(Pictured L-R: M-VETS Director Timothy MacArthur, Student Advisor Tony Mancini)
The Scalia Law School’s Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) advocated for a GMU Alum and United States Air Force veteran before the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). Read more
Written By Summer 2025 M-VETS Student Advisor Anthony Mancini.
Introduction
Preparing for a hearing before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) is a critical, yet often daunting task for any advocate—especially for law students working on pro bono cases where your client is a veteran who has waited several years for their appeal to be heard. Read more
Written by Summer 2025 M-VETS Student Advisor Andrew West.
In June 2025, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Soto v. United States that will result in substantial retroactive payments to over 9,000 combat-disabled veterans.[1] The ruling marked a major legal victory not only for the class of veterans involved, but also for the National Veterans Legal Service Program (NVLSP), a nonprofit pro bono organization that has been fighting for veterans’ rights for more than four decades. Read more
(Pictured L-R: M-VETS Director Timothy MacArthur and Student Advisors Andrew West and Sarah Khalife)
The Arlington County Bar Foundation has awarded a $2,000 grant to the Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. Read more
(Pictured L-R: M-VETS Client Richard Fahlman, Student Advisor Samantha Hargis, and M-VETS Director Timothy M. MacArthur)
The Scalia Law School’s Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) advocated for a combat veteran before an administrative law judge at a hearing before the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). Read more
Written by Spring 2025 M-VETS Student Advisor Alexandria Ryan.
History
In 2016 at the end of the Obama Administration, the former Secretary of Defense, Ashton Carter, authorized transgender Servicemembers to openly serve for the first time.[1] But, the policy was short-lived when President Trump took office in 2017, and ordered the Department of Defense (DoD) to exclude transgender individuals from military service. Read more
Written by Spring 2025 M-VETS Student Advisor Samantha Hargis.
Background
The VA appeals process allows veterans to challenge decisions about their disability benefits. Historically, the system was slow and complex, often taking years to resolve appeals. In 2019, the Appeals Modernization Act (“AMA”) introduced a streamlined process with three lanes: supplemental claims, higher-level reviews, and direct appeals to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (“BVA”), which offers multiple review options, including hearings. Read more
The Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) successfully argued a claim before the Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR), a body responsible for correcting errors or injustices in Navy and Marine Corps records, seeking a fully Honorable conditions discharge for a Navy veteran. Read more
Written By Fall 2024 M-VETS Student Advisor Curtis Power.
Written By Fall 2024 M-VETS Student Advisor Danny Jenkins.
Appearing before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) for the first time can feel daunting, but with the right preparation, you can effectively advocate for your client and make a strong impression. Read more
