This is a collection of 10 presentations from our 2023 Fall Conference held October 19-21, 2023. Please find descriptions of the videos included below.

CAVC/CAFC Caselaw Update Parts 1 & 2
Presenters: Amy Kretkowski, Esq. and Amy Odom, Esq.
Running Time: 46 mins & 45 mins
Amy Kretkowski and Amy Odom review cases decided by the CAVC and Federal Circuit and discuss how you can use them more effectively to represent your clients.

Effective Client Communication in the Age of VA Delay
Presenter: Julie Glover, Esq.
Running Time: 1 Hour
Continuing delays at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, combined with a growing claims backlog at VA, causes stress for veterans and their representatives alike. Julie discusses how to handle client communication honestly and effectively to help clients understand delays outside your control and how to work with them to reduce all avoidable delays.

Occupation and Environment: Medical Consequences of Multiple Exposures
Presenter: Victoria Cassano, MD, MPH
Running Time: 62 Minutes
While the PACT Act provides relief to many veterans exposed to environmental toxins, occupational exposures are often overlooked. Dr. Cassano will discuss various issues pertaining to occupational exposures and how to utilize medical opinions for claims for direct service connection. She will also discuss how to manage VA's new TERA process for exposure claims.

Arguing for the Right Effective Date (and Other Issues) in PACT Act Claims and Appeals
Presenters: Katrina Eagle, Esq., and Jim Radogna
Running Time: 67 Minutes
VA's implementation of the PACT Act has been challenging, from incorrect effective dates to improper C&P exams. This presentation addresses how to correct these errors when they happen and how to avoid them from the start.

Identifying and Securing Service Connection for Conditions Secondary to PACT Act Presumptives
Presenter: Rick Rousseau, Esq.
Running Time: 1 Hour
With passage of the PACT Act, VA added numerous presumptive conditions. Veterans that are service connected for PACT Act presumptive conditions may have additional disabilities eligible for secondary service connection. This presentation will address some of these conditions and how to effectively argue for secondary service connection.

Advocating for Women Veterans and MST Survivors: Unique Challenges and Best Practices
Presenter: Chesley Roberts, Esq.
Running Time: 52 Minutes
Women are the fastest growing group of veterans using VA services. An estimated 1 in 3 female veterans in the VA healthcare system report experiencing military sexual trauma (MST). This session will focus on best practices for advocating for women veterans and MST survivors. The session will also include how to represent veterans at the different levels of advocacy, discuss different techniques for each level, and include case studies.

OGC Reasonableness Reviews and Fee Splits: Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices
Presenter: Donnel Beckles, Esq.
Running Time: 1 Hour
If you charge fees, you will inevitably deal with fee split issues and VA Office of General Counsel reasonableness reviews. Donnel will discuss how to handle various situations that arise regarding reviews and fee splits to help you save time and minimize aggravation.

Understanding Claims Processing from a Former VA Employee’s Perspective
Presenter: Matthew Handley, Esq.
Running Time: 1 Hour
Join a former VA Veterans Service Representative (VSR) as he explains various parts of the VA claims process, e.g., what is an EP and how does it get created, how does the National Work Queue function, what is a “suspense date.” Matthew will also provide some intermediate to advanced VBMS insights.

Common VA Claims from the Medical Expert Perspective
Presenter: Bethanie Spangenberg
Running Time: 1 Hour
Bethanie will discuss what a medical expert expects for common VA claims involving orthopedics, migraine headaches, obesity, and sleep apnea. Recommendations and important takeaways for each scenario will be highlighted.

ETHICS: Civility, Etiquette, and Professionalism in the Age of Alexa, Teams, and Zoom
Presenter: John Tucker, Esq.
Running Time: 1 Hour
Although the pandemic has receded, the tech tools we relied upon during it remain a daily part of our lives. These tools, while creating efficiencies, also present challenges. John will discuss those challenges and how to handle them ethically and professionally.