discuss why veterans who served in Thailand, Guam, territorial waters near Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodi...

The PACT Act made it easier for many veterans to connect certain cancers to toxic exposure, but that does not mean every burn pit cancer claim gets approved. In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorneys Alexandra Jackson and Francis Jackson explain why some cancers still fall outside VA presumptions, what veterans can do when records are missing, and why pursuing a claim may still ma...

VA disability rating criteria can change, but what happens to the rating you already have? In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorneys Alexandra Jackson and Francis Jackson break down grandfathering, proposed changes involving tinnitus and sleep apnea, protected ratings, routine reexaminations, and why veterans should understand the potential trade-offs before asking VA to reevaluat...

The VA is turning to automation to process a growing number of disability claims, but what happens when a complicated case does not fit neatly into the system? In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorneys Francis Jackson and Kristian Terison discuss automated VA decisions, the risks facing veterans with complex claims, and why human judgment may still be essential when the facts are...

The PACT Act has transformed VA disability benefits for millions of veterans, yet many who qualify still have not filed a claim. In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorneys Francis Jackson and Kristian Terison explain why the law remains as important today as it was when it was signed and what veterans need to know to avoid common mistakes.

Your VA claims file, commonly called your C-File, contains the story behind your disability claim. In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorneys Francis Jackson and Kristian Terison explain why carefully reviewing every page of that file can uncover overlooked evidence, missing records, and the key details that can make the difference between a denied claim and a successful outcome.

Receiving a VA denial can feel like the end of the road. For many veterans, the first instinct is to panic, file a brand-new claim, or simply give up. In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , Attorney Francis Jackson and Attorney Kristian Terison explain why the smartest strategy is often patience, persistence, and understanding the appeals process. They break down what happens after a den...

Many veterans struggle with daily tasks without realizing they may qualify for additional VA benefits. In this episode of the Victory Over VA Podcast , attorneys Francis Jackson and Kristian Terison explain Aid and Attendance benefits, who qualifies, common misconceptions, and practical steps veterans can take to strengthen a claim.

Could one of the biggest changes to VA disability benefits in years be good news for veterans? In this episode of the Victory Over VA Podcast, attorneys Francis Jackson and Kristian Terison break down proposed changes to the VA's mental health rating system. From a new minimum rating for service-connected mental health conditions to a framework that looks beyond employment alone, these updates cou...

Tinnitus has long been one of the most common disability claims in the VA system. But proposed changes could reshape how veterans pursue compensation for ringing in their ears and potentially eliminate tinnitus as a standalone claim. In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorney Francis Jackson and attorney Kristian Terison break down what these proposed changes could mean for veterans...

Could thousands of veterans lose access to one of the VA's most significant disability ratings? In this episode of the Victory Over VA Podcast, attorneys Francis Jackson and Kristian Terison discuss the VA's proposed changes to sleep apnea disability ratings and why veterans with unfiled claims may need to act sooner rather than later. They break down what the proposed rule could mean, who may be...

What happens when a veteran can mostly function on their own, but not quite enough to live safely without help? In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorney Francis Jackson explains one of the VA's most overlooked benefits: Special Monthly Compensation T (SMC-T) . If a veteran's traumatic brain injury requires ongoing supervision or assistance, even when they aren't living in a nursin...

When veterans think about sleep-related VA disability claims, sleep apnea usually gets all the attention. But what about insomnia, sleepwalking, night terrors, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy? In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorney Francis Jackson and attorney Kristian Terison explore the lesser-known sleep disorders that can impact veterans' lives and VA disability rating...

Most veterans understand VA disability ratings as a percentage system with clearly defined rules. But what happens when your symptoms do not fit neatly inside those boxes? In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , Attorney Francis Jackson and Attorney Kristian Terison unpack one of the least discussed areas of VA disability law: extra scheduler ratings. They explain why these claims are unc...

What if a denied VA claim was not actually the end of the road? Many veterans assume a denial closes the door forever, but that is not always true. In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorney Francis Jackson breaks down how veterans may be able to reopen old claims and why new evidence can completely change the outcome.

What happens when the VA says there’s “not enough evidence” to prove what really happened during service? In this episode of the Victory Over VA Podcast, attorneys Francis Jackson and Kristian Terison break down one of the most overlooked tools in a veteran’s disability claim: buddy statements. From PTSD stressor verification to sleep apnea claims, they explain how the right statement can fill in...

Many veterans believe toxic exposure only applies to places like Vietnam or Iraq. But what if the real risk was closer than you think? In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , we uncover the hidden exposures happening on everyday military bases and what veterans need to know to connect their conditions to service.

Neurological conditions do not follow a script. Some days are manageable, others are overwhelming. So how does the VA measure something that constantly changes? In this episode, we break down how neurological disability claims are evaluated, and what veterans can do to make sure their real, daily experience is fully understood.

What if the key to winning your VA disability claim isn’t speed, but strategy? In this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , attorneys Alexandra and Francis Jackson break down what it really means to “play the long game.” From filing early to building evidence over years, this conversation reveals why patience and persistence are not just helpful, they are essential.

What do you do when the VA doesn’t even list your condition? For many veterans, that moment feels like a dead end. But in this episode of The Victory Over VA Podcast , we unpack why “unlisted” doesn’t mean “uncovered,” and how the right strategy can still turn a denied claim into a win.