VSO Helps Veteran Access Benefits Lawyers Couldn’t

Lawrence Rasberry is 74 years old and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Karen. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1969–1974. Represented before the Veterans Administration (VA) by a private law firm, his claims for veterans benefits were moving slowly, generating multiple denials and incurring high legal fees. 

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) VSO Paula Tuero started working Rasberry’s case in 2019, when Rasberry was rated at 60% service-connected disability. Her work quickly won a grant for service connection for one of the veteran’s conditions, and the law firm took a portion of the grant. 

Tuero spoke to the lawyer and explained that VVA helped Rasberry get service connection — not the firm — and got some of the money returned to the veteran. After helping file a revocation letter of the private firm with the VA, she took over all of Rasberry’s claims and research. 

With the help of doctors, lay statements and treatise evidence, Tuero was able to get the veteran multiple grants and ultimately, 100% service-connected disability status in March 2024. Since December 2019, Rasberry has received more than $130,000 in benefits payments. One claim is still pending at the board level. 

Contact a VVA Veteran Service Officer to assist with your claim in states that have a benefits program here, or search for a VSO from another organization through the VA’s website in states where we do not. Enter your ZIP code or city and state, and you’ll see which VSOs serve your area.