Recent Blog Posts
Army Scales Back Disability Counsel Services: What Every Soldier Needs to Know About the New DES Representation Rules
Army Announces Significant Reduction in Office of Soldiers’ Counsel Services On May 27, 2026, the Office of The Judge Advocate General announced substantial changes to the legal services available to Soldiers participating in the Army Disability Evaluation System (DES). The changes are driven by staffing shortages within the Office of Soldiers’ Counsel (OSC) and… Read More »
Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) for Chapter 61 Retirees
When you’re dealing with a medical discharge, the process can feel overwhelming—especially when the outcome impacts your career, finances, or future. Recently, several clients with over 20 years of active federal service raised questions regarding retirement pay. They generally ask, “Will increasing my unfit DoD rating increase my retirement pay?” This question highlights why… Read More »
Trouble for Dual Status Technicians
If you are a technician, we could be the right firm for you with retired Guard AGRs, with HR and JAG experience. Recently Major General McGinn, Retired, signed a letter and posted on the NGAUS website and circulated it. National Guard Assoc of the U.S. is supporting a Defense Department proposal calling for the elimination technicians…. Read More »
PEB Combat Determinations vs CRSC Awards
Recently, several clients have reached out to ask questions about Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC). In each case, the client had been medically retired and received combat designation codes from the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB). Each believed that the PEB’s combat designation would automatically qualify them for CRSC after retirement. This highlights a common misunderstanding:… Read More »
St.Mary of the Visitation Catholic Parish Teen Retreat
Calling All High Schoolers! In our ever-changing world, Jesus is the answer to the longing of our hearts for meaning, fulfillment, security, and love. Join hundreds of other Catholic teens in Steubenville, Ohio for a weekend retreat! Thursday, June 25th to Sunday, June 28th Franciscan University Main Campus Steubenville, Ohio Learn More
CRSC for Burn Pits-related Health Issues – Burn Pits Designated as “Instrumentalities of War”
On March 6, 2026, the U.S. Army settled Smoke et al. v. Driscoll, a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of Army veterans who were denied a combat related designation by the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) for unfit disabilities presumed to be caused by exposure to military burn pits. As a result, the Army… Read More »
Why Retain a Lawyer for IDES, MEB, PEB, and LOD Issues?
When you’re injured and facing the Disability Evaluation System (IDES), a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB), a Physical Evaluation Board (PEB), or a Line of Duty (LOD) determination, the process can feel overwhelming—especially when the outcome affects your career, retirement, and benefits. Recently, a client who suffered an injury in Korea and received a profile… Read More »
Major Victory: Air Force Board of Corrections Grants Vietnam Veteran Disability Retirement Back to 1978
What a win. This month, Citizen Soldier Law secured a major result before the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR) for a client whose records failed to reflect what should have happened decades ago. The AFBCMR directed the Air Force to correct the client’s records to show he should have been… Read More »
524 Hearings in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System
This is a fairly new development and we recently met with a client for his military-related disability case. The Gentlemen had terribly injured knees and back and expressed his frustration with the military’s response to his medical concerns. In the context of a non-duty related PEB (NDR), service members can obtain a second review… Read More »
PDBR Sunsets and Physical Disability Board of Review Operations to Branches
Injured personnel deserve the best representation. It should be zealous and those still serving in the military, or seeking redress for neglect post-military service, should demand excellence. The Board of Corrections for injured military is the responsibility of the branch where you last served. We have well over 100 years of military experience with… Read More »
