October 12, 2010

Victory for Veteran Seeking Benefits

Paul, Weiss obtained a victory this week for a pro bono client who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia due to the effects of his service in the Marine Corps from 1967 to 1970. During this time our client spent more than a year on active duty in Vietnam, where he was exposed to Agent Orange, before he was honorably discharged with a silver star. Prior to Paul, Weiss's representation of our client, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had concluded that he was entitled to only 50 percent of available benefits for his PTSD. Paul, Weiss appealed the PTSD determination and filed a new claim for his leukemia, with which he was diagnosed after we began representing him. The VA awarded our client the maximum available benefits, concluding that his leukemia was presumed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange. Paul, Weiss is one of the founding firms of the City Bar Association's Veterans Assistance Project, which assists veterans with filing claims and appealing adverse benefit decisions. Many Paul, Weiss lawyers, from all departments, have helped represent veterans since the project began in 2007. Litigation counsel Douglas M. Pravda and associate Hallie S. Goldblatt handled the claim.