Topic: Veterans

Topic: Veterans

← Back to For Veterans

The Veterans Law Project is a special, statewide unit of Legal Aid of North Carolina that helps low-income veterans overcome service-related legal barriers that prevent them from living self-sufficiently and seeking economic opportunity.

Our services

  • Disability compensation: We appeal denials of service-connected benefits for injuries related to mental health or Military Sexual Trauma (MST) when the denial is due to character of service. A veteran may be entitled to monthly, tax-free compensation benefits and health care if he or she has an illness or disability that started during their service, was caused by their military service or was aggravated by a service injury.
  • Discharge upgrades: We seek to improve veterans’ military records, primarily when there is evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) or Military Sexual Trauma (MST) prior to separation of service. The nature and character of a discharge can be upgraded if it is less than honorable. A less-than-honorable discharge will generally affect your benefits. If it has been less than 15 years since your date of discharge, apply to your service branch’s Discharge Review Board. If it has been 15 or more years, apply to the Board of Correction for Military Records.
  • Pension benefits: We appeal denials and discontinuations of pension benefits. A veteran may qualify for tax-free benefits if he or she is:
    • Low income
    • Over 65, or under 65 and permanently disabled
    • In a nursing home receiving skilled care
    • And you served at least 90 days active duty and at least one day during a wartime period before 1980, or you served at least 24 months after Sept. 7, 1980.

Eligibility

You must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines to be eligible for help. We prioritize clients who are homeless or facing homelessness. Facing homelessness can mean: couch surfing, being behind on rent and threatened with eviction, being behind on mortgage payments and facing foreclosure, and more. We do not handle criminal cases, traffic issues or personal-injury cases.

Get help

Legal Aid NC Helpline

Toll-Free: 1 (866) 219-LANC (5262)

8:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Monday – Friday
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM, Monday & Thursday

Apply for free help with civil (non-criminal) legal issues. Those 60 and older should call the Senior Helpline.

Contact

For more information or to request copies of the Veterans Law Project brochure, contact Toni Pinkston.

Topic: Veterans

← Back to For Veterans

CHARLOTTE · June 18, 2019 – Congratulations to D.J. Dore, an attorney in Durham with our Veterans Law Project, for assuming command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 108th Training Command (Initial Entry Training), U.S. Army Reserve.

In his new role, Captain Dore will have about 200 active duty and reserve soldiers under his authority. HHC forms the command staff for Major General Kate Leahy, Commanding General of the 108th Training Command. The command supports basic training (new recruits) and cadet training (ROTC and U.S. Military Academy) and comprises more than 9,000 soldiers throughout the United States. D.J. assumed command during a ceremony June 8 in Charlotte attended by his wife, parents, grandmother and the head of our Durham office, Gina Reyman.

“I’m honored to support such an important mission,” D.J. said. “The 108th Training Command literally builds the foundation of our all-volunteer Army by transforming citizens into the next generation of enlisted and officer leaders. It’s also a reminder of the importance of our work at the Veterans Law Project since each one of our clients was at one time a new recruit eager to serve. I’m thankful to Legal Aid for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to do meaningful work with great colleagues.”

Our Veterans Law Project helps low-income veterans overcome service-related barriers that prevent them from living self-sufficiently and seeking economic opportunity.

Learn more about our Veterans Law Project.