Pva Vs Legal Help For Veterans

[autumn]

looking for pros/cons opinions regarding going with "legal help for veterans" or the PVA.

lh4v gets 20% i hear. pva gets nothing. i'm just not sure pva will fight very hard.

really could use some insight into this so i can make an informed decision.

[Teac]

looking for pros/cons opinions regarding going with "legal help for veterans" or the PVA.

lh4v gets 20% i hear. pva gets nothing. i'm just not sure pva will fight very hard.

really could use some insight into this so i can make an informed decision.

PVA directed me to the Pro Bono Consortium who took my case, and won my case at the COVA, and I then joined the PVA because I thought the people I dealt with cared. And, unlike other veteran organizations... PVA membership is free.

If you really need a lawyer check with Pro bono first...

http://www.vetsprobono.org/

Edited December 10, 2009 by Teac

[Pete53]

PVA has a good reputation in my book

[Testvet]

PVA has a good reputation in my book

It's the only Veterans group I belong to I have no use for the others and their "life memberships" and the implication if you become one they will treat you better BS all of them told me that I would never get my cardiac problems SC they either didn't know the law or where to lazy to even try and learn it and I don't care much for the political stances they take either they are supposed to be non political but they are NOT..just my 2 cents

[autumn]

thanks all.

hard for me to make up my mind as i've had a few issues with the pva dis-ing me in the past and not listening.

i'm unemployed and if in fact a positive ruling happens i'll need to keep as much as possible for bills, living expenses.

two non-va specialists have returned i do in fact have rrms and have had it since the spinal infection while on active duty years ago. although my gut and body told me i had it, medical tests said i had it, the va never acknowledged it - wrote me off so to speak - you folks know that drill. so the pva treating me like the did, is like salt on a mental wound.

let me be fair, it was only a few officers at the pva that did this. but it was those few that handled past claims and to no avail. a few others at the pva have been my life line and super buddy over the years. i would never have made it this far if not for two people at the pva.

i'm just untrusting and scared at this point. go with lh4v and give up some much needed $ if i do have a positive outcome, or retrun to the pva, toss the coin that i won't get dis'd again. that's where i'm at today. if i can use a pva office other than the one in this area, i think i would go that route

thanks again for your hlep

[Commander Bob]

JMHO... PVA is one of the best NSO organizations. However, a well versed lawyer is better.

[Testvet]

JMHO... PVA is one of the best NSO organizations. However, a well versed lawyer is better.

the lawyer in my opinion is more motivated to see you WIN they don't get paid if your claim tanks the PVA SO just moves on to the next claim and they have a shelf full of them my NOVA lawyer was excellent although due to the date of my denial I could not legally hire a lawyer so they took my case "pro bono" I was more than willing to pay the 20% they even fronted the cost of one of the IMOs I needed now that was service that is the only money they took when the BVA Judge granted my claim I tried to get the lawyer to take some money they wouldn't even let us buy they and their spouse a decent lunch at Ruth Chris or anywhere, they said the ethics rules wouldn't allow it I probably found the only really ethical lawyer in the state I was willing to pay I would have been estatic to get 80% of a 7 year old claim that took me from 100% to SMC S and guaranteed my wife and son would get the vet benefits when I die from my heart problems I was told the average life expectancy for heart patients with Congestive heart failure is 10 years I was diagnosed with CHF in 1997 do the math I am already "past due" and all of these are gravy days without the SC for cardiac problems my family would have been SOL this claim was "security" and eased a LOT of stress what kind of price tag can anyone put on that?

I will take a lawyer any day over a VSO.....