Taking Every Opportunity to Learn...

Attending the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (N.O.S.S.C.R.) annual conference in Washington, D.C....great session on TBI and PTSD

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- Veterans Disability Law Group at Quatrini Rafferty

Serving veterans in Pennsylvania, and the surrounding states, from our offices in Greensburg, Pittsburgh, and Latrobe

Veterans Resource Fair - Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Veterans Administration is hosting a resource fair for all veterans on May 21, 2013:

• Vocational services
• Healthcare info
• VA eligibility
• VA housing information

 http://pa211sw.org/sites/default/files/UWAC%20Images/CHALENG%20Flyer.pdf

TUESDAY, MAY 21

10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM

SAINT JUAN DIEGO PARISH HALL

201 9TH STREET 

SHARPSBURG, PA 15215

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Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) for Veterans & Work Injuries

Compensated Work Therapy (CWT)  is a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) vocational rehabilitation program that provides veterans with work ready skills in an effort to launch them back into the workforce.  These experiences range from desk work to heavy labor, for which the veterans receive a steady paycheck from the Veterans Administration.  

Despite receiving a paycheck directly from the Veterans Administration, these working veterans are not considered "employees" of the VA.  Which means...what happens when a veteran is injured "on the job"? 

38 U.S.C. 1151 allows a veteran injured in the CWT program to receive compensation for injuries sustained in the course and scope of their duties in the program.

There are two ways to approach compensation for the work injury:

• File a tort claim against the Veterans Administration outlining the standard damages associated with the work injury;

          and/or

• File a claim through the same disability system used for veterans seeking service-connected disabilities.

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Def. Secretary Hagel to Focus On Earlier Onset Date for Camp LeJeune Chemical Exposure

Newly confirmed Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has pledged to help Marines find answers about three decades worth of contaminated drinking water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune. 

http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/washington/2013/02/hagel-pledges-to-help-camp-lejeune-victims.html

Under the new law signed by President Obama last August, for the first time veterans and family members who lived or worked at the base from 1957 - 1987 can receive government-funded hospitalization and medical services for 15 specific ailments linked to contaminated water at the base.

Scientists from the federal government recently announced that they discovered contaminated water at two additional water distribution systems as far back as August 1953, four years earlier than previous findings. A detailed report on the sources of contamination is expected later this year from CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). For more information on ATSDR and the studies at Camp LeJeune, visit: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/index.html

Veterans disability compensation is a full-time practice area at our offices in Greensburg, Pittsburgh and Latrobe.  In 2012, Quatrini Rafferty was able to obtain full service-connection, and a 100% disability percentage, for our client - a Camp LeJeune vet - by working with our clients treating oncologist and hematologist to get medical nexus reports.  For more information about veterans disability legal services at QR, please call us at 888-534-6016 or visit our Veterans Disability Benefits page.

- Quatrini Rafferty Veterans Law Group

Serving veterans in Pennsylvania, and the surrounding states, from our offices in Greensburg, Pittsburgh, and Latrobe

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QR Gets Vietnam Vet Service-Connected for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Our client from Westmoreland County applied for, and was denied, service-connection for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  He had a previous unfavorable decision.  

The Army veteran served a year-long tour in Vietnam.

QR helped the client appeal his Ratings Determination to the Regional Office in Pittsburgh.  A hearing was held with a Decision Review Officer and which point testimony was taken from the veteran regarding his experiences and his treatment.

Working with the client's treating psychiatrist, QR was able to attack the thoroughness and credibility of the examinations performed by the Veterans Administration.  

Following the hearing, a favorable Statement of the Case was issued granting full service-connection.  The veteran was awarded an ongoing disability percentage, and, retroactive benefits back to the day of his application.
 

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Military Service Records: How Can I Get a Copy?

Many veterans, as they left the service, never received a copy of their service treatment records.  These documents are very important as they can reveal medical treatment for in-service conditions or disabilities.  They often times serve as the smoking gun for winning a service-connected benefit.

Most veterans can obtain free copies of their DD Form 214 (Report of Separation) and other military and medical records by requesting them online at the website of the U.S. National Archives.

Go to www.archives.gov and click on "Veterans' Service Records", and follow the instructions.

OR GO DIRECTLY TO the Military Service Records page of the National Archives at:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

- Quatrini Rafferty Veterans Law Group

Serving veterans in Pennsylvania, and the surrounding states, from our offices in Greensburg, Pittsburgh, and Latrobe

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How Will the Looming Sequester Affect Veterans?

How will the looming sequester affect veterans?

Luckily, the White House has shielded VA disability benefits, veterans education funds, and health care services from the automatic spending cuts enacted by Congress. All of these benefits will continue uninterrupted.

However, other veterans programs are not so lucky:

http://www.stripes.com/va-protected-from-sequester-cuts-but-veterans-will-feel-the-pain-1.209686


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