Representing Veterans – Veterans’ Administration And Beyond (2017)

7.0 CLE in Areas of Professional Practice
This course is approved for credit for both experienced attorneys and newly admitted attorneys (admitted to the New York Bar for less than two years). Newly admitted attorneys attending via webcast should refer to Additional Information and Policies regarding permitted formats.

VA Benefits Practice CLE – Representing Veterans before the Veterans’ Administration and Beyond
June 13^th 2017 | 9:00 am to 4:35 pm
Location: Orrick, 51 West 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019
Presented by: New York State Bar Association Committee on Veterans

Registration and Introductions  – 8:30 – 9:00
Morning program –In compliance with 38 C.F.R. § 14.629 (b)(1)(iii)

I. Representation before the Department of Veterans  – 9:00 – 11:05
Affairs, Claims Procedures, and Appeals

A.    Representation before the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Basic eligibility of VA benefits
Overview of disability compensation
B.     Disability Compensation (38 U.S.C. Chapter 11)
C.    Dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) (38 U.S.C. Chapter 13)
D.    Claims procedures
E.     Appeals (rights and procedures)
Speakers:
Nancy Morgan, Esq.
Director of Legal Operations, Finkelstein & Partners, LLP

Christine Clemens, Esq., Managing Attorney, Pro Bono Outreach, Veterans’ Services Group, Finkelstein & Partners, LLP

II. VA pension benefits (38 U.S.C. Chapter 15)  – 11:05 – 11:55
Speaker:
Peter A. Kempner, Esq., Director Veterans Justice Project & Deputy Director Housing Unit, Legal Services NYC – Brooklyn Programs

Lunch Break   – 11:55 – 12:15

III. Writing Pleadings in VA Appeals  – 12:15 – 1:30
NODs, VA-9s, Arguments & Evidentiary Submissions
Speaker:
Ken Carpenter, Esq., Carpenter Chartered, Topeka, KS

IV.  Military Legal Proceedings and Effects on Discharge Status  – 1:30 – 2:20
Speaker:
Kent Eiler, Esq., New York City Bar Justice Center, Veterans’ Assistance Project

V.  Discharge Status Upgrades – 2:20 – 3:10
Speakers:
Stephen Lessard, Esq., Orrick, Herrington, & Sutcliffe, New York, NY

C. J. M. Culhane, Esq., Director, Veteran Advocacy Project, Urban Justice Center, New York, NY

Break  –  3:10 – 3:20

VI.  Medical Claims against the VA under the FTCA  – 3:20 – 4:10
Speaker:
Brewster Rawls, Esq., Rawls, McNelis, and Mitchell, Richmond, VA

VII. Panel Discussion on Court Practice –   4:10 – 4:35
Speakers:
Ken Carpenter, Esq.
Brewster Rawls, Esq
Moderated by Christine Clemens, Esq.