As of January 17, 2023, Veterans in acute suicidal crisis will be able to go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost – including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days....
Disability solutions for you and your family
Veterans’ Issues
Meeting Veterans
As you may know from reading my blogs in the past, I feel that one of the most wonderful perks of my job as a Veterans’ disability attorney is getting to meet Veterans around our community. I am involved in several different organizations, where I am surrounded by...
VA to Receive over $300 Billion for Fiscal Year 2023, the Largest Budget in Agency’s History
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs is set to receive its largest budget ever for the upcoming fiscal year. An omnibus appropriations bill before Congress is set to be finalized by the end of the year and would provide VA with $303.8 billion. This allocation is up 10...
VA Expands Veterans Affairs Life Insurance to Millions of Veterans
Starting on January 1, 2023, the VA is opening enrollment for Veteran’s Life Insurance, expanding access to millions of Veterans. VALife provides up $40,000 of whole life insurance for all Veterans who are 80 years old or younger and have at least one condition...
Veterans Outreach Initiative
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Program is a prevention-focused component of VA’s Homeless Programs Office (HPO). The HPO’s mission is to end homelessness among Veterans. Unfortunately, disabled Veterans have a difficult time...
VA Health Staffing Shortages Are Returning Nationwide
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has begun to see severe increases in staff shortages this year. VA had been making progress in the years previous with staffing shortages but have fallen back into this problem. An Inspector General (IG) report found that all...
Veterans Day – Friday, November 11, 2022
November 11th officially became a day to honor American veterans of all wars beginning in June 1954. Since 1978, Veterans Day has been observed on November 11th, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls. The observance of Veterans Day on November 11...
Navy Veterans Who Served on Aircraft Carriers May Have Been Exposed to Jet Fuel
Recently, the VA acknowledged that sailors on the USS Nimitz were exposed to trace amounts of jet fuel in the water they drank and used on a daily basis. However, sailors have come forward and reported that the contamination is far worse than the Navy has admitted....
VA Offers Debt Suspension to Veterans Impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona
The VA has announced Veterans and their family members who have benefit debt or medical copayment debt can apply for payment suspension in the wake of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona. To apply for suspension of benefit debt, Veterans and beneficiaries can contact the VA Debt...
The Crossroads between Administrative Disability Law and Divorce
Last week I had the privilege to speak at the 15th Annual Family Law Stars Across the Bay CLE. I spoke about the intersection of Social Security Administration benefits (based in large part on the fantastic work of Attorney Brooke Thomas from Gardberg & Kemmerly)...