“Thank you for your service” is easy to say. But ensuring disabled veterans receive the financial benefits they’ve earned is harder—and more important.
Every Veterans Day, as Americans commemorate military service, millions of veterans and their families face uncertainty about benefits that can be a monetary lifeline.
The reasons are complicated.
For starters, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) handles an enormous workload, including new claims and cases contested for years. In fiscal 2026, the VA processed a record 3.11 million disability compensation claims. Complex cases can still leave veterans waiting months or longer for resolution.
Mistakes happen, too. Incomplete applications, missing medical evidence and errors in VA decisions can lead to denials or disability ratings that don’t fully address a veteran’s condition. Some veterans manage the process alone, unaware that accredited veterans service organizations offer free assistance. VA-accredited attorneys can also help. Most VA-accredited attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, i.e., they only get paid if they successfully increase the veteran’s benefits.
Then there’s the changing judicial landscape. Congress, the VA and federal courts all shape veterans’ benefits, making it difficult to keep up for veterans already coping with serious disabilities, and even attorneys.
Fortunately, experienced legal representation and patient, compassionate service can help veterans secure the benefits they’ve earned.
A team approach for every veteran
Deuterman Law Group has dedicated veterans’ disability legal teams of attorneys, paralegals and support staff who track developments in veterans’ benefits law, communicate with clients and their families to understand the complications of the VA system.
A veteran’s relationship with the VA can last a lifetime. Some of our clients are just beginning the claims process. Others have spent years pursuing disability compensation through denials, decision reviews and appeals. In either case, knowledgeable advocates can help veterans secure the benefits they’ve earned.
Led by VA-accredited attorneys, Deuterman’s legal professionals review claims, gather military and medical evidence, validate connections between disabilities and military service, challenge denied claims and inadequate disability ratings and represent veterans in VA appeals.
They also work for increased compensation when warranted, challenge incorrect effective dates and benefit calculations, and help clients meet critical deadlines.
They’ve served, too. Four members of Deuterman Law Group’s Veterans Disability team bring firsthand military experience to their work helping fellow veterans secure the benefits they’ve earned. Left, from left: Carly Presnell, lead VA manager; Robert Retic, veterans disability attorney; and Holden Shelton, lead VA manager. Right: Veterans disability attorneys Aimee Robeson and Robert Retic at a National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates conference.
For veterans, it’s a whole new mission
For a veteran living with service-connected disabilities, the challenges don’t necessarily end when they leave the military. Securing benefits can become a mission of its own, especially as the understanding of military-related illnesses keeps on evolving.
Consider Gulf War illness. It can cause debilitating fatigue, chronic pain, gastrointestinal problems and other symptoms without an easily identifiable cause. Attorneys help qualifying veterans establish “presumptive service connection” under federal rules. This lets eligible veterans pursue compensation without proving exactly what caused their conditions.
To understand the terrain, consider six prominent issues affecting veterans’ disability benefits that VA disability legal teams are watching.
- Changing rules for disability compensation. The VA has considered changes to how it evaluates conditions such as sleep apnea, tinnitus and mental health disorders. Veterans need to understand how any adopted changes could affect their benefits.
- Health problems caused by toxic exposure. Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other hazardous substances may qualify for benefits that weren’t previously available. Even veterans whose claims were denied years ago may have new opportunities.
- Getting a fair hearing when benefits are denied. Court decisions and changes to VA appeals procedures can affect veterans challenging unfavorable decisions. Knowing when and how to request a review is critical.
- Getting benefits without needless delays. Although the VA has improved processing times, missing records, incomplete applications and complicated appeals can still leave veterans waiting for financial assistance.
- Making sure treatment doesn’t count against a veteran. A recent controversy over how the VA evaluates the effects of medication raised a fundamental question: Should successful treatment reduce compensation for a service-connected disability? The VA withdrew the disputed rule, but the episode shows how quickly policies can change.
- Knowing when to reopen an old claim. Changes in eligibility rules, new medical evidence and court decisions can create opportunities for veterans previously denied benefits. A rejection years ago doesn’t necessarily mean the case is closed.
We’re all on the same side
Veterans make up about 8% of North Carolina’s population, compared with 5.2% nationally. In a state with such deep military connections, helping veterans get the benefits they’ve earned is more than a federal responsibility. It’s a concern for our communities, families and neighbors.
The VA and veterans’ advocates share an essential objective: accurate, fair, and timely decisions to honor the nation’s commitments to those who served.
At Deuterman Law Group, that commitment means combining specialized legal expertise with personal attention to help veterans traverse an often-complicated system and receive the full benefits to which they’re entitled.
Because the best way to thank veterans is to keep America’s promises.
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