This is a sleazy power struggle based in nothing meaningful except denial of constitutional rights!!
UPDATE: SENATOR CORRECTS DAV'S ANTI-ATTORNEY

STATEMENTS -- "I believe that veterans are mature,

responsible and capable enough to decide for

themselves whether to hire legal representation."





The "Attorneys for Veterans" issue remains in the news.

Last week, the DAV sent out a letter and petitions to their Commanders and members. They were urged to sign the petitions and send them to Congress in an effort to repeal the "Attorneys for Veterans" legislation passed last year.

Background on all of this with backlinks can be found here...
http://vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfMAR07/nf031607-1.htm

Now, Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), who favors "Attorneys for Veterans" and who was mentioned in the DAV's letter, speaks out to correct what appears to be a "misrepresentation" by the DAV.

As the DAV continues to oppose a veteran's right to an attorney, we can expect more "misrepresentations" from them.

And, we have commentary from an attorney who represents veterans in the VA claims process: "I believe Senator Craig wrote a very well reasoned response to the DAV. The only thing I would have added is since the new law only allows attorney representation after a denial by the VA Regional Office and the submission of a Notice of Disagreement, attorney representation would only occur after a Veterans' Service Organization (VSO) (if the veteran was so represented) has failed to obtain a favorable decision. I believe this is a very important point. If the veteran first obtained VSO representation [from the DAV, for example], and that representation failed to obtain a favorable result, why shouldn't the veteran then be allowed to seek other representation, if he or she so chooses?"

Craig's letter below:

---------------

---------------

Larry Scott --

Don't forget to read all of today's VA News Flashes (click here)

Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage

email Larry PGP key on request

Send this page to a friend:

(go back to VA Watchdog dot Org Home Page)