Blog: News & Insights

On April 25, 2013, Senators Bernie Sangers (I-Vt.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), introduced The Homeless Veterans Prevention Act of 2013.  The bill, which can be accessed at The Homeless Veterans Prevention Act of 2013, is aimed at eliminating veteran homelessness by 2015 and includes:  (1) expanded availability of legal services to homeless veterans; (2) increased transitional housing for...

On April 19, 2013, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published VBA Letter 20-13-05, entitled “Guidance Regarding Special Initiative to Process Rating Claims Pending Over Two Years.”  The guidance memorandum can be found at the following link:  VBA Letter 20-13-05. In essence, the VA has instructed its Regional Offices to process all initial claims pending more than two years...

On April 19, 2013, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a plan to expedite processing of disability claims older than one year.  I’ll provide more information once the VA discloses the implimentation procedures; however, for those affected claims the VA will provide provisional Rating Decisions based upon the existing VA Claim record and permit one year for the claimant to...

As the following U.S. News Report documents, a small cadre of both active-duty servicemembers and veterans will conduct a four-mile run along the Charles River tonight as a show of solidarity and support after the bombing at the Boston Marathon. As the group’s spokesperson, Larry Olsen, stated, “What we decided to do is, rather than focusing on the tragedy, is get people out carrying the...

People in nursing homes need advocates and the New Jersey Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is looking for a few good vounteers to listen to resident’s concerns and be a voice for resident’s rights with the facilities.  Sometimes the best advocates are people who have been through long-term care issues with their own family members, so consider volunteering today!

The fabulous NY Times “The New Old Age Blog” recently focused on the trend of medical-legal partnerships, where elders attend a health clinic and the doctor spots issues affecting the elder’s health and well-being that could be best addressed by an attorney and makes a referral to a legal clinic not too far away.  Many times, seeing an elder law attorney is not too different...

On April 8, 2013, we published a blog on Restrictive Lung Disease and Agent Orange. An associated issue we encounter is a veteran who has filed a claim for restrictive lung diseases as secondary to their Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Establishing service connection for issues such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as secondary to PTSD can be difficult and I highly...

In November 2012, we published a short article entitled Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions – A Nation’s Belated Acknowledgement to Vietnam-Era Veterans.  As the above article documents, while respiratory cancers are considered presumptively service connected to herbicide exposure, restrictive lung diseases (such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)) are not.  But cf. Combee...

The linked article at loganbanner.com, documents a looming battle among veteran advocate groups over proposed changes to how the government adjusts government benefits for inflation. The proposed change would link adjustments to inflation to a variation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), called “chained CPI.”  If the proposed changes are implemented for calculating veterans...

Wanted to take a moment to say happy 80th birthday to a literary giant and Newark, New Jersey’s own, Phillip Roth!  Many of our clients and their family members (and firm attorneys and/or staff!) have some connection to the literary world that Roth has created, especially the Weequahic section of Newark.  Happy Birthday!!