Veterans' (VA) Benefits

We represent veterans in their appeals of VA decisions at regional offices (ROs), the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. We do not charge attorney fees for representation at the Court.

If VA denies your claim, the Hoefer Law Firm can help:

• Review the RO’s decision to determine whether any legal errors were made.
• Obtain and review your claims file to assess the best route to take in your appeal, identify evidence needed to substantiate your claim, and evaluate the potential success of your claim.
• Request and obtain military and medical records on your behalf, and present new evidence along with clear and concise legal arguments in support of your claim.
• Depending on the nature of your claim, we can assist you through the Decision Review Officer process or through a direct appeal to the Board.
• Present your claim in the most favorable light to VA decision-makers in written legal briefs, informal telephone conferences, video hearings, and in-person hearings at the RO and before the Board.
• Make sure you’re aware of changes to Veterans' benefits laws that may affect your case.

We understand how frustrating it is to deal with VA. While we cannot make VA respond any faster to your claim, we can ensure that they are made aware of the legal and factual errors in their decisions. 

Once we have exhausted all remedies at the RO and the Board, we represent veterans at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. We can make sure you meet critical deadlines and can present the strongest arguments on your behalf to the Court.

Military Discharge Upgrades:

Upon discharge from the military, service members receive a Department of Defense Form 214 (DD214) or an NGB-22 if they served with the National Guard. This form is a summary of a veteran’s service, including a characterization of discharge and narrative reason for separation. Anything less than an honorable discharge characterization affects a service member’s eligibility for certain benefits including disability compensation, healthcare, education, employment opportunities, and other benefits. An unfavorable discharge also carries a social stigma.

Due to the serious impact a less-than-honorable discharge can have on a service member and their family’s future, it is important to pursue a discharge upgrade for the highest possible characterization. At Hoefer Flaming, we will thoroughly review your case, gather evidence, develop a strategy for requesting an upgrade, write supporting legal briefs, and, if necessary, adjudicate your claim before a review board at a hearing.