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Perspective for veterans from Gregory Bannister, paralegal
Gregory Bannister actively serves our nation’s veterans as paralegal for Wolf & Brown. The NJ Vet Wire recently sat down with Gregory to ask him a few questions about his work. His experience and insight is valuable to veterans seeking disability benefits and highlights the importance of seeking the assistance of a VA accredited attorney.…
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What veterans need to know about PTSD claims in 2026
Thanks to better diagnosis and awareness, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being recognized more frequently as a service-connected disability for which a veteran can make a claim and receive benefits. However, along with the dramatic rise in PTSD claims there is also increased scrutiny of these claims. Veterans enduring PTSD should be aware of the…
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Paperwork relief for veterans?
Saying the VA is working towards “reducing paperwork, saving time, and making the application process as straightforward as possible,” VA Secretary Doug Collins touted new proposals to cut the time necessary for veterans to complete application for VA disability compensation benefits. The proposed simplifications would also specifically apply to DIC applications. Read and learn more…
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Who is eligible for VA disability benefits in 2026?
Veterans have certainly endured a lot of change at the Department of Veterans Affairs in recent years. Concerning disability benefits, while the conditions for general eligibility have not changed, there has been a significant expansion of eligibility due to a variety of factors. Brief review of general eligibility requirements To receive VA disability compensation, veterans…
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What veterans need to know about The PACT Act in 2026
To date, the PACT Act marks the most significant expansion of veterans’ disability benefits in a generation. The policy, initially passed in 2022, is reshaping how VA claims are processed, evaluated, and appealed. While the PACT Act has offered more opportunities for veterans to qualify for benefits, there is as expected new complexities that impact…
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Hiring a lawyer for VA disability claims and appeals now more important than ever
Over our many years of experience with veterans disability law, we have observed that veterans endure more challenging obstacles than most of us with face in our lifetimes. Yet, when their service is completed and they seek help for their service-related injuries, they face an increasingly confusing and adversarial system. Even in 2026, the VA…
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Why is VA rating my Sleep Apnea and Asthma-COPD together?
One of the most common Rating Decisions our office reviews involves Veterans who are granted service connection for both a respiratory condition and obstructive sleep apnea, only to discover that the VA assigned a single disability rating instead of separate evaluations. This understandably causes confusion, especially when the VA acknowledges both conditions as service connected…
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The Difference between VA-Accredited Attorneys and Veteran Service Officers (VSOs)
Veterans are often told that a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) and a VA-accredited attorney provide the same assistance with VA disability claims. From a legal and practical standpoint, that simply is not true. While both are permitted to represent Veterans before the Department of Veterans Affairs, the scope of representation, level of accountability, and depth…
