VA Appeals

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Get Free Legal Help with Appealing Your Denied Claim to the CAVC or Your Discharge Upgrade for Qualifying Veterans

Find out if you're eligible for free legal help from the The Veterans Consortium.

Thinking of appealing a denied benefit claim?

Well Jim,

 I said I was going to give up on the VA the last time I had any email exchange with you but I am still doing research on the internet. I told you before that I had been discharged from the Navy because I had developed Epilepsy and was unfit for duty. I have done a lot of research on the type of seizures I was having. In all my medical records from the Navy I was reading at the time I had the seizures and my lower jaw would start jerking and I would have a seizure. I started looking for that type of seizure on the internet and found a lot of information about that type of epilepsy. I take antidepressant medicine for depression/anxiety and anticonvulsive medicine for headaches seizures control every day.  I have an appointment to have a meeting at the VA Regional Headquarters Dec. 9th about my appeal. All I want to appeal is the epilepsy and secondary depression /anxiety.  American Legion is my POA. Have you any advice for me or should I just keep my mouth shut unless asked.

 

Reply:
 

If you're appealing a claim that was denied, you need a lawyer. I never recommend that anyone use the AL for representation. The VA employs hundreds of lawyers to fight against you and you won't win unless you can out-lawyer them.  

The sooner you find a veterans law attorney who will take your case, the better your chance of winning.

 

Click: https://www.vawatchdog.org/how-to-hire-a-veterans-law-attorney.html

And you can find local help here:  http://statesidelegal.org/statesidemap

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program provides free attorneys to veterans and their qualifying family members who have an appeal pending at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.