Having served in the Army JAG Corps, I have always appreciated Veterans Day. This year, I want to mark it by sharing one of the things that makes me proud to work at Locks Law Firm.
Locks Law Firm was founded in 1966, and one of its defining early cases was Agent Orange. Vietnam veterans came home sick from a toxic herbicide sprayed during the war, and Gene Locks, our founder, served as a co-lead negotiator in the class action on their behalf, which produced the largest personal injury class action settlement of its time.
That commitment has carried through every generation since: Marines and families harmed by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, post-9/11 veterans whose burn pit exposures led to the PACT Act, service members injured by defective 3M combat earplugs, and veterans sickened by benzene, asbestos, and firefighting foam.
Veterans have earned real benefits, but they are not automatic. A few things every veteran and military family should know:
- Check what you now qualify for. The PACT Act added presumptive conditions for burn pit, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures. If you were denied before, the law may have changed in your favor.
- File an Intent to File. It gives you a year to complete your VA claim and can protect your benefits back to that date.
- Never pay to file an initial VA claim. Free help is available through VA-accredited representatives. Steer clear of unaccredited “claim sharks” who charge for it.
- A denial is not the final word. You can generally seek review or appeal within one year of the decision, so act quickly.
- VA benefits and lawsuits are separate. Claims like Camp Lejeune or defective products follow their own rules and deadlines. Talk to an attorney early and remember that spouses and survivors may have rights too.
Those who serve answer the call without thought of what it might cost them. Helping ensure they get whatever benefits are due to them is the least we can do. To every veteran and military family: thank you for your service, and Happy Veterans Day.
– Angela Houchins, Locks Law Firm | Former U.S. Army JAG Legal Specialist (E4)
