{
    "page_header": "How the Veterans Law Clinic Can Help You",
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    "page_content": "<p>The VLC generally represents low-income veterans who have meritorious claims under veterans benefits law. There is no charge for our services.</p>\r\n<p>The VLC does not compete with your National Veterans Service Officer (VSO) who may have helped you with your original claim. The VLC helps you after the VSO is unable to take your case any further&mdash;by handling appeals before the Regional Office, the Board of Veterans&rsquo; Appeals (BVA), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).</p>\r\n<p>In addition to VA claims, we also take discharge upgrade cases and prepare simple wills and other estate documents.</p>\r\n<h3><strong>VA Disability Benefits Appeals</strong></h3>\r\n<p>Veterans whose disability compensation claims have been denied may have good grounds to appeal. We assist veterans in appealing meritorious claims from the Regional Office level to the Board of Veterans&rsquo; Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.</p>\r\n<h3><strong>Discharge Upgrades</strong></h3>\r\n<p>Veterans with discharges less than &ldquo;honorable&rdquo; may be denied VA benefits. Veterans may apply for discharge upgrades through a Board for Correction of Military Records or Discharge Review Board. We assist veterans with strong cases in applying for upgrades.</p>\r\n<h3><strong>VA Overpayment Waivers</strong></h3>\r\n<p>Veterans receiving a monthly compensation or pension payment from the VA are sometimes paid too much. Once the VA learns of an overpayment, the VA normally attempts to recover this money by deducting the overpaid amount from future VA payments. We represent veterans asking the VA for a waiver of these amounts.</p>\r\n<h3><strong>VA Pensions</strong></h3>\r\n<p>Veterans who served during a time of war and are (a) over 65 or (b) totally disabled may be eligible for a VA pension, a monthly payment intended to support the neediest veterans. We represent veterans who have been wrongly denied pension benefits. We also represent surviving spouses seeking death pension benefits.</p>\r\n<h3><strong>Section 1151 Claims</strong></h3>\r\n<p>Veterans who have been disabled as a result of negligent VA medical care may be entitled to benefits under 38 USC 1151. We represent veterans with Section 1151 claims by helping them collect necessary medical evidence, obtain expert opinions, and present their cases on appeal to the VA.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\r\n<h3><strong>Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Benefits</strong></h3>\r\n<p>The surviving spouses of veterans whose death was linked to military service or who died while a claim was pending may be entitled to a variety of benefits, including DIC. We represent surviving spouses of veterans with DIC and other claims on appeal.</p>\r\n<h3><strong>Wills, Other Estate Documents</strong></h3>\r\n<p>The Clinic drafts simple wills, financial powers of attorney, and advance medical directives for veterans in the Delaware Valley region.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\r\n<h3><strong>Veterans Assistance Days</strong></h3>\r\n<p>Throughout the year, the Clinic holds Veterans Assistance Days, in which area veterans meet with our attorneys for free, one-hour consultations regarding their VA claims and appeals and discharge upgrades.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\r\n<h3>Contact the Veterans Law Clinic</h3>\r\n<p>For more information on legal representation, please contact the Clinic at 302-477-2090.&nbsp;</p>",
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}