On July 4, 1776, 13 colonies claimed their independence from England by signing the Declaration of Independence. As important as this date is to our Country’s founding, the date means nothing without the enduring sacrifice that our Country’s Veterans made during the Revolutionary War. Although they were a ragtag bunch, this group represented America’s first united military organization. America has a long history of ensuring that those individuals who risked life and limb to protect our liberties were not forgotten after the war was over.
The United States has one of the most extensive military veterans’ benefits systems of any nation in the world. The first recorded instance of benefits for American soldiers who were disabled as a result of combat dates back to 1636, when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony were at war with the Pequot Indians. The Pilgrims enacted a law that obligated citizens to support soldiers disabled in defending the colony. The Continental Congress of 1776 encouraged enlistments by authorizing pensions for soldiers who were disabled during the Revolutionary War.
In 1862, the federal government established a system for settling veterans’ claims for benefits arising from military service. In 1917, programs were created for compensation, insurance, and vocational rehabilitation for disabled veterans. In 1930, Congress officially established the Veterans Administration to assist the veterans of World War I and earlier wars. In 1989, Congress created the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and elevated the Secretary to a cabinet level position. Today, the VA is the second largest cabinet-level department in the U.S. government with a budget of over $100 billion and over 250,000 employees.
From the Boston Tea Party all the way through today’s global conflicts, the United States of America has always placed high priority on taking care of its veterans. The attorneys and staff at Gardberg and Kemmerly are proud to play our role in facilitating these honorable benefits through assisting Veterans with their disability compensation claims.
If you have a claim for disability and need assistance, please call our office and speak with one of our qualified Veterans’ Disability attorneys. Gardberg and Kemmerly is committed to helping injured and disabled Veterans obtain the benefits they deserve. If you need help with a disability claim, call the office at 251-343-1111 or 800-332-1529 for a free consultation.