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Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

19 Jun 2013

Navy Implements Benefits to Same-Sex Couples (Big-Ticket Items Excluded)

Beginning on August 31, the Navy will begin providing benefits to same-sex couples. Because of federal law, however, these couples are ineligible for certain benefits such as health care and housing allowance.

As you likely know, in 2010 President Obama signed into law legislation that set conditions for the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Act (DADT)(Title Ten, United States Code, Section 654). This was the official policy of the United States relating to gays serving in the military, and it prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while barring openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service. It was officially repealed effective September 20, 2011.

Earlier this year, the Department of Defense (DoD) identified family member and dependent benefits that the services can lawfully provide to same-sex partners and their families through changes in the DoD policies and regulations. To make these benefits available to same-sex partners of our service members, the Navy reviewed, and is currently modifying, all necessary instructions, notices, and MILSPERMAN (Navy Military Personnel Manual) articles; and it is conducting training to ensure a clear understanding of the benefits and documentation requirements.

In demonstrate eligibility for benefits, service members must submit a Declaration of Domestic Partnership for DEERS Enrollment (DD653) and obtain a DoD identification for their same-sex partner. If this is completed successfully, many benefits will apply to same-sex partners, including: Dependent ID cards (DD Form 1173), commissary and exchange, access to child and youth programs, access to legal assistance, access to most Family Center Programs, and emergency leave and emergency leave of absence for the military member to attend to partner emergencies. (Access the full list here).

It must be acknowledged, however, that under federal law, many “traditional” benefits still do not apply to these “untraditional” couples. Thus, the Navy cannot unilaterally extend them to gay couples. For example, a same-sex partner of a military member is not eligible for TriCare or to be reimbursed for medical payments. Also, homosexual couples are not eligible for with-dependent rate Basic Allowance for Housing. Unfortunately, some might argue that as far as benefits go, the benefits disallowed to same-sex couples are the big-ticket items.

Still, this is a big step for same-sex couples, and it is an acknowledgement of the changing and evolving policies of our military. In a few years, perhaps some of the federal laws that restrict same-sex benefits will be lifted, and the DoD will be able to follow suit.

To access the Navy’s FAQ page on same-sex benefits, go to: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/dadt/Pages/default.aspx.

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12 Jun 2013

VA Accidentally Deletes 464,000 Files Related to Home Loans

A debacle at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) information technology center in Austin, Texas reminds us how important it is to keep a copy of any document sent to the VA.

On May 24, “human error” at the information technology center resulted in the accidental deletion of 464,000 electronic data files that contained information about home loans. These records included loans, grants and applications. While some of these deleted files were recovered (approximately half of the files from March 18th to April 24), all files from the online application program from April 25 to May 24 could not be recovered.

In addressing how it will respond to the incident, the VA said that staff will be retrained to help prevent a future similar occurrence. Also, lenders, appraisers, and staff appraisal reviewers have been asked to resubmit appraisals for pending loan closings.

Fortunately, no personal identifying information was released or compromised by this incident. (Not to sound cheeky, but if anything, it was destroyed!).

In my opinion, there are two main takeaway points from this incident. The first is that in dealing with the VA, even through an electronic system, human beings are involved. And with human involvement, there is the room for human error. A wrong number can be inputted, a name misspelled, or a file deleted. Or, in this case, 464,000 files. (No one expects the VA to be perfect, but I wonder if in the near future the VA will offer an explanation for what kind of “human error” results in the accidental deletion of nearly half a million files.)

The second takeaway point is to always, always, always keep copies of everything sent to the VA. This is true for disability compensation claims (and request delivery confirmation, too!), and it’s true for other correspondence and filings as well. Sure, veterans should be able to rely on the fact that once their letter goes in the mail, or they click “save” or “submit” at their computer, their information is safe, but that’s not always the case. The system isn’t perfect, and this is one such illustration.

 

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06 Jun 2013

Abolishing GI Bill Time Limits: Worth the Congressional Debate?

In May, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) introduced a bill that would repeal the time limits under the GI Bill. Currently, veterans have 10 years to use their benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, or 15 years to use their Post-9/11 GI Bill. If they fail to do so, they forfeit both the benefits and the $1,200 they paid to participate in the program.

As Senator Blumenthal stated in support of his Veterans Back to School Act, “given the changing nature of today’s job market and economy, many veterans are now choosing to go back to school and receive additional training and expertise more than a decade after separating from the military. These wise decisions should be supported for all veterans. The Veterans Back to School Act provides a simple fix to eliminate the unjust and unfair restrictions, and allows current and future generations of veterans to use these hard-earned benefits whenever it makes best sense for their futures, families and careers.”

Under the verbiage of the new bill, a veteran’s entitlement to these benefits would not end until ten years after the date he begins using the benefits. The bill also provides for funding for offices of veterans affairs at institutions of higher education. This funding will be provided only if the appropriations are available, and if at least 50 individuals at the institution are eligible for assistance.

According to the statistics on the Congressional website covering the bill, it has only a 41% chance of getting past its Congressional committee (Senate Veterans Affairs), and a scant 4% chance of being enacted.

Even as a veterans advocate, I’m not crazy about this bill. On one hand, veterans benefits are called entitlements for a reason. Veterans served our country, and they are owed a debt. This is why a Vietnam-era veteran can apply for, and receive, disability compensation benefits forty years after his active duty service. (My father did! Read about our fight for his benefits here). If that is permitted, why not permit GI Bill benefits to be used at any time after service?

On the other hand, the law specifically provides time limits for using benefits under the GI Bill. Veterans are put on notice they are to be used within a certain period of time. Moreover, that time frame is generous – a decade or more. Also, I have to wonder how many veterans this bill would actually affect, given that if a veteran hasn’t used his benefits in a decade, he probably never will. Last, while I am unfamiliar with the Congressional history of the GI Bill, I have to guess that there must have been a reason for the time limits. In particular, knowing how many veterans are eligible for education benefits within a certain period of time helps the VA estimate the monies paid out through the program.

We’ll see. There are so many different measures and programs that could help our nation’s veterans. While I appreciate the spirit behind this bill, I daresay its promotion may not be the best use of veterans advocates’ times.

The bill, as introduced to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, may be accessed here. If you found this blog informative, please sign up to receive it on a weekly basis on my home page. Remember to click the link sent to your email to activate your subscription!

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28 May 2013

Jail Time for Liars: Stolen Valor Act Passes Congress

Just in time for Memorial Day, the Stolen Valor Act was passed by Congress on May 23 to criminalize the act of lying about having earned certain military honors. It now awaits President Obama’s signature.

Not every combat award is covered, but the ones most worn by wannabe heroes will be protected once the bill becomes law. Protected are the Medal of Honor, service crosses, Silver Star, Purple Heart, and combat badges such as the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Combat Action Ribbon and Combat Action Medal. The maximum punishment under the bill will be a $100,000 fine and up to one year in jail for each offense.

This comes after the United States Supreme Court struck down a 2005 version of the Stolen Valor Act, in Alvarez v. U.S (2012). There, a man was convicted under the Stolen Valor Act for claiming he had received the Medal of Honor. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court held that the Stolen Valor Act was an unconstitutional abridgment of free speech. In penning the majority opinion, Justice Kennedy expressed his concern that upholding the law would permit the government to “start a list of subjects about which false statements are punishable.”

The new Stolen Valor Act was written to be less sweeping than its predecessor, mitigating constitutional challenge by targeting fraudulent representation of military service for profit. The more narrowly-focused bill states, “whoever, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds oneself out to be a recipient of a decoration or medal shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than one year, or both.” The bill covers issues ranging from lying to receive veteran or health care benefits to obtaining a government contract or getting a job reserved for a veteran. One of its co-sponsors, Nevada Congressman Joe Heck, issued a press release explaining how the new bill addressed the Supreme Court’s issues with freedom of speech. That press release can be issued here.

When I learned about the Stolen Valor Act, I was an instant supporter. As veteran small business owners know, both the Small Business Administration and the Center for Veterans Enterprise have encountered issues with individuals lying about veteran status in order to obtain federal government contracts. I hoped that the publicity surrounding the Stolen Valor Act, and its penalties, would deter individuals from misrepresenting veteran status. There’s nothing like the possibility of a jail sentence to inspire honesty.

Unfortunately, upon reading the actual bill, I realized its language criminalizes lying about medals and honors only, not veteran status in and of itself. This means that individuals who misrepresent veteran status to obtain federal government contracts are not covered by the Stolen Valor Act. I would like to know more about what the legislative history of the Stolen Valor Act says on this topic, because it was likely addressed. As the nature of the Stolen Valor Act addresses military decorations, perhaps this was beyond the scope of the bill. At any rate, the Stolen Valor Act should be celebrated for protecting the honor and integrity attached to military accolades.

For further reading, access the Stolen Valor Act here. Also, if you found this article informative, sign up for my weekly blog on my homepage. Remember to click the link sent to your email to activate your subscription!

 

 

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22 May 2013

The National Veterans Small Business Conference: The One Event to Attend this Year!

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a time and place for its annual National Veterans Small Business Conference. If you’re a veteran small business owner, this may be the one event to check out this year!

The National Veterans Small Business Conference will take place from August 6th through August 8th at America’s Convention Center in St. Louis. In those three days, veteran small business owners will network with potential teaming partners, as well as rub elbows with the 300 VA procurement officials present. These officials are not only required to attend the conference, but they are mandated to conduct a follow-up meeting with at least three veteran business owners.

I attended a VetForce meeting in Washington, D.C. last week, where Tom Leney (the executive director of the Center for Veterans Enterprise) provided valuable information not included on the conference’s website. He noted that 86% of conference attendees are there to meet customers. This makes sense, as the procurement officials attending the conference have requirements that need to be met. This is an opportunity to use your elevator pitch, make connections, and make sure procurement officials know who you are and what you business has to offer.

Another reason small business owners attend is to connect with potential prime contractors, as many large businesses are sponsoring booths. Some of these companies may even be interested in teaming with small businesses on commercial opportunities. (Mr. Leney mentioned that AT&T is one such company).

Registration for the conference has not yet opened, but you can sign up to receive updates on registration at http://www.nationalveteransconference.com. As of today’s date, the only information available is the pricing list for booths, tables, and admission tickets, but Mr. Leney relayed that the list of attending procurement officials is forthcoming.

As a last note, this isn’t just a networking opportunity. It’s also a chance to check out St. Louis! As a native, I can tell you it’s the best Midwestern city there is. Here are my top reasons for why this is true:

  • St. Louis City Museum – With slides, stories-high slinkys for the kids to climb through, an antique carnival, caverns, and trees to explore, this is no ordinary museum. On Washington Street, a prime spot for St. Louis nightlife.
  • Forest Park – The seventh-largest urban park in the country, featuring hiking trails, a zoo, golfing, tennis courts, outdoor free plays, museums, and dining by the water
  • Union Station – An old railroad station that now has shops, restaurants, and a paddle boat area.
  • Lotawata Creek – The best restaurant in the entire world. Salads, steaks, and savory burgers topped with cheeses, pickles, and onions…and all of the portions are the size of your head. As an appetizer, they serve a sweet bread with honey butter you will want to stow away on the airplane ride home. Lotawata is located in O’Fallon, Illinois, but that’s a quick drive across the river.
  • Missouri Botanical Gardens – Acres and acres of beautiful flowers, fountains, a Japanese tea garden, and greenhouses. This gem features jazz in the summertime (Bring your own food and wine!).
  • Crown Candy Kitchen – An old fashioned malt and shake shoppe, this restaurant makes you feel like you are stepping back in time. The melts are amazing, and you can also buy candy. The one disadvantage is this was recently featured on the Travel Channel, and I hear the line’s been out the door. Good for them, bad for hungry patrons…

    • Hope to see you there!

Did you find this article informative? If so, sign up for my weekly blog on veteran-related issues here. Please remember to click the link sent to your email to activate your subscription!

 

 

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15 May 2013

Raise Your Voice! VA Seeks Comments to Improve VetBiz Verification Process

On May 13, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) announced that it is reviewing its regulations governing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) Verification Program (referred to as “Vetbiz”). OSDBU intends to improve the regulations to provide greater clarity, to streamline the program, and to encourage more VOSBs to apply for verification. By providing advanced notice of this proposed rulemaking, OSDBU seeks comments on how best to approach this undertaking. If you are a veteran business owner and have something to say about VetBiz, make sure your comments are received by the VA by the deadline of July 12!

In amending the regulations governing VetBiz, the VA seeks to find the appropriate balance between preventing fraud in the Veterans First Contracting Program and making it easier for more VOSBs to become verified. So far, this has proved difficult – fraud has received much attention due to Government Accountability Office reports on the subject, while legitimate veteran-owned small businesses have not received verification due to the cumbersome (and often confusing) VetBiz application process.

Accordingly, to find this balance, the VA is considering ways to improve the VA VOSB Verification Guidelines. VA has already collected suggestions from a wide range of sources for changes to the regulations, and has compiled them into a single document (Compilation Document). The VA’s 34-page Compilation Document can be assessed here.

In addition to input on the comments and criticisms raised in the Compilation Document, the VA seeks input on the following specific questions:

1. What could be changed to improve the clarity of the regulations? Where might bright lines be drawn to more clearly indicate compliance with the regulations and reduce potential for misinterpretation? Where might the addition of bright line tests create unintended consequences?

2. It has been suggested that VA should develop a list that would clearly delineate what constitutes ownership and control and what constitutes lack of control or ownership. Should a list like this be included in the rule, and if so, what should be on the list?

3. Are there changes to the regulations governing VetBiz that could be made to reduce the economic impact on VOSBs?

4. Are there changes to VA Form 0877 (application) that could streamline the process?

5. What verification process improvements could help to increaseefficiency and reduce burden for VOSBs?

6. What additional training tools or assistance might be offered to create more clarity for stakeholders and help them more efficiently and effectively navigate the verification regulations?

7. What documents, records, or other materials could the Office for the Center for Veterans Enterprise use to distinguish legitimate VOSBs/SDVOSBs from businesses that fraudulently seek contracts from the Government?

8. Would a special Hotline to report suspected ineligible VOSBs/SDVOSBs help the Government ensure that contracts are awarded to legitimate VOSBs/SDVOSBs?

From my professional relationships with veteran business owners, as well as participation in veteran advocacy groups, I know that this is an opportunity many veteran business owners have waited for. Especially if you have been through the VetBiz process and have suggestions for ways to simplify the process for other veterans, I urge you to submit constructive comments that will help fulfill the purpose of the Veterans First Contracting Program: to help veteran-owned businesses. Such comments may be submitted in writing through www.Regulations.gov; by mail or hand-delivery to Director, Regulation Policy and Management (02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or by fax to (202) 273-9026. (This is not a toll-free number.) Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to “RIN 2900-AO63—VA Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) Verification Guidelines.”

For more information and links to the notice of proposed rulemaking, the existing regulations, and the Compilation Document, access the VA’s press release here.

Did you find this blog informative? If so, sign up for my weekly newsletter, which addresses timely issues pertinent to veterans and small business owners, here. Please remember to click on the link sent to your email to activate your subscription!

 

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07 May 2013

VA to Expedite Disability Claims…But Will it Work?

On April 19, 2013, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it is implementing an initiative to expedite disability compensation claims that are over one year old. VA claims raters will make provisional decisions on the oldest claims in inventory, as well as order and expedite any medical examinations necessary to decide claims.

There’s a key phrase in this opening paragraph: “provisional decision.” A provisional decision is essentially a “placeholder decision” – a decision qualifies if the VA can make the determination that a veteran is entitled to at least a minimum rating. Before it assigns this minimum rating, however, it may be necessary for the VA to provide an expedited medical examination.

The best way to demonstrate how this works is to provide an example. Let’s say a veteran submitted a claim to a Regional Office (RO) in 2011 for traumatic brain injury (TBI). The evidence submitted shows that the veteran shows symptoms of TBI, but a neurological examination is necessary to rate the disability. The RO has not yet scheduled an examination.

Under the new initiative, here’s what will happen. First, since a VA examination is necessary, that examination will be ordered and expedited. The RO will issue a provisional decision. Then, for up to a year after the provisional decision is issued, the veteran will also have the opportunity to submit additional evidence. If he does, and the RO finds that an increase in rating is warranted, that increase will be backdated to the date the initial claim was filed. If the veteran does not submit additional evidence, the provisional decision becomes final one year after it is issued.

So here’s the breakdown:

  • The VA will pull claims that have been pending for over a year, to be expedited.
  • If an exam is necessary to decide the claim, it will be ordered and expedited.
  • VA RO claims adjustors will make “provisional decisions” on these claims.
  • The veteran will have one year after the date of the provisional decision to submit additional evidence. If any increase is determined to be warranted based on the additional evidence received, benefits will be retroactive to the date the claim was filed.
  • If no additional evidence is received within a year, the provisional decision will become final.
The VA’s initiative leaves some unanswered questions.
  • First, how long will it take for provisional decisions to be rendered? In other words, what does “expedited” mean? How long is it going to take the VA to pull the claims that have been pending for over a year? (And if these are some of the oldest claims, shouldn’t they be close to the front of the queue already?)
  • Second, is this process limited to initial claims that have not yet been assigned a rating, or does it apply to decisions for which veterans have already issued Notice of Disagreements (NODs)? As many veterans who have been through that process know, it can take years for VA movement after a NOD.
  • Third, how much will this slow the disability compensation claims process generally? This new initiative adds several new steps, including identifying and pulling those claims that must be fast-tracked, and sending letters to those veterans whose provisional claims have become final after a year. As noted in a VA press release, “the focus on processing the oldest claims will cause the overall measure of the average length of time to complete a claim – currently 286 days – to skew, rising significantly in the near term because of the number of old claims that will be completed.” The VA contends that once the backlog is cleared and more claims are processed electronically, the processing time will decrease significantly, but it has not provided a time frame for this.

These will remain questions until the initiative is implemented. Stay tuned in the months to follow for the answers. In the meantime, access the VA’s news release on the initiative here and the VA fact sheet here.

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01 May 2013

VetBiz Program Now Offers True Second Chance

For the first time, the Center for Veterans Enterprises (CVE) will offer veteran business owners a true second chance when it comes to applying to its VetBiz Vendor Information Pages (VIP) Program.

Beginning today, May 1st, the CVE will allow applicants the opportunity to correct minor deficiencies before an initial denial is issued. This opportunity is aimed at companies that would not be verified due to a single point of failure in their applications, such as an impermissible provision in an operating agreement. These companies will receive a preliminary finding before a determination letter of eligibility is issued.  They will then have 48 hours to respond with their intent to correct and resubmit the documents within a specified timeframe.

This is the most recent initiative designed to improve the verification process, following the recent publication on the VetBiz website of a number of new Verification Assistance Briefs. The CVE expects this to greatly reduce the number of its initial denials and subsequent requests for reconsideration. The process will also increase wait times, as it adds an additional step; but for those companies that obtain verification as a result, the wait is worth it.

The overall success rate will also be positively impacted. A second chance before denial will make a huge difference, as many veteran business owners complain of being denied VetBiz verification due to a minor issue they weren’t given the opportunity to correct.

We all know the VetBiz Program is still undergoing growing pains. Hopefully this new second chance will push it closer towards full development.

Did you find this article informative? If so, sign up for my blog on my homepage at https://legalmeetspractical.com. Also, my frequently-updated FAQs page on the VetBiz verification process can be accessed here.

 

 

 

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27 Apr 2013

The VA Backlog: If There’s an Executive Order, Give It Teeth

Senators are circulating an open letter asking President Obama to help end the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims backlog. This action is staunchly supported by veteran advocate groups, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. The hope is President Obama will issue an executive order similar to the one issued in August of 2012, which directed federal officials to take concrete, specific steps in combatting veteran suicide.

So if this letter works, what kind of executive order can we expect from President Obama? With a disability backlog of over 900,000 claims and wait times for initial decisions exceeding a year, veterans need an executive order with teeth. It needs to lay out an actual plan for how to end the backlog, not just reiterate the same promises the VA has been making for years.

As a veterans lawyer, I commonly encounter the same issues. Not just complaints about the wait times, but complaints about how the claims process works in general. The following is a non-exhaustive list of suggestions for how the VA can stop saying it will improve the backlog, but actually do so:

  • Implement a training program for claims adjustors at Regional Offices. A standardized claim adjudication training program should be implemented in all of the Regional Offices, developed based on common mistakes.
  • Compartmentalize claims. Claims adjustors should always be assigned a certain type of claim. For example, one claims adjustor might always adjudicate PTSD claims, while another claims adjustor focuses on aggravation of leg injuries. By specializing, claims adjustors will be better equipped to deal with the difficult and nuanced issues claims present.
  • Assign accountability for mishandled claims. Sometimes veterans waits nine months for a decision, and the decision is replete with errors. And what can the veteran do? His decision is file-stamped by the director of the Regional Office, not the adjustor who decided the claim. The veteran can only file a Notice of Disagreement, send it off to the Regional Office, and wait some more. This isn’t fair to the veteran, and it isn’t good for the backlog because the veteran’s still in the system. To prevent this, Regional Offices should spot-check individual decisions rendered by claims adjudicators by providing random quality checks.
  • Improve communication. Veterans are often confused by the boilerplate information provided to them, and calling the VA’s 1-800 number generally results in a long wait time and frustration. As a result, if a veteran has a question relating to what he should do to pursue his claim, the question is often not answered clearly. The veteran responds by either doing nothing or submitting information that might not be what the VA needs. The former route hurts just the veteran, but the latter route hurts both the veteran and the VA – the veteran isn’t facilitating his claim, and the VA has more paperwork. The VA must develop better channels of communication – a help line where individuals can explain the different steps of the process to the veteran and more online information. Improving communication will, however, be the biggest challenge, due to the sheer number of veterans.
  • Enhance veteran resources. There are many wonderful resources and associations available to veterans, but these are not enough. Pro bono associations that handle claims are spread thin. The VA must expand resources available to veterans so veterans do not feel that they are alone in this process. VA disability compensation is an entitlement, and it should be treated as such.

In the end, there are many aspects of the disability claims process the VA can’t help. It can’t help the enormous backlog, the number of military members leaving active duty, and errors that may occur by veterans seeking disability compensation. However, there is much to be done to improve the system, and an executive order with teeth can take a bite out of the backlog.

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03 Apr 2013

CVE Revamps VetBiz Website to Increase Verification Success Rates

In an effort to increase the success rates of businesses seeking verification in its VetBiz program, the Center for Veterans Enterprises (CVE) has revamped its website. For the first time, veteran business owners have access to information including: current verification and request for reconsideration (R4R) success rates and wait times; the top ten reasons for verification denials; and nearly a dozen new Verification Assistance Briefs. The idea here is clear: the CVE wants to give veterans the tools to “get it right” the first time.

So what do these tools entail?

VetBiz Statistics. According to the “Average Verification Processing Time” webpage of the VetBiz website, the current success rate for initial verifications is 60%, and the average processing time is 54 days. In contrast, 51% of all R4Rs are granted, with an average processing time of 130 days. This webpage, which is updated periodically when new data is available, may be accessed here.

Reasons for Denial. Below the table of processing times and success rates on the “Average Verification Processing Time,” the CVE published a pie chart. This lists the most common reasons for denial of a VetBiz application, most of which are due to issues with a company’s corporate documents. A whopping 66% of applications are denied because of issues with quorum (voting) and transfer restriction provisions. This is interesting in light of the recent Miles decision rendered by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims – according to both Miles, and the CVE’s Verification Assistance Brief on the subject, a right of first refusal provision is permissible under VA regulations. This means that the VA regulations are less strict than those of the Small Business Administration’s Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Program, which have been interpreted to not permit a right of first refusal provision.

Verification Assistance Briefs. Also accessible are the CVE’s Verification Assistance Briefs, which were drafted by CVE to address and clarify the requirements that most often lead to denial. Of the fifteen Verification Assistance Briefs now posted, some of these topics include: the veteran’s entitlement to receive 51% of the annual distribution; the requirement that ownership be direct; how to show control of a limited liability company; the definition of a “small” business; and the meaning of “full-time control.” These verification assistance briefs may be accessed here.

Will these tools work? Only time will tell. Stay tuned to see. In the interim, if you’re interested in learning more about the verification process, please visit my VetBiz verification FAQs webpage.

Did you find this article informative? If so, sign up for my weekly blog at https://legalmeetspractical.com. Remember to click on the link to activate your subscription!

 

 

 

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