Veterans Benefits

Ivy League Law Students Fight for Veterans Rights

Published on: February 29, 2016 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

A lieutenant colonel serving in the U.S. Army Reserves was in Afghanistan on his third tour of duty, suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and enduring a bad foot injury in 2011 when a letter arrived at his home, as described in Harvard Magazine's "Fighting for Veterans, Learning the Law." It was an important, time-sensitive letter.

The letter contained information on how he could file an appeal for disability compensation and stated that he had to respond within 120 days of receipt. But Ausmer wouldn't return home for another five months.

By the time he read the letter, he'd lost his one chance to appeal his benefits case. The Veterans Benefits Administration gave him no help, but a trio of Harvard Law School students did. They took his case, arguing that the clock on an appeals claim should start only after a veteran has returned home—rather than when a letter arrives in his or her mailbox back home.

VA Long-Term Care: Helpful Benefits Available

Published on: July 24, 2015 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

A survey conducted by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, National Council on Aging and UnitedHealthcare reveals a frightening statistic in the United States of Aging survey. 97% of professionals supporting people 60 and older believe that seniors will not be able to afford their health care costs as they age. Only 3% are very confident older Americans will be able to manage health care costs. Not a pretty picture.

The high and ever-increasing cost of long-term care is the leading reason that professionals do not believe that seniors will be able to afford their health care. The median price of a private room in a nursing home now costs about $91,000 – an increase of 4% from last year. The survey on aging, reported on in an article in Forbes, offers a glimmer of hope with a look at a little-known program from the VA: "The VA Program That Pays For Long-Term Care for Vets."

About half of us will someday use nursing home care, and many others will need long-term care in assisted living facilities or at home.

Senate Strives to Ease Medical Care Access for Veterans

Published on: June 11, 2015 | By McCulloch & Miller, PLLC

The bill relaxes a rule that makes getting specialized care from local doctors difficult for some veterans in rural areas.

The Associated Press investigated this new legislation in a recent article titled “Senate tweaks health law to boost specialized care.”