Thousands of veterans have returned home from overseas service in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom are women. Women currently comprise 14.5% of the active duty military, and 18% of the National Guard and Reserves. The VA denies female veterans’ disability claims for PTSD at a greater rate than male veterans’ claims for the same condition. Women veterans face other obstacles their male counterparts do not encounter.Since 1994, over 14,000 veterans have been discharged under the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy. Now individuals of any sexual orientation may serve openly in the military, but what about justice for those veterans who suffered under this policy? Military administrative review boards may be able to change these veterans’ reason for discharge, or upgrade an unjust discharge status resulting from the DADT policy.
Katherine Dwight, Starlyn Lara, and Teresa Panepinto of Swords to Plowshares will discuss the aforementioned issues and offer tips for representing women veterans before the VA and LGBT veterans before the military’s Discharge Review Boards and Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records.
The discussion will include:
- Barriers women veterans face accessing VA benefits and VA healthcare
- Presumptive stressors for combat-related PTSD, but not for PTSD that stems from military sexual trauma (MST)
- Legal remedies for veterans discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: who benefits, who loses out
Title:
Veterans Benefits Law: Women Veterans; and Don't Ask, Don't Tell, One Year Later
When/Where:
November 13, 2012
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST (10:00 AM-11:AM PST)
Audio-only Webcast
Speakers:
- Katherine Dwight ~ Staff Attorney, Swords to Plowshares
- Starlyn Lara ~ Program Associate, Womens Veterans Coordinator, Swords to Plowshares
- Teresa Panepinto ~ Legal Director, Swords to Plowshares
- Program Attorney: Amy Taub ~ Practising Law Institute
1 Credit in many states
By:
Practising Law Institute
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