M-VETS Team Represents Combat Veteran at Board of Veterans’ Appeals Hearing

The Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) at Scalia Law recently represented a combat veteran at a Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) hearing on May 12, 2025. The case centered on a veteran’s 2016 claim for an increased rating for a service-connected disability resulting from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack in Afghanistan, which led to the veteran’s medical separation from the Army. In 2019, M-VETS filed a motion with the DVA alleging a Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE). After years of litigation and the dedicated work of many Student Advisor (SAs), current Student Advisor Samantha Hargis conducted the hearing under the supervision of M-VETS Director Timothy M. MacArthur, arguing the clinic’s position and presenting evidence on behalf of their client.

Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Hargis stated, “Working on this matter for our client was an incredible opportunity. I am deeply grateful to the student advisors who came before me and laid a solid foundation for our argument at the hearing, our client for his commitment and collaboration throughout the process, and my supervising attorney for his invaluable guidance and support.” Client Richard Fahlman added, “I would like to thank Mr. MacArthur and Ms. Hargis for the work they did in my case. They put their heart, time, and soul into developing my defense, and I couldn’t have asked for a better legal team. Without M-VETS, combat veterans like me wouldn’t have a voice.”

M-VETS continues to work with the veteran while the hearing outcome is pending.

M-VETS assists veterans, service members, and their dependents with military/veteran/DVA administrative matters, to include disability compensation and educational benefits appeals, discharge upgrades, and Boards for Correction of Military Records matters. For more details on this case, read the M-VETS press release.