An In-depth Look at VA Benefits and Advocacy Strategies

263 Pages·2015·13.61 MB·English

by  Hille, Dannielle

An In-depth Look at VA Benefits
and Advocacy Strategies
Monday, November 9, 2015 Sponsored by:
New York State Bar Association
Veterans Committee of the New
Great Hall York State Bar Association
1 Elk Street Finkelstein & Partners, LLP
Albany, NY 12207 Disability Rights New York
(DRNY)
FINKELSTEIN & PARTNERS, LLP; LEGAL SERVICES
NYC; AND DISABILITY RIGHTS NEW YORK; IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEW YORK STATE BAR
ASSOCIATION VETERANS COMMITTEE
VA BENEFITS PRACTICE CLE - PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF REPRESENTING
VETERANS BEFORE THE VETERANS’ ADMINISTRATION
AGENDA
November 9, 2015
9:00am – 4:00pm

6 Transitional CLE Credits: 1.0 Ethics, 3.0 Professional Practice and 2.0 Skills
[Under New York’s MCLE rule, this program has been approved for all attorneys, including newly
admitted.] This program includes 3.0 credits hours that are also VA-accredited.

Panelists:
Nancy Morgan, Esq., Director of Legal Operations, Finkelstein & Partners, LLP
Christine Clemens, Esq., Managing Attorney, Pro Bono Outreach, Veterans’ Services Group
Finkelstein & Partners, LLP
Peter A. Kempner, Esq., Director, Veterans Justice Project & Deputy Director, Housing Unit, Legal
Services NYC- Brooklyn Programs
Christina Asbee, Esq., PAAT Staff Attorney, Disability Rights New York

Introductions 9:00am-9:10am
MORNING PROGRAM- 9:10AM-12:00PM
9:10am – 11:10am
I. Representation Before the Department of Veterans Affairs
In compliance with 38 C.F.R. § 14.629 (b)(2)(iii)
Presenters: Nancy Morgan, Esq. & Christine Clemens, Esq.

Topics: Basic eligibility of VA benefits; Overview of disability
compensation; Claims procedures; VA compensation benefits; Disability
Compensation (38 U.S.C. Chapter 11); Dependency and indemnity
compensation (DIC) (38 U.S.C. Chapter 13); and Appeals (rights and
procedures)
II. VA Pension Benefits (38 U.S.C. Chapter 15) 11:10am – 11:45am
Presenter: Peter A. Kempner, Esq
III. Question and Answer 11:45am – 12:00pm
LUNCH- 12:00pm-1:00pm
AFTERNOON PROGRAM- 1:00PM-3:45PM

IV. Ethics and Veterans’ Law Practice 1:00pm – 1:55pm
Presenters: Christina (Christy) Asbee, Esq. & Christine Clemens, Esq.
10 MINUTE BREAK
V. How to Tackle a Case from Beginning to End 2:05pm – 2:45pm
Presenters: Christine Clemens, Esq.

Topics: How to screen a case/identify issues; (Relevant Filing Deadlines,
Forms, Information Gathering); How to complete a Notice of Disagreement;
VA issues a Statement of the Case; How to File a Form 9 Appeal;
BVA/Hearing or Brief; and Beyond the BVA
VI. Case Study 2:45pm – 3:45pm
VII. Closing Remarks 3:45pm – 4:00pm
AFTENOON PROGRAM- 1:00PM-3:45PM

IV. Ethics and Veterans’ Law Practice 1:00pm – 1:55pm
Presenters: Christina (Christy) Asbee, Esq. & Christine Clemens, Esq.
10 MINUTE BREAK
V. How to Tackle a Case from Beginning to End 2:05pm – 2:45pm
Presenters: Christine Clemens, Esq.

Topics: How to screen a case/identify issues; (Relevant Filing Deadlines,
Forms, Information Gathering); How to complete a Notice of Disagreement;
VA issues a Statement of the Case; How to File a Form 9 Appeal;
BVA/Hearing or Brief; and Beyond the BVA
VI. Case Study 2:45pm – 3:45pm
VII. Closing Remarks 3:45pm – 4:00pm
Table of Contents
Representation before the Department of Veteran Affairs ..................................... 1
Veterans Benefits Law .................................................................................................................. 3
Compensation Under 38 U.S.C. 1151 ......................................................................................... 16
Survivor’s Benefits: Accrued Benefits & DIC ........................................................................... 17
Appeals ....................................................................................................................................... 20
Flow Charts ................................................................................................................. 31
Veterans Disability Benefits Flow Chart .................................................................................... 33
Traditional Process Flow Chart .................................................................................................. 34
Election of DRO Process Flow Chart ......................................................................................... 35
VA Pension Benefits (38 U.S.C. Chapter 15) .......................................................... 37
VA Non-Service-Connected Pension Benefits ........................................................................... 39
Ethics and Veterans’ Law Practice ......................................................................... 51
Ethics Veterans Law Practice ..................................................................................................... 53
Competence: NY Rule 1.1 .......................................................................................................... 55
Competence: VA Requirements ................................................................................................. 56
Scope of Representation & Allocation of Authority between Client & Lawyer: NY Rule 1.2 .. 58
Diligence: NY Rule 1.3 .............................................................................................................. 59
Diligence: VA Requirements ...................................................................................................... 60
Communication: NY Rule 1.4 .................................................................................................... 61
Communication: VA Requirements ............................................................................................ 62
Non-Medical Claims & Contentious: NY Rule 3..1 ................................................................... 64
Non-Medical Claims & Contentious: VA Requirements ........................................................... 65
Confidentiality: NY Rule 1.6 ...................................................................................................... 66
Confidentiality: VA Requirements ............................................................................................. 67
Candor to Tribunal: NY Rule 3.3 ............................................................................................... 68
Candor to Tribunal: VA Requirements ....................................................................................... 69
Fees: NY Rule 1.5 ....................................................................................................................... 70
Fees: VA Requirements .............................................................................................................. 71
Voluntary Pro Bono Service: NY Rule 6.1 ................................................................................. 73
How to Tackle a Case from Beginning to End ....................................................... 77
A Veteran’s Case Study .............................................................................................................. 79
Case Study .................................................................................................................. 93
Case Study .................................................................................................................................. 95
Attachment A ...................................................................................................................... 97
Attachment B ..................................................................................................................... 101
Attachment C ..................................................................................................................... 113
Attachment D .................................................................................................................... 127
Attachment E ..................................................................................................................... 131
Attachment F ..................................................................................................................... 135
Attachment G .................................................................................................................... 143
Attachment H .................................................................................................................... 149
Common Veterans Law Acronyms and Abbreviations ....................................... 157
Attorney Accreditation Information ..................................................................... 161
Regulation (§14.629-1) ............................................................................................................. 163
Attorney Accreditation Application .......................................................................................... 168
CAVC Admission Application ................................................................................................. 172
Department of Veterans Affairs Forms ................................................................. 175
Form Table of Content .............................................................................................................. 177
Application Forms .................................................................................................................... 179
Appeal Forms ............................................................................................................................ 229
Evidence Submission /Request Forms ...................................................................................... 243
Release of Information Forms .................................................................................................. 246
Representation Forms ............................................................................................................... 248
Biography .................................................................................................................. 253

Copyright © 2015
All Rights Reserved
Finkelstein and Partners, LLP
Representing Before the
Department of Veterans Affairs

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10/30/2015
Veterans Benefits Law
Nancy Y. Morgan and Christine Clemens
Finkelstein and Partners
Veterans’ Services Group
STATISTICS
• Projected Veteran Population of 21,999,000
–9% Female Veterans
• Veterans separated into Periods of Service (categories not 
mutually exclusive) 
– Vietnam Era: 7.2 Million 
– Gulf War: 7 Million 
– Peacetime only: 5.5 Million 
– Korean Conflict: 1.9 Million 
– World War II: 1 Million 
• 3.95 Million Veterans receive VA Disability Compensation
Source: Department of Veterans Affairs,Veterans Benefits Administration and Veterans Health Administration, and Office of the 
Actuary, Veteran Population Projection Model (VetPop) 2014. Found at www.va.gov/vetdata/‐All data is current as of September  
30, 2014. Website last visited on 10.15.2015. 
© Finkelstein & Partners, LLP 2015
STATISTICS
• California, Texas and Florida have the largest Veteran 
population/concentration by State with 1,583,679; 
1,680,418 and 1,851,470 Veterans
• New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio ,Virginia, North 
Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, and Michigan have the 
next largest population/concentration by State with 
892,221; 697,433; 866,481; 781,388; 775,020; 
752,882; 721,575, and 658,469 Veterans
Source: Department of Veterans Affairs,Veterans Benefits Administration and Veterans Health Administration, and Office of the 
Actuary, Veteran Population Projection Model (VetPop) 2014. Found at www.va.gov/vetdata/‐All data is current as of September  
30, 2014. Website last visited on 10.15.2015.                                                          
© Finkelstein & Partners, LLP 2015
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10/30/2015
Therefore, based on the specific facts of this particular case, the Board finds that the 
evidence of record is at least in equipoise with respect to a finding of an in‐service event, 
injury or disease, specifically exposure to herbicides. Therefore, the second element of 
service connection has been met.  © Finkelstein & Partners, LLP 2015
Mission Statement of the VA
The Department of Veterans Affairs serves 
America’s Veterans and their families with 
dignity and compassion, and is their principal 
advocate to ensure that they receive medical 
care, benefits, social support, and lasting 
memorials, promoting the health, welfare, and 
the dignity of all Veterans in recognition of their 
service to this Nation. 
VHA v. VBA
• Veterans’ Health Administration v. Veterans’ 
Benefits Administration 
• VHA –America's largest integrated healthcare 
system with over 1,700 sites of care serving 
8.76 million Veterans each year
• VBA –Provides benefits and services to 
Veterans, such as compensation benefits, 
pension and fiduciary services, and insurance 
services
© Finkelstein & Partners, LLP 2015
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