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
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
Written by Summer 2024 M-VETS Student Advisor Brian Tarno.
“The MLA better protects our service men and women from predatory credit practices by expanding financial protections provided to service members, and helping ensure military families receive the consumer protections they deserve.” Read more
Written by Fall 2023 M-VETS Student Advisor J. Jordan Caruso.
“It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong.” Read more
Written By Spring 2024 M-VETS Student Advisor Mark Rasmussen.
Americans are feeling their belts tighten as their wallets get emptier due to rising inflation and cost of living. This has turned homelessness in America into a hot topic of conversation. As we see the surge of undocumented migrants coming over the southern border, it has started to create an amplified call to address the homelessness issue with many states wondering how they are going to house those migrants that are coming in. Read more
Written By Spring 2024 M-VETS Student Advisor Nicholas J. Bishop.
In response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, on 21 August 2021, the Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum directing senior Pentagon leadership, commanders of the combat commands, and defense agency and Department of Defense field activity directors to take necessary steps to ensure the immunization of all servicemembers against the COVID-19 virus. Read more
Written By Spring 2024 M-VETS Student Advisor Jacob Frankson.
The benefits given to servicemembers and veterans extends beyond just them and to their families as well. This includes even after they have passed away. But to the widow or the child of a veteran who has passed away, what benefits are they entitled to, and how do they go about attaining them? Read more
