Advanced Topics on Veterans’ Issues and Benefits (Online Seminar)

A pre-recorded streaming video replay from the December 2016 webcast, Advanced Topics on Veterans’ Issues and Benefits.

Attorneys and agents who maintain accreditation with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are authorized to provide information, counseling, and legal representation for veterans that are involved with the VA claims process. Non-accredited attorneys should be aware of issues impacting veterans and their surviving spouses so they can properly refer their clients if the need arises.

This seminar provides CLE to maintain the continuing, biennial requirement for those attorneys who previously have been accredited by the VA in accordance with 38 C.F.R § 14.629. The topics covered are advanced in nature and will include Compensation and Pension Benefits, Veterans Health Administration services, dependent claims and services, accreditation requirements, Medicaid impacts, and anticipated VA regulatory changes.

The Office of General Counsel is now seriously updating their accreditation database and checking all attorneys' and agents' status. If the OGC's review discovers that an attorney or agent is behind with CLE hours, they will send a letter to that person informing on the number of CLE hours required to bring the accreditation up to date. This will be a total of all missing hours to date.  The time frame to complete these overdue CLE hours is usually between 30–60 days.

ACCREDITATION

To be able to practice before the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA regulations require that a lawyer take a different seminar to become accredited AFTER FIRST completing and filing the VA Application for Accreditation and receiving approval back. This approval procedure may take 30–40 days. Visit www.va.gov/ogc/accreditation.asp.

Virginia CLE^® offers the 3-hour qualifying course for lawyers to represent veterans, “Veterans’ Benefits,” as an online seminar (qualifies as the VA accreditation course nationwide).

FACULTY

Angela N. Manz, The Law Office of Angela N. Manz, P.C. / Virginia Beach

Angela N. Manz focuses her practice on elder law and estate planning, including Medicaid Planning, Veterans’ Benefits, Guardianships/Conservatorships, Elder Abuse, Estate Planning, Probate/Trust Administration, and Care Management. She works with clients to plan for the future and cope during times of crisis. She is a graduate of the William & Mary School of Law.

Christopher M. McCarthy, White & McCarthy, LLP / Midlothian

Chris McCarthy is a partner at White & McCarthy, LLP, and has been practicing in the field of Elder Law since 1999.  He focuses his practice in the following areas: Estate Planning; Estate and Trust Administration; Disability and Special Needs Planning; Medicaid Planning and Long-Term Care Planning; Guardianships and Conservatorships for Incapacitated Adults; and Fiduciary Services.  An AV-rated attorney, Mr. McCarthy is also an accredited attorney for the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for veterans’ benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Harold H. (Bart) Barton, Jr., Mulkey, Forbes, Reid & Barton, PLC / Newport News

Bart Barton’s primary practice area is Elder Law.  He represents older persons, disabled individuals, their families, and their advocates.  He also practices in the areas of Veterans’ Benefits, as a VA-accredited attorney including claims and appeals; Guardianships for Minors and Adults; and Restoration of Individual Rights.

Prior to beginning a law career, Mr. Barton served in the United States Air Force for over twenty-six years and retired as a Colonel in 1999.  He serves under an appointment by the Governor on the Joint Leadership Council of Veteran Service Organizations and was recently elected as chairman.