Chris Attig, Author at Veterans Law Blog®

The new VA Duty to Assist law: a life preserver with no rope.

In the past, I have talked to you about the VA Duty to Assist law, and how I think it’s largely, well, nothing to write home about. That was the Duty to Assist under the Legacy Appeals process. Now, under the “modernized” appeals process, we are...

Lest we forget….the Legacy VA Claims Process.

by Chris Attig | 9 comments

From the VA Regional Office to the Veterans Court – understanding the VA Claims Process is the first step in getting a quicker VA decision.

Proving “Substantially Gainful Occupation” in a VA TDIU Claim.

by Chris Attig | 10 comments

This post is about proving you can’t get or keep a substantially gainful occupation due to your service connected disabilities or, in other words, proving an element of a VA TDIU claim. Before we get to that though, VA TDIU claims (aka, claims by a veteran for...

Meet a VA TDIU Expert – Pat Clifford (Clifford Vocational Services)

by Chris Attig | 34 comments

If you are a veteran filing a TDIU claim or appeal, you are going to want to know what a Vocational Expert is, and how an expert can help in your VA TDIU claim or appeal. In this video, I’ll introduce you to Pat Clifford, and he will tell you what a Vocational...

The VA just closed your claim to reopen, without telling you.

by Chris Attig | 33 comments

In case you were thinking that “Appeals Modernization” was a good thing for veterans, this post might change your mind. Remember your claim to reopen service connection for a previously denied condition? It’s been closed. I bet the VA never even told...

Another Form Bites the Dust – RIP VA Form 21-526b

by Chris Attig | 28 comments

Learn how to hire the right attorney for you and your claim here.So you’re getting ready to file a claim, and you go to look for a copy of VA Form 21-526. You click the link in google, and are taken to this message on the VA website: Did you do something wrong?...

Are you eligible for Dependency Indemnity Compensation Benefits?

by Chris Attig | 17 comments

Here are the 3 Categories of Survivors who may be eligible for monthly Dependency Indemnity Compensation when a Veteran passes away.

Follow the Veterans Law Blog Formula in Your VA Claim & Never Feel Lost Again.

by Chris Attig | 27 comments

The story I am going to tell you blows my mind.

Not because it shows you how one Veteran used the knowledge on the Veterans Law Blog to change his life and his VA Claim – dramatically – in under 6 months.

It blew my mind because I’m hearing this story from several Veterans every week.

How does the VA define “Substantially Gainful Activity” in a TDIU Claim? They don’t.

by Chris Attig | 22 comments

MARCH 14, 2019: UPDATE ALERT The Veterans Court just issued a decision today defining the term “Substantially Gainful Activity.” I’m going to leave this post up, but you can click here to learn all about what that term means. If you are a...

Favorable lay evidence: it can save your VA claim from the BVA trash heap.

by Chris Attig | 7 comments

When the BVA ignores favorable lay evidence in a Veteran’s claim, the CAVC is going to chunk that decision into the trash can. Accredited VA attorney Chris Attig talks more about the Pure Raw Power of Lay Evidence in a VA Claim.

Facebook Live: Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans WIN!!! Agent Orange Update (January 2019)

by Chris Attig | 22 comments

Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans WIN the Agent Orange Exposure Presumption! There will be a lot more to follow in the coming days/weeks while I unpack all the great information in this opinion. But, Bottom Line Up Front: if you are a Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veteran,...

How, when and why to service connect a veterans drug and alcohol abuse.

by Chris Attig | 24 comments

If a VSO tells you that you cannot service connect veterans drug and alcohol abuse, they are perpetuating a big myth about VA Disability Compensation.