VA Benefits News

The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) has updated and reconstructed their website. The CAVC now has access to unpublished decisions/orders and provides a portal to the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) filings related to each decision.  The website can be accessed at CAVC Website.

On January 31, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) issued a opinion in Andrews v. Shinseki concerning whether the time period to use vocational rehabilitation benefits continues to run while a veteran is appealing the denial of such a claim.  The CAVC held the veteran’s “claim for vocational rehabilitation benefits is not moot based on the expiration...

Veterans should be aware that the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offers free tax advice and tax return preparation for many low-income and elderly veterans.  More information about eligibility can be found at the IRS’s VITA Website. If you have questions or concerns about your eligibility for veterans benefits, please...

On January 24, 2013, the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) issued a panel opinion in Clennan v. Shinseki, regarding the procedures involved in finding a veteran incompetent to handle the disbursement of benefits and the appoint a fiduciary. This case has a long, and possibly unnecessary, procedural history.  The important takeaway for a veteran, however, is if you receive a...

In August of last year, we blogged about two free mobile applications available for veterans to cope with the effects of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  That blog can be accessed at PTSD Mobile Apps. Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a new social networking application that will permit veterans to locate and communicate with other veterans.  The intent behind the...

ON January 22, 2013, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid introduced the Putting Our Veterans Back to Work Act of 2013.  This bill would “reauthorize training and employment services created by the VOW to Hire Heroes Act.”  The press release for this bill can be accessed at Senator Bernie Sanders Press Release. It is common that I will come across government programs, not-for-profit...

On January 15, 2013, the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) issued a panel opinion in El-Amin v. Shinseki.  This case arises out of a death and indemnity compensation (DIC) claim by the veteran’s spouse, Mrs. El-Amin, based upon Mr. El-Amin’s death due to cirrhosis of the liver.  At the time of the veteran’s death, he had been granted a 70% disability rating for service-connected post...

On December 21, 2012, United States Government Accountability Office (GOA) issued a new report on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) backlog, entitled “Timely Processing Remains a Daunting Challenge.”  The GAO report can be accessed at GAO Report 13-89. The GAO report documents the various initiatives on the part of the VA to reduce the time for initial adjudication of...

The following Star Ledger Article detailed a homeless veteran advocacy event that is occurring this Friday and Saturday in Morristown, New Jersey.  The event, called “Operation Stand Down Morristown”, will take place between 8 AM and 2 PM this Friday and Saturday, January 18th and 19th, at the Morristown Armory.  Free food, clothing, and medical services will be provided to...

As the linked CNN Report documents approximately 700 veterans were potentially exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV due to the reuse of insulin pens during treatment at the Buffalo VA Medical Center (VAMC).  It appears that the risk of exposure was slight and the VA is taking remedial measures to prevent this type of incident from occurring again, as well as notifying veterans who were...