By Jodee Dietzenbach On August 2, 2021, the VA announced new presumptive conditions related to exposure to particulate matter. The VA will now begin processing claims for asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis on a presumptive basis for Veterans who were exposed to particulates in Southwest Asia and certain other areas. For a Veteran to qualify, the…
Due to the pandemic, the Board of Veterans Appeals has been allowing Veterans to participate in virtual hearings. Here, we explain how they work. These hearings are scheduled a few weeks in advance. The Board sends an email to the Veteran and their representative (if the Veteran has one). The email contains a couple of…
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals has struggled with backlogs in deciding disability claims for years. Recently, the Board has had additional challenges to attacking this backlog. Regional Office (RO) closures, limited access to medical records within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), and Veterans continuing to file new claims have all contributed to a…
In the last year, Social Security has closed its field offices and hearing offices to the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, Social Security has continued to hold hearings for disability benefits. If you are waiting for a Social Security hearing, you currently have three options: You can wait for…
The Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced they will be readjudicating previously denied claims for Veterans who served in offshore waters in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam war. The case, Nehmer v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs challenged a VA regulation that stated chloracne is the only disease associated with exposure to…
Recently, the Veterans Administration issued a new set of appeal options for Veterans appealing their VA disability claims. When a Veteran gets denied at the initial level, they may request a review of the decision (an appeal). The VA now gives a Veteran several ways to do this. The first option is a Supplemental…
What If I Can’t Find My Loved One’s Documents? By Thad J. Murphy, Attorney at Law If a loved one has recently died or become mentally incapacitated, finding the person’s estate planning documents is essential. The estate planning process and associated documents are critical to making decisions on the loved one’s behalf, gaining access…
Know the Difference Between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy By Attorney Christopher Soppe Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is the most filed chapter of bankruptcy in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. It is a form of debt relief that allows qualifying individuals to discharge their debts and keep most of their assets. This liquidation applies to…
Protect Your Loved Ones with a Special Needs Trust By Thad J. Murphy, Attorney Pioneer Law Office Do you have a loved one who is disabled? The most comprehensive way to protect them is to set up a Supplemental Needs Trust (also known as a Special Needs Trusts or SNT). Their purpose is to…
Often there are well-intended government programs that have unintended consequences. As an attorney who handles Social Security disability claims and Medicaid long-term care applications, my first concern when the COVID-19 Economic Impact payments or “Stimulus” package was announced was to wonder how these $1,200 payments were going to affect our clients. Many government programs including…
