The american veterans and servicemembers survival guide


 
 
 
 
 
 
 For American veterans, servicemembers and their families HOW TO CUT THROUGH THE BUREAUCRACY AND GET WHAT YOU NEED— AND ARE ENTITLED TO 
 By Veterans for America With a foreword by Bobby Muller 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Copyright © 2007, 2008 Veterans for America All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review ISBN-13: to be determined ISBN-10: to be determined Printed in the United States of America Veterans for America www.veteransforamerica.org 
 
 A
Note
to
Our
Readers
 One key feature of this book is one you already know You’re reading the book on your computer screen Two of the authors of this book were among the authors of a 1985 national bestseller, The Viet Vet Survival Guide The earlier book was published on paper, in the traditional manner This book is an e-book, published on the Web site of its sponsor, Veterans for America (VFA) Publishing online allows for updating as needed, not just when a new edition might come out in a matter of years Further, VFA can publish additional chapters as needed Publishing online also enables VFA to provide the book not in bookstores at a substantial price, but rather without charge to those who have served their country and to their family members and friends 
 
 
 Contents
 A
Note
to
Our
Readers 5
 Contents 7
 Acknowledgments 19
 Project
Management 20
 Foreword 21
 Introduction 24
 A
Contract
With
Servicemembers
And

Veterans 27
 A
New,
Web‐Based
Guidebook 28
 Chapter
One
Basic
Survival
Skills 32
 How
to
Use
this
Book .32
 Qualifying
For
Benefits 33
 Type
of
Discharge .34
 Type
of
Service 34
 Service
in
Wartime 35
 Other
Rules .35
 Dealing
with
the
VA
and
Other
Agencies .36
 Getting
Help .38
 You
Can’t
Have
Everything .43
 Get
Your
Records 43
 Be
Patient,
Be
Practical 43
 Squeak 44
 Next
Step 45
 Chapter
Two

The
Department
of
Veterans
Affairs 47
 What
the
VA
Won’t
Do 50
 Locating
a
VA
facility
near
you .51
 Other
important
facts
about
the
VA 52
 Final
thoughts
about
the
VA 56
 Chapter
Three
Service‐Connected

Compensation 58
 8
 Contents
 Introduction 58
 A1.
General
Requirements
for
VA
Benefits .59
 a)
Active
Military
Service
Requirement 59
 b)
Discharge
Requirements 60
 c)
Bars
to
Benefits .61
 d)
Willfull
Misconduct .63
 e)
Length‐of‐Service
Requirements 63
 f)
Eligibility
of
Family
Members 63
 g)
Spouses 64
 h)
Children 65
 i)
Dependent
Parents 66
 A2.
Service‐Connected
Disability
Compensation 66
 a)
Current
Disability 67
 b)
In‐Service
Disease,
Injury
or
Event .67
 c)

Special
Combat
Rule 68
 d)
Link
Between
Disability
and
Service .69
 3b.
Specific
War‐Related
“Latent”
Diseases,
Symptoms
and
Issues
Relating
to
 Exposure
to
Toxic
Substances
and
Environmental
 Hazards 75
 1)
Nuclear
Radiation‐Related
Diseases .77
 2)
Agent
Orange‐Related
Diseases 81
 3)
Undiagnosed
Illnesses
from
the
Gulf
War
and
Iraq
War 89
 4)
Post‐Traumatic
Stress
Disorder 92
 a)
PTSD
Explained .92
 b)
Compensation
of
PTSD
Claims
and
Secondary
Disorders

Related
to
PTSD .117
 5)
Desert‐Borne
Diseases
Relating
to
Service
in
Southwest
Asia 121
 6)
Adverse
Reactions
to
Anthrax
and
Other
Inoculations .121
 7)
Exposure
of
Military
Personnel
to
“Project
SHAD”

Experiments .122
 8)
Exposure
to
Depleted
Uranium 123
 9)
Effect
of
Traumatic
Brain
Injuries .124
 10)
Anti‐Malaria
Drugs
(Larium) .124
 11)
Chronic
Pain 125
 Chapter
Four
Need‐Based
Pension
for
Low‐Income
Veterans
or
 Survivors 145
 VA
Pension
Eligibility
Requirements .146
 The
Veteran
Must
Be
Discharged
Under
Other
Than
Dishonorable
Conditions 146
 Willful
Misconduct 147
 Service
Requirements .148
 Permanent
and
Total
Disability
Requirement 149
 The
American
Veterans
and
Servicemembers
Survival
Guide
 9
 Income
and
Net
Worth
Limits 149
 Initiating
a
Claim
for
Improved
Pension 151
 Special
Monthly
Pension 152
 Special
Issues
for
Elderly
Veterans 152
 Old‐Law
Pension .153
 Non‐Service‐Connected
Death
Pension 154
 Eligibility
for
Death
Pension 154
 Applying
for
Non‐Service‐Connected
Death
Pension .156
 Annual
Reports
for
Improved
Pension
Beneficiaries 156
 Chapter
Five
Explaining
the
VA
Claims
and
Appeals
Process 158
 Introduction 158
 Chapter
Six
VA
Attempts
to
Recover
“Overpayments” 178
 Introduction 178
 Overpayments .178
 Collection
Process 180
 Disputing
the
Existence
or
Amount
of
the
Debt 181
 Waivers 181
 Compromise
Offers
to
Settle
the
Debt 182
 Home
Loan
Debts 183
 Release
of
Liability 184
 Chapter
Seven

Educational
Assistance
and
Vocational
 Rehabilitation 186
 VA
Education 187
 “Time,
time,
time’s
not
on
your
side” 187
 Eligibility 188
 Educational
Programs 192
 How
to
apply
for
G.I.
Bill
benefits 194
 Tuition
Assistance
(T/A) 194
 Tuition
Waivers .194
 Vocational
Rehablitation
and
Employment
(VR&E)
Program .194
 War‐Deployed
National
Guard
And
Reservists .195
 Type
of
Discharge 195
 Helpful
Hints 196
 Key
Phone
Numbers
and
Web
Sites 197
 Chapter
Eight
VA
Housing
Programs 199
 Introduction 199
 10
 Contents
 VA
Loans 200
 Benefits
of
VA
Loans
vs.
Conventional
Loan 201
 Uses
for
VA
Loans 203
 Eligibility
for
VA
Loans 204
 VA
Loan
Application,
Qualification
and
Approval 205
 Foreclosure
and
How
to
Avoid
It 207
 Selling
a
Home
Purchased
With
a
VA
Loan .210
 Specially
Adapted
Housing
Grant
Program 210
 State
Loan
Programs
for
Veterans 212
 Veterans
Homes
and
Domiciliary
Facilities 213
 State
Veterans
Homes 214
 Domiciliary
Care 215
 Recent
Updates
in
the
Laws
Affecting

Veterans
and
Housing 215
 Veterans
Benefits
Initiatives
in
the
Private
Sector 217
 Disaster
Advice
for
Veteran
Homeowners 217
 Chapter
Nine
VA
Medical
Care 220
 VA
Health
Care
Services 221
 Informed
Consent,
Privacy
and
VA
Health
Care .221
 Enrollment
For
VA
Health
Care .223
 Enrollment
Priority
Groups 224
 Veterans
Entitled
To
Free
VA
Hospital
And
Outpatient
Care 225
 Enhanced
Combat
Veteran
Health
Care
Benefits 226
 If
You
Have
To
Pay
For
VA
Health
Care 226
 VA
Pharmacy
And
Medication
Services 227
 Prosthetics
and
Sensory
Aids 228
 Nursing
Home
Care
Benefits 230
 VA
Domiciliary
Care 231
 Breaking
Scheduled
VA
Health
Care
Appointments .232
 Reimbursement
of
Non‐VA
Unauthorized
Medical
Expenses 232
 Transportation
Costs
and
Temporary
Lodging
Associated
with
VA
Medical
Care 233
 Registry
Programs 234
 Non‐VA
Treatment
For
Drug
And
Alcohol
Problems 234
 Medical
Services
for
Dependents
and
Survivors
Of
Veterans .234
 Appealing
VA
Health
Care
Decisions .235
 Chapter
Ten
VA
Programs
for
Veterans’
Family
Members

 and

Survivors 238
 Introduction 238
 Qualifying
Family
Relationships 239
 The
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 Tel: (202) 328-3244 or (202) 328 FAIR Fax:(202) 797-1635 http://www.sldn.org/ To schedule a phone consultation call (202) 328-3244, ext 501 or e-mail legal@sldn.org “SLDN provides free legal counseling to servicemembers with legal issues stemming, from or related to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy banning military service by lesbian gay, and bisexual persons, the regulations governing military service by HIV+ people, and the regulations addressing military service by transgender persons.” Swords
to
Plowshares
 1060 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel: (415) 252 – 4788 Contact: Shannon Kissinger www.stp-sf.org For VA benefits claims and military discharge upgrading, attorneys provide brief advice and representation to qualifying veterans and their family members Veterans must be residents of San Francisco OR have served on active duty since September 11, 2001 (OIF/OEF) All services are free of charge Phone paralegal Vanessa Quiban to learn how we can help Swords to Plowshares does not provide legal advice via e-mail OIF/OEF veterans seeking non-legal-related assistance may contact Swords to Plowshares’ Iraq Veteran Project at IVPinfo@stp-sf.org or by phone United
States
Court
of
Appeals
for
Veterans
Claims
 625 Indiana Ave NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20004 Tel: (202) 501-5970 Fax: (202) 501-5848 “The Court provides veterans an impartial judicial forum for review of administrative decisions by the Board of Veterans' Appeals that are adverse to the veteran-appellant's claim of entitlement to benefits for service-connected disabilities, survivor benefits and other benefits such as education payments and waiver of indebtedness.” http://www.vetapp.uscourts.gov/ To view list of public practitioners see link below: http://www.vetapp.uscourts.gov/practitioners/ 592
 Appendix
 The
Veterans
Consortium
Pro
Bono
Program

 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 131, Washington, DC 20004 Tel: (202) 628-8164 or toll free (888) 838-7727 Fax: (202) 628-8169 http://www.vetsprobono.org/ The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program is an ongoing cooperative effort by four national veterans service organizations – The American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the National Veterans Legal Services Program and the Paralyzed Veterans of America The Program provides free attorneys to veterans and their qualifying family members who have an appeal pending at the U.S Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims The appeals are handled by volunteer attorneys who are recruited and trained by the Program to help appellants free of charge A veteran or family member who has filed an appeal with the Court can request assistance from the Program by calling (toll-free) (888) 838-7727 or emailing mail@vetsprobono.org Veterans
Service
Organizations
chartered
by
Congress
and
or
the
 VA

 http://www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm?template=view The
American
Veterans
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Servicemembers
Survival
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 593
 II State and County Advocacy Services, Including Legal Clinics Also, General and Emergency Services First things first: Most state veterans agencies not provide a suicide hotline Those that mention one generally refer the veteran to the VA suicide hotline, (800) 273-TALK (273-8255) A veteran thinking about suicide should call that number You can also find VA suicide-related advice at http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ Servicemembers (as well as veterans and the families of both vets and servicemembers) can call Military OneSource at (800) 342-9647 or visit www.militaryonesource.com The Web site of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA)offers two statements about suicide: (1) Suicide Prevention Awareness Suicide is the 11th most frequent cause of death in the US: someone dies from suicide every 16 minutes Suicidal ideas and attempts to harm oneself are the result of problems that may seem like they can't be fixed Together, Vet Centers and VA Medical Centers stand ready to reach out and help veterans at risk for suicide Seek professional help Call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention hotline and indicate you are a veteran You'll be immediately connected to VA suicide prevention and mental health professionals We can help If you feel you are in Crisis Call the Suicide hotline (1-800273-TALK), your local VA Medical Center or Vet Center today! (2) Suicide Prevention Letter from the Under Secretary of Health Suicide is not the answer Are you, or someone you love, at risk of suicide? Get help if you notice any of the following: • Talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself • Trying to get pills, guns, or other ways to harm oneself • Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide • Hopelessness 594
 Appendix
 • • • • Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge Acting in a reckless or risky way Feeling trapped, like there's no way out Saying or feeling there's no reason for living Before we get to a list of legal and other advocacy services, we want to let you know about four important resources that fit here about as well they would fit anywhere else in the book: (1) Military OneSource For the sake of efficiency, you may want to try (among other services) a Department of Defense 24/7 service called Military OneSource You can call (800) 342-9647 or visit www.militaryonesource.com Other hotlines and Web sites may be better in certain areas, but Military OneSource will try to help with almost anything that active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, reserve troops, and especially their families, need to know, particularly regarding issues for families with servicemembers deployed abroad (The service is NOT really for veterans, but if a veteran or family member calls regarding a veteran, Military OneSource will try to direct him or her to services that ARE for veterans.) This service receives 1000 phone calls and its Web site receives 6000 hits PER DAY Issues on which it provides advice (and sometimes referrals) include medical (including psychological) care for family members (especially those suffering from loneliness or who may otherwise be distressed because their loved one is not at home), crisis intervention (including suicide prevention), problems of caregivers, child care, elder care, marital problems, educational issues, educational loans, personal financial management, legal issues, spouse employment training, career management, tax preparation, and self-help groups focusing on drug and alcohol abuse, gambling addiction, and eating disorders To find out more about Military OneSource, go to the site and also The
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 read the USA Today article on the service: To find the article, click here: www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-02-24-hotline-help_N.htm (2) The National Resource Directory, www.nationalresourcedirectory.org In its own words: The National Resource Directory (NRD) is an online tool for wounded, ill and injured Service Members, Veterans, their families, and those who support them The NRD provides access to more than 11,000 services and resources at the national, state and local levels that support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration For state and local organizations, go to the NRD home page and look for "State & Local Agencies," then click on the name of your state (3) Veterans Service Organizations There are countless veterans service organizations Among the most important national veterans service organizations are, in alphabetical order, the American Legion, AMVETS, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Two of the many others are the Military Order of the Purple Heart and Vietnam Veterans of America These and other veterans service organizations provide services, discounts, and products Most important, they provide service representatives ("service reps"), also known as service officers Service reps can help vets seek VA benefits and in particular can help them file a claim for disability compensation They also can answer most questions you may have about the VA To find a veterans service organization, visit its Web site Here are the Web sites to help you find a post or chapter of the six veterans organizations mentioned above: The American Legion: http://www.legion.org/members/locators/posts AMVETS: http://www.amvets.org/membership/find_your_post.html Disabled American Veterans: http://dav.org/veterans/ContactUs.aspx Veterans of Foreign Wars: http://emem.vfw.org/findpost.aspx Military Order of the Purple 596
 Appendix
 Heart: http://members.purpleheart.org/Supplyroom/Search/Zip.asp Vietnam Veterans of America: http://www.vva.org/witest/chapters.aspx You can also look in your phone directory in the white pages under the name of the organization in question or in the yellow pages under headings such a "Veterans & Military Organizations." Sometimes you can also find them by calling the nearest VA facility (facilities include but are not limited to VA Regional Offices and VA Medical Centers; (VA facilities can be found at www.va.gov) and asking if a service rep for a particular organization works at that VA facility) (4) Chapter 20, "Advice for Caregivers and Families of Wounded Servicemembers and Veterans." This chapter has much to offer not just to caregivers but to servicemembers, veterans, and family members in search of advice or support Early in the chapter, see the list of emergency phone numbers for servicemembers Late in the chapter, see the list of Web sites for organizations Each state and most territories have a locally-funded office that represents the interests of local veterans and their families with veterans claims, discharge upgrading and military records correction The agency is usually called the State Department (or commission, bureau, division, or a similar name) of Veterans Affairs Some are very large, some are not well funded, and some supervise employees in many, if not all, counties In some states, the county veterans service officer (CVSO) is employed by the county or may have close ties to a local post or chapter of a national veterans service organization (For more on veterans service organizations, see the section directly above.) If no CVSO is listed, try the Web site of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers at www.nacvso.org To find the e-mail address for the state veterans agency in your state, go to the Web site for the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA) at http://www.nasdva.net/ Click on "STATES," then click on the name of your state The
American
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 Here are excerpts from the NASDVA site: Each year state governments spend more than $3.5 billion to support our nation's veterans and their families Collectively, we are second only to the federal Department of Veterans Affairs in providing benefits and services to the men and women who defended our nation Although each state is unique, with its own traditions, programs, and resources, we are united by our common goal to make a difference in the lives of our veterans The members of NASDVA bring together the best of all states and territories We work together to find real solutions to the common problems we face, and the pooling of expertise and knowledge allows our organization to serve as a resource for each state, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Congress NASDVA is an organization consisting of the top veterans affairs official in each state and territory We provide a medium for the exchange of ideas and information between states so that we can learn from each other and organize responses to issues that face veterans nationwide We work to secure uniformity, equality, efficiency, and effectiveness in providing services to veterans and their families, especially in regards to claims representation We are willing partners with the Congress, the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, and the veteran services organizations that advocate for veterans In many states, there are locally focused legal resources that may be of assistance, such as bar association projects and law school clinics Based on a survey conducted for this book, we list those of which we are aware state-by-state 
 Arkansas
 Fayetteville University of Arkansas School of Law Law School Legal Clinic 598
 Appendix
 Waterman Hall, Maple Street, Fayetteville, AR 72701 Tel: (479) 575-3056 Fax: (479) 272-2815 Director: Michael W Mullane mullane@uark.edu Represents veterans? NA Represents servicemembers? Y Area Served? Y, did not specify Income requirements? Y, did not specify California
 San Diego Thomas Jefferson School of Law Thomas Jefferson Veterans Legal Assistance 2121 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110 http://www.tjsl.edu/academic_veterans Contact: Steve Berenson sberenson@tjsl.edu Tel: (619) 374-6925 Our clinic works only with veterans, who are participants in, or affiliates or alumni of, the Veterans Village of San Diego recovery program All screening and eligibility determinations are done through VVSD Veterans Village of San Diego 4141 Pacific Hwy., San Diego, CA 92110 http://www.vvsd.net/ Tel: (619) 497-0142 Fax: (619) 497-0263 “Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD), also known as Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, is dedicated to extending assistance to needy and homeless veterans of all wars and eras and their families by providing housing, food, clothing, substance abuse recovery and mental health counseling, job training and job search assistance.” Swords to Plowshares 1060 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 Tel: (415) 252 – 4788 Contact: Shannon Kissinger www.stp-sf.org The
American
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 For VA benefits claims and military discharge upgrading, attorneys provide brief advice and representation to qualifying veterans and their family members Veterans must be residents of San Francisco OR have served on active duty since September 11, 2001 (OIF/OEF) All services are free of charge Phone paralegal Vanessa Quiban to learn how we can help We not provide legal advice via e-mail OIF/OEF veterans seeking non-legal-related assistance may contact Swords to Plowshares’ Iraq Veteran Project at IVPinfo@stp-sf.org or by phone Delaware
 Wilmington Widener University School of Law Veterans Law Clinic Main Office–Widener University School of Law 4601 Concord Pike , P.O Box 7474, Wilmington, DE 19803-0474 http://law.widener.edu/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTrain ing/Clinics/VeteransLawClinic.aspx Chester Branch Office: 1450 Edgmont Ave Room 150, Chester, PA 19103 Harrisburg Branch Office: 3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17106 Contact: Delaware veterans: Prof Thomas J Reed (302) 477-2070 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Susan Saidel, Esq (610) 874-1352 Central & Western Pennsylvania: Jeremiah Underhill (717) 5641-3900 Director: Prof Thomas J Reed tjreed@mail.widener.edu Represents veterans? Y Represents servicemembers?Y Area Served? Delaware and Pennsylvania veterans and dependents receive a preference New Jersey and Maryland veterans and dependents may be taken on a case-by-case basis Income requirements? Total monthly family income from all sources must be at 150% of poverty level or less Income from spouses and companions is included in this figure Florida
 Miami University of Miami School of Law Elder Law Project 1311 Miller Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146 600
 Appendix
 Contact: Yolanda Veloz Tel: (305) 284-3951 Fax: (3050 284-6407 Director: Melissa Lader Barnhardt (Adjunct Faculty) JoNel Newman (Assistant Professor) Represents veterans? N Represents servicemembers? N Area Served? South Florida/ greater Miami Income requirements? 200% of the poverty level Illinois
 Chicago John Marshall Law School Veterans Legal Support Center and Clinic 315 South Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604 http://www.jmls.edu/veterans/index.shtml Tel: (312) 427-2737 ext 346 Fax: (312)427-0438 E-mail: VLSC@jmls.edu Handles VA cases and appeals American Bar Association The ABA Military Pro Bono Project 321 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654 www.militaryprobono.org Director: Jason Vail vailj@staff.abanet.org The ABA Military Pro Bono Project is a referral service for active-duty servicemembers We refer veterans to programs that handle veterans cases Represents veterans? Refer to pro bono attorneys Represents servicemembers? Refer to pro bono attorneys Area Served? NA Income requirements? E-6 pay grade or below Massachusetts
 Boston Boston University Law School, Northeastern Law School, Suffolk Law School, New England School of Law, Boston College Law School, Harvard Law School http://www.shelterlegalservices.org/ The
American
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and
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 Shelter Legal Services Legal Clinic at Shelter for Homeless Veterans NESHV 17 Court St, Boston, MA 02108 Shelter Legal Services Legal Clinic at Chelsea Soldier’s Home 91 Crest Ave, Chelsea, MA 02150 Contact: Lisa M LaFera, Esq Tel: (617) 305-1699 Fax: (617) 305-6268 Director: Lisa M LaFera, Esq lafera@shelterlegalservices.org Represents veterans? Y Represents servicemembers? NA Area Served? In around the Boston area Income requirements? 125% of Federal poverty guidelines Michigan
 Detroit University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Veterans Law Clinic 651 Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48226 Contact: Michelle Van Horn Tel: (313) 596-0262 Fax: (313) 596-0280 Director: Joon Sung sungjh@udmercy.edu Peggy Costello Represents veterans? Y Represents servicemembers? N Area Served? N Income requirements? 200% of federal poverty guidelines 
 New
York
 Albany Albany Law School Albany Law Clinic & Justice Center 80 New Scotland Ave., Albany, NY 12208 http://www.albanylaw.edu/sub.php?navigation_id=39 Tel: (518) 445-2328 602
 Appendix
 The Albany Law Clinic & Justice Center is willing to represent and/or advise active-duty, low-income servicemembers within the Albany, New York area in the legal areas listed below: Health law services for clients with cancer or HIV/AIDS Workers' compensation claims Securities arbitration Clients with developmental disabilities Taxpayer disputes with the IRS Domestic violence legal assistance New York New York City Bar Association The City Bar Justice Center 42 West 44th St, New York, NY 10036 http://www.nycbar.org/CityBarFund/index.htm Contact: Sara Chang Tel: (212) 382-6648 1-877-564-3833 Represents veterans? Y, in access to disability benefits only Represents servicemembers? N Area Served? Y, New York City Income requirements? Y, did not specify Urban Justice Center Veterans and Servicemembers Project 123 William St.-16th floor, New York, NY 10038 http://www.urbanjustice.org/ujc/projects/veterans.html Contact: Rachel Natelson rnatelson@urbanjustice.org Tel: (646) 602-5620 Fax: (212) 533-4598 Represents veterans? Y Represents servicemembers? Y Area Served? N, priority given to NY area clients Income requirements? N, priority given to low income clients 
 North
Carolina
 Durham North Carolina Central University law School The
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 Veterans Law Clinic 1512S Alston Ave, Durham, NC 27707 Contact: Craig Kabatchnick Tel: (336) 456-3751 or (919) 530-6005 Represents veterans? Y Represents servicemembers? Y Area Served? N Income requirements? N Raleigh Veterans Foundaion Inc Veterans Law Project PO Box 25337, Raleigh, NC 27611 http://www.veteranslawproject.org Contact: Tara Sue Clark veteransfoundation@gmail.com Tel: (336) 987-8398 or (919) 828-5058 Fax: (919) 261-6771 Represents veterans? Y Represents servicemembers? Y Area Served? N Income requirements? N The Veterans Law Project is working to establish pro bono law clinics to assist military families throughout the globe in a variety of legal interests These include but are not limited to claims, appeals, classes, programs, training and co-ops with veterans service organizations The Veterans Law Project pilot project can be found at the North Carolina Central University Law School 
 Virginia
 Arlington George Mason University School of Law Clinic For Legal Assistance to Servicemembers 3301 Washington Blvd, MS 6C5, Arlingotn, VA 22201 Contact: Student Office class@gmu.edu Tel: (703) 993-8214 Fax: (703) 993-9540 Director: Joseph Zengerle jzengerl@gmu.edu Represents veterans? N 604
 Appendix
 Represents servicemembers? Y Area Served? Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia are preferred Income requirements? Undue hardship to retain counsel Vermont
 South Royalton Vermont Law School South Royalton Legal Clinic PO Box 117, South Royalton, VT 05068 Contact: Maryann Zavez MZAVEZ@vermontlaw.edu Tel: (802) 831-1500 Handles VA cases Washington
D.C.
 Catholic University Law School Columbus Community Legal Services 3602 John McCormack Rd., NE, Washington DC, 20064 Contact: Michael McGonnigal mcgonnigal@law.edu Tel: (202) 319-6788 Fax: (202) 319-6780 Director: Catherine Klain Represents veterans? Y Represents servicemembers? N Area Served? For cases before the U.S Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, we accept clients from throughout the United States For all other matters, we represent only residents of the District of Columbia Income requirements? : In general, we represent clients whose income does not exceed 200 percent of the poverty level Wisconsin
 Madison University of Wisconsin Neighborhood Law Project & Family Court Assistance Project 975 Bascom Mall, Madison, WI 53706 Villager Mall, 2300 South Park St #3, Madison, WI 53713 Neighborhood Law Project: (608) 260-8221 http://law.wisc.edu/fjr/eji/neighborhood/ The
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Guide
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 Family Court Assistance Project: (608) 262-2301 http://law.wisc.edu/fjr/eji/familycourt/ Fax: (608) 265-3732 Represents veterans? Y, but not in disputes with the military Represents servicemembers? Y, but not in disputes with the military Area Served? Dane County, Wisconsin Income requirements? N *Appendix compiled by Kaya Sanchez-Harvey, research assistant at Veterans For America, assisted by David Addlestone and Craig Kubey ... vets of all other eras The American Servicemembers and Veterans Survival Guide describes in depth the problems of the vet and servicemember (and his or her family), the benefits and services... book, the new one is comprehensive and easy to read Unlike the original, however, this one covers not just veterans but also servicemembers The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide ... le- The American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide 23
 gal counsel for the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association In 1978 he founded Vietnam Veterans of America In 1980 he founded the