Benefits/VA Claim Assistance
Connecticut Veterans Legal Center
Connecticut Veterans Legal Center provides free legal assistance to low-income veterans living in Connecticut, helping veterans overcome legal barriers to housing, healthcare, and income. In addition to supporting veterans in civil litigation, CVLC specializes in representing veterans pursuing access to VA benefits and Discharge Upgrades. We are proud to work in Medical Legal Partnership with the VA and other veteran-serving clinicians across the state. For more information on accessing our services, veterans can visit: www.ctveteranslegal.org/veterans.
The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program
The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program provides trained attorneys who specialize in representing veterans throughout their process of challenging a Board of Veterans Appeals denial. They represent the veterans from the start of submitting their initial appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) throughout each step of the process, to the U.S. Supreme Court, If necessary. The Veterans Consortium services are completely free.
ABA Federal Free Legal Answers
ABA Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal advice
portal for users to ask legal questions, and
qualified attorneys can volunteer to provide brief
advice to answer questions. Veterans—along with
eligible dependents and survivors—can ask about
VA benefits, discharge upgrades, and similar
veterans’ federal legal issues.
VA Office of General Counsel
VA accreditation is for the sole purpose of providing representation services to claimants before VA and does not imply that a representative is qualified to provide financial planning services or is otherwise endorsed by VA. VA accreditation may not be used for marketing financial products or promoting a financial services business. Despite VA’s efforts to ensure accredited individuals are responsible and qualified to provide representation on VA claims, claimants should exercise caution when selecting a representative.
Bergmann & Moore, LLC
Bergmann & Moore has grown to become one of the largest law firms in the country focusing solely on Veterans’ disability benefit claim appeals. Representation at All Levels: Bergmann & Moore is managed by former VA litigators who know the system well.
The firm offers representation at all levels of VA’s claim appeals process: Regional Offices, Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board), U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Disabled American Veterans
DAV is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families. The organization provides rides for veterans attending medical appointments and assists veterans with benefits claims.
Rob Levine & Associates
Rob Levine & Associates specializes in VA disability compensation appeals. As a veteran himself, Rob Levine is committed to serving veterans in their fight for the benefits they deserve. The firm’s comprehensive representation includes: evidence development, advocacy at VA hearings, medical and service record research, and drafting complex legal appeal briefs. Rob Levine & Associates serves veterans nationwide, especially those impacted by military sexual trauma, TBIs, and PTSD.
GI Rights Hotline
The GI Rights Hotline provides accurate, helpful counseling and information on military discharges, AWOL and UA, and GI Rights. GI Rights Network is a private, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that answers thousands of calls from military personnel and their families.
VetLex
VetLex is a national, dedicated web-based network of coordinated pro bono service providers to serve the legal needs of veterans. VetLex does not provide legal services; but provides intake, assessment, and referral envisioned to quickly and effectively connect veterans in need of legal services with those who stand ready to provide them. The platform provides an online tool for obtaining pro bono counsel for specific legal needs, which could be civil, criminal, or administrative (benefit claims, for example). It also provides educational information on basic legal concepts, as well as a convenient repository for paperwork (like DD 214s) that are required multiple times by various service providers.
Stateside Legal
Stateside Legal is an organization dedicated to connecting service members with VA Accredited Advocates who can assist with benefit claim appeals. Stateside Legal assists veterans and their families regardless of service era or branch affiliation.
Veterans Law Blog
The Veterans Law Blog provides veterans with information that will guide you through how to better navigate the disability claims process. The blog is designed to help veterans be better self-advocates during their appeal process.
National Veterans Legal Services Program: Lawyers Serving Warriors Program
NVLSP’s Lawyers Serving Warriors Program offers pro bono legal assistance to veterans from all eras. This program specializes in disability claims. Some of the services they offer are discharge upgrades, applications for Combat-Related Special Compensation, assistance with denials of service connection for PTSD due to military sexual trauma. A complete list of the services they assist with can be found on the NVLSP website.
Swords to Plowshares
Swords to Plowshares understands that women veterans often struggle to access resources and care that addresses their identity as women and experiences in the military. Women veterans rely on systems of care that are often not equipped to address women and/or veteran-specific needs. They also provide free legal consultation and representation to veterans seeking assistance with benefits and military discharge upgrade cases.
The Military Assistance Project
The Military Assistance Project was started to provide active duty military, reserve members, veterans, and their families with pro bono legal services. MAP provides service pertaining to consumer law, discharge upgrades, and claims appeals. Specifically, MAP specializes in discharge upgrades for veterans discharged under DADT or prior.