NVLSP

NVLSP Applauds VA Secretary Wilkie’s Recommendation to Not Appeal Procopio Decision

-Decision Requires VA to Presume All Who Served in Territorial Waters Offshore Vietnam Had Agent Orange Exposure -

As the country commemorates Vietnam War Veterans and the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, The National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) applauded the announcement by Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert Wilkie to recommend not to appeal the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Procopio v. Wilkie. That decision extends the presumption of Agent Orange exposure to all veterans who served in the territorial waters offshore the Republic of Vietnam. This announcement was made on March 26 in a hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Secretary Wilkie cautioned that other federal officials may not accept his recommendation, but his determination not to appeal will surely have an impact. [more]

Released 3/29/19 | Tags: Agent Orange, Veteran's Benefits

NVLSP Files Challenge To Rule Preventing Payment of Retroactive Benefits to Blue Water Navy Veterans

On March 19, 2019, The National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), together with Phillip Boyd Haisley, a “Blue Water Navy Veteran,” who served in the territorial waters of the Republic of Vietnam, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit challenging the legality of a rule recently issued by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie that significantly limits when past VA benefit denials can be overturned due to “clear and unmistakable error.” [more]

Released 3/25/19 | Tags: Agent Orange, Veteran's Benefits

Advice for Blue Water Vietnam Veterans About Procopio v. Wilkie Decision

Released 2/7/19 | Tags: Agent Orange, Veteran's Benefits

Advice for Blue Water Vietnam Veterans Regarding Procopio v. Wilkie Decision On January 29, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued the groundbreaking decision Procopio v. Wilkie, No. 2017-1821 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 29, 2019). The Court held that veterans who served in the 12 nautical … [more]

Questions about the lawsuit over emergency medical cost reimbursement at non-VA facilities?

Released 1/31/19 at ConnectingVets.com | Tags: Agent Orange, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Class Actions, Congressional Legislation, Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Veteran's Benefits

Do you have questions about the lawsuit against the VA over the reimbursement of emergency medical costs at non-VA facilities? We talked to Bart Stichman, executive director at the National Veterans Legal Services Program to get some answers. [more]

Court rules VA must presume exposure for ‘Blue Water’ Navy veterans

Released 1/30/19 at ConnectingVets.com | Tags: Agent Orange, Board of Veterans' Appeals, Class Actions, Congressional Legislation, Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Veteran's Benefits

In a huge victory for tens of thousands of Vietnam-era sailors, a federal court on Tuesday ruled the Department of Veterans Affairs must presume "Blue Water" Navy veterans were exposed to Agent Orange, unlocking VA benefits and disability compensation. [more]