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 Page 1 of 257 Page 2 of 257 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 Page 3 of 257 1 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 Page 4 of 257 2
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