ABS LEGAL ADVOCATES, P.A., is a veterans’ disability benefits law firm dedicated to representing veterans of the United States military in their claims for disability benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). We have four full-time attorneys, including Virginia A. Girard-Brady, Owner/Attorney, with more than 20 years of combined experience in VA law.
Our primary goal is to help veterans get the VA disability benefits to which they are legally and rightfully entitled. It is all that we do. We represent the men and women who served in peacetime as well as war time. We represent veterans who suffer from both physical and mental disabilities, and who served from World War II to the present. We represent the enlisted men and women, who voluntarily pledged their lives for our country, as well as those who were drafted. They enjoyed no privileges. They took the orders. They did their duty. And when they came home, they were faced with a different kind of struggle: to get the benefits the government promised to them.
We represent men and women who have very little and who have lost much due to their military service. They served honorably and did right by their country. Now it’s time for their country to do right by them.
Our representation of the veteran is strictly regulated by the VA. Prior to June 2007, attorneys could not represent veterans for a fee greater than $10 until the veteran had already been denied by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). Now, attorneys can begin representing a veteran after the veteran has been denied by the Regional Office in his or her state. For this reason, there are an increasing number of attorneys beginning to represent veterans. This is good for the veterans, as it means more veterans can now receive the help they need, earlier in the process. However, it is for this reason that veterans should choose their representative carefully, and ensure that they hire someone who is familiar with all aspects of the process. As most veterans know who have already filed claims, the VA benefits system can be both confusing and frustrating. We will try to relieve this confusion, and to shoulder the frustration for you.
At the VA Regional Office and BVA we evaluate each client’s VA claims folder, file new claims, request all medical records and evidence that has been identified to us, submit to both agencies all medical records and evidence we are able to obtain, and present all pertinent arguments supported by VA law. We also file all pending appeals for our clients in a timely manner and help our clients understand and process the sometimes confusing and almost always frustrating paperwork required by the VA. At the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), we advocate for our clients against the VA’s attorneys by developing the best arguments in support of our clients’ appeals and file all pleadings for our clients. We have been very successful at all levels for many years because we are passionate about this area of law and advocate tirelessly for our clients. We have a veteran on staff, we have had veterans in our families and we have never worked for the VA. We fight for veterans.
We offer two full-time client liaisons, Lee Ann Rake and Kelly Pettengill, from 8am-5pm Central Standard Time from Monday through Friday so that our clients are provided with the communication they need. If you are interested in inquiring about representation by ABS Legal Advocates, please call us toll-free at (888) 511-9675.
If you have claims pending at the VA Regional Office and/or BVA, we will send you a questionnaire to complete. The questionnaire will help our team of attorneys determine whether or not we may be able to help you.
If your claim has been denied by the BVA within the past 120 days, or if you have a pending appeal at the CAVC, we will ask you for a copy of your BVA decision so that we can determine whether or not we can represent you at the CAVC.