Covington Wins Appeals for Two Veterans

Covington Wins Appeals for Two Veterans

March 25, 2016

Continuing the firm’s longstanding commitment to pro bono representation of veterans, Covington recently won a pair of favorable rulings from the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. One appeal, on behalf of an Army veteran, sought a “service connection” ruling for a skin condition related to his service during the Persian Gulf War. The second, on behalf of a Marine Corps veteran, and then his wife, sought an increased disability rating for speech difficulties associated with his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

Covington received a quick win in the first appeal, when the VA agreed with the argument that the veteran was not afforded an adequate examination and stipulated to a joint remand. In the second appeal, the appeals judge initially affirmed the Board, but then reversed course, adopted Covington's core legal argument on reconsideration, and ordered a remand to allow the VA to consider the claim using the proper interpretation of the relevant regulations.

Former associate Jack Kelly handled both appeals, with guidance from Allan Moore and Einar Stole.