Vermont Military Lawyer
Service members and veterans from Vermont face legal challenges that most civilian attorneys have never encountered and cannot fully navigate. Whether you are a Guard soldier at Camp Johnson, a Reserve component member facing a Medical Evaluation Board, or a veteran dealing with a discharge that no longer reflects your record accurately, the legal path forward requires someone who has actually worn the uniform and understands what is at stake beyond the paperwork. Working with a Vermont military lawyer who has real military experience is not just a preference, it is a practical advantage that shows up at every stage of your case.
Citizen Soldier Law was founded specifically to serve this community. The firm was built around the recognition that injured and transitioning service members, particularly those in the Guard and Reserve, were being left without meaningful legal representation at precisely the moments when representation matters most. Vermont has a strong National Guard presence, with units that have deployed repeatedly to Iraq and Afghanistan and continue to support domestic and overseas missions. The legal needs that arise from that service, ranging from disability boards to administrative actions to criminal defense, deserve attorneys who treat them as a specialty and not a side practice.
The team at Citizen Soldier Law includes retired JAG attorneys, a retired Army National Guard human resources NCO, and a board-certified physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. That combination is rare in military law practice, and it matters concretely when your case turns on how an injury was documented, how a rating was calculated, or whether your unit followed proper procedure in initiating an administrative action against you.
How a Vermont National Guard and Reserve Military Attorney Can Actually Help
The military legal system has its own architecture, and Guard and Reserve members often find themselves caught in gaps between Title 10 and Title 32 status, between active duty benefits and civilian life, between a medical finding and a rating that actually reflects what they are dealing with. Citizen Soldier Law has been handling exactly these kinds of cases since 2013. The firm was founded by Attorney Thomas Roughneen, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law and a Master’s degree in International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University. He has experience as both an active duty and Reserve JAG attorney, which means he knows how the system is supposed to work from the inside, and he knows where it fails.
The firm’s team brings over one hundred years of combined military service, including veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom. For Vermont clients, that depth means you are not explaining basic military concepts to your attorney or waiting for them to figure out what a Physical Evaluation Board does. The firm also has a board-certified physician, Dr. Alice Tzeng, M.D., who is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. That in-house medical expertise translates directly to better preparation for MEB and PEB proceedings, where the medical narrative often determines the outcome. Citizen Soldier Law handles military and disability matters on a national basis, so Vermont service members have full access to this team regardless of where hearings or board proceedings take place.
Legal Matters Vermont Service Members and Veterans Commonly Face
- Medical Evaluation Boards (MEB): When the military determines that a service member may no longer meet medical retention standards, the MEB process begins, and the findings will shape the benefits and disability ratings that follow. Vermont National Guard and Reserve members going through IDES should have counsel who understands how to challenge inadequate documentation, request additional medical opinions, and present a full picture of their condition before the board.
- Physical Evaluation Boards (PEB), Informal and Formal: The informal PEB decision is not final, and many service members do not realize they have the right to a formal hearing with representation. The stakes are significant because the PEB determines whether you are separated with a disability rating and what that rating will be, which affects your long-term compensation and healthcare access.
- National Guard and Reserve Enlisted Administrative Actions: Actions such as separation boards, relief for cause evaluations, and other adverse personnel decisions can end a military career and affect future benefits. Vermont Guard soldiers facing these proceedings need representation that understands the specific regulations governing Reserve Component members and the difference between state and federal military authority.
- National Guard and Reserve Officer Administrative Actions: Officers face a distinct set of administrative proceedings, including Show Cause boards and separation for substandard performance or misconduct. The procedural requirements and standards that apply differ from enlisted proceedings, and errors by the command in following those procedures can be grounds for relief.
- Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC): Veterans who have retired with a disability rating may be entitled to CRSC if their conditions are linked to combat or hazardous duty. Applications are frequently denied on the initial submission because the connection between the condition and the qualifying service is not adequately documented. An attorney familiar with how to establish that link can significantly change the outcome.
- Discharge Upgrades and Military Records Corrections: A discharge characterization that does not accurately reflect a veteran’s service can affect access to VA benefits, employment, and more. The boards that review these applications, including the Army Board for Correction of Military Records and the Discharge Review Boards, respond to well-prepared submissions that address the legal and factual basis for the upgrade request.
- Criminal Defense for Service Members and Veterans: Courts-martial, DWI charges, and other criminal matters carry consequences that extend well beyond civilian penalties for a service member, including impact on security clearances, career, and discharge status. Vermont veterans involved in the criminal system also have access to diversion programs that require knowledgeable advocacy to navigate effectively.
What to Do When a Military Legal Issue Surfaces
The first thing to understand is that military legal timelines are real and often unforgiving. If you receive a referral into the IDES process, you will have deadlines for responding to MEB findings and for requesting a formal PEB hearing if you disagree with the informal decision. Missing those windows does not automatically end your case, but it makes everything harder and can narrow your options. The moment you receive any official notice about a board, an administrative action, or a proposed adverse personnel decision, that is the time to get counsel involved, not after you have already responded to the first round of paperwork on your own.
For Vermont-based Guard and Reserve members, the Vermont Army National Guard is headquartered at Camp Johnson in Colchester, and the Vermont Air National Guard operates out of the Burlington Air Guard Station. If you are going through an administrative action or board proceeding tied to your Guard service, your chain of command and unit JAG support may be helpful for routine matters but is not a substitute for independent legal representation when your career or disability benefits are on the line. Your unit JAG is there to advise the command as well as the individual, and those interests are not always aligned.
Gather your records early. That means your service treatment records, any Line of Duty determinations that have been completed, all fitness reports or NCOERs from the relevant period, and any correspondence you have received from the Physical Disability Agency or Personnel Command. If your MEB findings do not accurately capture the full extent of your condition, your attorney and the medical expert on your team can help you identify what additional documentation should be submitted before the board decides. VA medical records and private physician records can both be entered into the MEB record if introduced properly, and that step is frequently overlooked by service members who go through the process without representation.
Vermont veterans who are dealing with discharge upgrade requests or military records corrections should be aware that these submissions go to federal boards with their own procedures, timelines, and evidentiary standards. The Office of the Inspector General, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records, and the Discharge Review Board each handle different types of matters. Understanding which board has jurisdiction over your specific issue and how to frame your request is not intuitive, and submitting to the wrong board or submitting a weak initial packet can delay the process by years.
The Overlap Between Military Status and Civilian Consequences
One dimension of military law that often surprises service members and their families is how deeply military proceedings can intersect with civilian life. A criminal conviction in a civilian court can trigger adverse administrative action within the military. An adverse military discharge can complicate employment background checks, professional licensing, and access to VA benefits for decades. A poorly handled MEB can result in a separation with no disability rating when the service member should have received a rating that entitled them to retirement benefits and healthcare.
For Vermont service members who also face civilian legal issues, Citizen Soldier Law handles criminal defense including DWI charges throughout New Jersey and can connect clients with trusted attorneys across the country. Vermont veterans dealing with personal injury claims, workers’ compensation matters, or other civil issues benefit from working with a team that understands how military status, disability ratings, and benefit entitlements interact with civil damages calculations. The firm also handles weapons possession advocacy, which is directly relevant to law enforcement officers and veterans who carry firearms in connection with their professional or personal circumstances.
Veterans in Vermont who have received a disability rating from the VA but believe it does not reflect the full severity of their conditions have options for appeals and increases. The disability compensation system requires persistent and well-documented advocacy, and working with attorneys who have a physician on the team gives Vermont clients a meaningful advantage in presenting the medical basis for a rating increase.
Questions Vermont Veterans and Service Members Ask About Military Legal Representation
Does Citizen Soldier Law represent service members from all branches, not just the Army?
Yes. The firm handles IDES, MEB, and PEB matters for all branches of service, including active duty and Reserve Component members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. All IDES decisions are processed in Title 10 active duty settings regardless of the component, so the relevant procedures are consistent across branches.
What is the difference between a Medical Evaluation Board and a Physical Evaluation Board?
The MEB is a medical review that determines whether a service member meets retention standards. If the MEB finds that you do not meet those standards, your case is referred to the PEB. The PEB then determines whether your conditions are service-connected, what disability rating to assign, and whether you should be separated or placed on the disability retirement list. The PEB is where the long-term financial and healthcare outcomes are actually decided, which is why having representation at both stages is important.
Can I challenge an MEB finding that I think understates the severity of my condition?
Yes. You have the right to submit a rebuttal to MEB findings before the case is referred to the PEB. This is one of the most consequential steps in the entire IDES process. A well-prepared rebuttal, supported by private medical records and expert opinion if warranted, can result in additional conditions being listed, changed fitness determinations, or ratings that more accurately reflect your functional limitations. Many service members submit inadequate rebuttals because they do not understand what the board is actually looking for.
I am a Vermont National Guard soldier and my unit is initiating administrative separation proceedings against me. Do I have a right to a lawyer?
You do have the right to request counsel, and you should exercise that right without delay. The specific procedures that apply depend on the basis for the proposed separation, your grade, and the characterization of discharge being considered. In proceedings that could result in an other-than-honorable discharge or that involve more serious factual allegations, the procedural protections are more robust and the stakes of going in unrepresented are significant.
What is CRSC and how do I know if I qualify?
Combat-Related Special Compensation is a monthly payment available to certain retirees whose disability ratings are linked to combat operations, hazardous duty, or other qualifying events. The key is demonstrating that the specific disability has a direct causal connection to the qualifying service. Many retirees are eligible but have had initial applications denied because the connection was not adequately documented. An attorney experienced in CRSC matters can help you identify and present the evidence needed to establish that link.
How long does a formal PEB hearing typically take from start to finish?
The timeline depends on the complexity of the medical evidence, whether additional documentation needs to be gathered, and current processing times at the Physical Disability Agency. The formal PEB process generally takes longer than the informal track, but it gives you the opportunity to present your case in a hearing setting with representation. For most cases, preparation is the primary factor that affects both the timeline and the outcome.
I received an other-than-honorable discharge several years ago. Is it too late to pursue a discharge upgrade?
In many cases, no. The applicable review boards have procedures for requests submitted outside standard timeframes, particularly where there is a compelling basis for the upgrade such as evidence of a mental health condition that was not adequately addressed during service, improper command conduct, or factual errors in the record. The longer you wait, the more documentation that may have been lost or become harder to obtain, but the legal avenue to pursue a correction typically remains open.
Can military disability proceedings affect my VA disability rating?
The military disability system and the VA rating system are separate, and a rating assigned at separation does not automatically determine your VA rating. However, the documentation and findings generated during the MEB and PEB process become part of your record and can influence how VA evaluators assess your conditions. Making sure that documentation is accurate and complete during the military board process has downstream effects on your VA claims.
My security clearance is at risk because of a pending legal matter. Should I be handling the legal matter differently because of the clearance?
Yes. A criminal charge, a derogatory information report, or an adverse personnel action that might seem manageable in isolation can have different consequences when a clearance is in the picture. The way a case resolves, the charges involved, and what appears on your record all factor into clearance adjudications. Working with an attorney who understands the military context means you are not making decisions about your civilian legal matter in isolation from its military implications.
Vermont Guard soldiers sometimes deal with a mix of state and federal legal authority. How does that affect military legal representation?
When Vermont Guard soldiers are in Title 32 status or state active duty, different legal frameworks apply than when they are federalized under Title 10. Administrative proceedings, disciplinary authority, and the benefits available to a soldier can all shift depending on status at the time of the relevant events. This is one of the areas where Guard and Reserve members genuinely need attorneys who understand Reserve Component law specifically, not just active duty military law.
Vermont Military Legal Representation Across the State
Citizen Soldier Law represents clients with military and veteran legal matters throughout Vermont and beyond. Vermont service members from Burlington, South Burlington, and the greater Chittenden County area have worked with the firm on IDES, MEB, and PEB matters. The firm’s representation extends to Guard soldiers and veterans in Montpelier, Barre, and the central Vermont region, as well as those stationed or residing in Rutland, St. Albans, and Plattsburgh area communities along the northern corridor. Veterans in St. Johnsbury and the Northeast Kingdom, Windsor and the Connecticut River Valley communities, Brattleboro and Bennington in the south, and throughout the White River Junction area all have access to the firm’s full range of military legal services. Because the military disability and administrative action systems operate at the federal level, geography does not limit what the firm can do for Vermont clients. Hearings and board proceedings may take place at installations well outside Vermont, and Citizen Soldier Law is prepared to represent clients wherever those proceedings occur.
Vermont Military Attorney Prepared to Help You Move Forward
When a board, a discharge, or an administrative action is affecting your career, your benefits, and your family’s security, you need a Vermont military attorney who brings real military experience and a team built around exactly these issues. Citizen Soldier Law has spent over a decade focusing on service members, veterans, and Reserve Component soldiers who deserve the same quality of legal representation that any other citizen would receive. The firm’s combination of JAG experience, human resources knowledge, and in-house medical expertise is directly relevant to what Vermont service members and veterans face, and the team is ready to help you understand where your case stands and what comes next. Call Citizen Soldier Law today to speak with someone who has been where you are.
