Fighting Unfair VA Reductions and Severances

The Department of Veterans Affairs has increased its efforts to reduce Veteran disability ratings or sever service connection. Many Veterans have been unfairly swept up in these efforts. And as a systemic matter, the adjudicators deciding these issues are not properly trained on the procedural and substantive protections in place for Veteran ratings. VA-accredited representatives must be able to preempt and defend against these practices. Representatives must be able to assess the risk of reductions or severances and effectively defend against them.

This program teaches attendees how to avoid severances and reductions either preemptively, during the proposed reduction or severance process, or after adverse action is finalized. This course will include specific strategic and tactical tips for personal hearings and appeals.

This course is designed for attorneys with any amount of experience. All VA legal practitioners are encouraged to attend this program to become familiar with the proper procedures and rules for reductions and severances, as well as the common errors VA makes in the process.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Gain the insight to weigh and avoid risks of reduction or severance, guiding client consultation and overall appeals strategy.
2. Explore the technicalities of procedural and substantive protections for VA ratings and how to persuade VA against proposed reductions.
3. Assess procedural and substantive complexities of severance and how to defend service connection.