Veterans Affairs Law

3 units

This course will examine the statutes, regulations, and case law governing federal benefits for veterans of the U.S. military. Students will examine the requirements for qualification as a veteran, general benefit eligibility, service connection and ratings for disability compensation, duties owed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to claimants, the evolution of attorney involvement in VA claims processes and attorney fee restrictions, the claims adjudication process, and the claims appeals process. The course will also explore the evolution of veterans benefits throughout U.S. history and changes in how such benefits were administered by the VA and its predecessor agencies. Students will review pertinent cases from the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Laptops and similar devices are permitted in class. There are no prerequisites and this course presents no disqualifying conflict with another course. Grades will be based primarily (90%) on a three-hour open-book final examination which will be graded anonymously. Regular class attendance and participation are expected and will constitute a small portion (10%) of the grade.