News Room
NVLSP Press Releases
New website offers information on VA claims, training, publications and pro-bono legal help applying for Combat-Related Special Compensation or the Physical Disability Board of Review
The National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) launched a new website today at www.nvlsp.org to help veterans, service members, survivors and military families better access its pro-bono services. [more]
Released 1/29/13 | Tags: Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC), Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR), Supporters, Veteran's Benefits
Meet the attorneys at Anne Arundel Community College on November 14 at the Veterans Symposium
Many veterans suffer from disabilities that may qualify for VA compensation benefits. Unfortunately, they may not know how to apply. Many veterans and caregivers find the VA benefits system challenging to navigate or don’t know about benefits programs that disabled veterans may qualify for. Thankfully, there’s help available - attorneys from the NVLSP will hold a series of outreach events in the Washington, D.C. metro area to assist disabled veterans and their caregivers. [more]
Released 10/31/12 | Tags: Veteran's Benefits
More Than 77,000 Veterans May Benefit from Physical Disability Board of Review
More than 77,000 men and women who served our country in wartime over nearly a decade may have been lowballed on disability ratings for their injuries when they left the military and never received the retirement benefits they are entitled to. But the NVLSP and a team of volunteer attorneys are trying to help them, by assisting veterans in applying for an increase in their disability ratings to the Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR). [more]
Released 10/3/12 | Tags: Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR)
Attorneys Estimate 1,000 Vets May Have Been Denied Benefits
As many as 1,000 injured Marine Corps and Navy combat veterans may have been discharged from the military without millions of dollars in disability benefits to which they are entitled. Lawyers from the NVLSP and co-counsel Crowell & Moring LLP filed a class action lawsuit today in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims to try to help these wounded warriors. In their legal complaint, the plaintiffs assert that the Department of the Navy failed to promptly implement a Department of Defense directive requiring it to determine if disabilities leading to the medical separation of sailors and Marines were “combat related.” This determination controls certain federal disability benefits to which medically separated veterans are entitled. [more]
Released 7/25/12 | Tags: Class Actions
Hewlett-Packard donates $140,000+ worth of computer equipment to help advocates aid vets
Advocates working at the NVLSP got a big boost in efficiency recently with the donation of $140,000 worth of computer equipment from Hewlett-Packard. “Keeping up with technology has become ever more important for legal advocates working to help veterans get the benefits to which they are entitled,” said Bart Stichman, joint executive director of NVLSP. “Attorneys use computers to review documents, prepare materials, communicate using technology, submit pleadings and conduct research.” [more]
Released 7/19/12 | Tags: Supporters
NVLSP senior staff attorney Meg Bartley fills vacancy on the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
he backlog of cases before the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims will hopefully grow smaller, thanks to the appointment of additional judges, say advocates at the NVLSP. NVLSP senior staff attorney Meg Bartley was nominated by President Obama in June 2011 to fill a vacancy on the court. Bartley was confirmed for a 15-year term by the Senate on May 24, 2012. Also confirmed was Coral Wong Pietsch, a former Brigadier General in the U.S. Army Reserve. [more]
Released 7/12/12 | Tags:
Lifetime Health Benefits or Increased PTSD Disability Rating Awarded for Thousands
The NVLSP announces that Judge George W. Miller at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims gave approval on December 22, 2011 to a historic settlement victory for disabled veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The settlement obtained by NVLSP and pro bono co-counsel Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in the class action lawsuit Sabo v. United States will benefit thousands of veterans who were medically discharged due to post-traumatic stress disorder between 2003 and 2008, but were denied the benefits to which they were legally entitled. [more]
Released 1/5/12 | Tags: Class Actions, PTSD
Driven, Inc. donates thousands of dollars in high-tech legal services to help NVLSP
Corporate law firms routinely use top-notch legal technology to help them more efficiently process cases, mine truckloads of paper for needed information and get faster results. Thanks to the donation of high-tech legal services by Driven, Inc. the NVLSP will be able to more efficiently help veterans filing VA claims. It’s a solution that the scrappy 31-year-old nonprofit organization that helps veterans could only dream of, in years past. [more]
Released 12/13/11 | Tags: Supporters
Jim McKay, leading DC attorney, to receive Senator Daniel Inouye Award for work helping veterans
Veterans advocates today face hefty caseloads, cumbersome bureaucracies and backbreaking paperwork, as they battle to help America’s veterans and military service members get the benefits and healthcare their government owes them. The “Serving Those Who Serve Us” reception benefiting the NVLSP will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Capital Hilton. Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent for PBS Newshour, will preside at the event. [more]
Released 11/3/11 | Tags: Supporters
NVLSP announces today a historic settlement victory for disabled veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The settlement obtained by NVLSP and pro bono co-counsel Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in the class action lawsuit Sabo v. United States will benefit thousands of veterans who were medically discharged due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) between 2003 and 2008, but were denied the benefits to which they were legally entitled. [more]
Released 7/29/11 | Tags: Class Actions, PTSD