The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has been following a phased plan based on Center for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 risk criteria for vaccinating eligible Veterans and caregivers. Under the phased approach, Veterans who receive care through the VA and designated primary/secondary family caregivers who are enrolled in the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for -->
16
Feb
Feb
The VA Hudson Valley Health Care System is hosting walk-in COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics on Wednesday, February 17th and Friday February 19th. The clinics will be held at the Montrose Campus, located at 2094 Albany Post Road in Montrose NY, and at the Castle Point Campus, located at 41 Castle Point Road, in Wappingers Falls NY, -->
11
Feb
Feb
Agent Orange (AO) was a tactical herbicide used by the military to clear vegetation and leaves during operations primarily in the Vietnam War. Veterans exposed to AO may have certain related illnesses, some of which can be presumptively linked to service for VA disability benefits purposes. Recently, three new conditions were added to VA’s list -->
Most agree there are risks to social media usage, but many do not understand the gravity of those risks or the best way to safely navigate the digital landscape. In recent years more and more of our everyday interactions have begun to occur through a screen, whether it be learning, working, banking, or socializing. This -->
11
Jan
Jan
Recently, three bills from the 116th Congress concerning services and benefits available to Veterans were signed into law. These bills comprise of H.R. 1812: Vet Center Eligibility Expansion Act, H.R. 2372: Veterans’ Care Quality Transparency Act and H.R. 6168: Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2020. H.R. 1812 The Vet Center Eligibility Expansion Act amends -->
16
Dec
Dec
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has several benefits available to eligible Veterans after their discharge. Some of these benefits include healthcare, disability compensation, educational, housing, employment, and memorial services. Benefits available through the VA are considered federal benefits. In determining a Veteran’s eligibility for benefits the VA may consider a combination of factors including -->
Blog
New NY State Seatbelt Law Requires ALL Passengers in the Rear Seat of a Vehicle to be Buckled in
19
Nov
Nov
As of November 1st, 2020 every vehicle occupant, regardless of age, must wear seatbelt or be properly restrained in a car seat or booster seat. Law enforcement officers can lawfully ticket motorists who fail to abide by New York State seatbelt laws. Our very own Elizabeth Wolff, a Finkelstein & Partners trial attorney who operates -->
05
Nov
Nov
Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day,” on November 11, 1919, in conjunction with the first anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1926, Congressed passed a resolution designating an annual observance and in 1938, November 11th became a national holiday. The name was officially changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954, -->
01
Nov
Nov
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end crashes comprise one third of all car crashes and are the most common type of automotive collision in the United States. Approximately 1.7 million rear-end collisions take place in the United States each year where there are 1,700 fatalities and another 500,000 people are injured. These numbers constitute a significant -->
30
Oct
Oct
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides tax-free monthly disability benefits to qualifying Veterans that become sick or injured as a result of active military service. Once a claimant files for VA disability benefits the claim goes through numerous steps before VA renders a decision. After VA receives a claim and conducts an initial -->
25
Sep
Sep
Due to COVID-19 and the resulting declaration of a national emergency, in-person compensation and pension (C&P) examinations were suspended in April 2020. While the VA resumed some in-person examinations starting on May 28, 2020, it has continued to expand in-person examinations based upon local COVID-19 risk assessments. According to the VA, starting on September 24, -->
Blog, Veterans Services
Registration for Economic Impact Payment for Qualifying Veterans Reopened until Sept. 30th
21
Sep
Sep
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been offering tax help for individuals, businesses, tax-exempt organizations, and others, affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) this year. This includes Veteran’s receiving certain VA benefits. Earlier this month the IRS has reopened the registration period for qualifying Federal benefit recipients. Individuals who receive benefits, including but not limited to, -->
12
Aug
Aug
Finkelstein & Partners is a plaintiff’s personal injury law firm founded by Howard S. Finkelstein in 1959 in the heart of Newburgh. Today they have offices throughout New York State with a team of more than 85 attorneys and 170 para-professionals. They operate as Jacoby & Meyers in the downstate region. During this pandemic the -->
30
Jul
Jul
According to experts, each year an average of 37 children die from heat-related deaths after being trapped inside vehicles. In a memorable demonstration, Los Angeles police officers gathered with local representatives and set up two cars – one with the windows closed and one with them cracked – to demonstrate just how fast each car -->
PEARL RIVER — A wrongful death civil lawsuit charges that one of the drag-racers involved in the fiery double-fatal crash on Route 304 last fall cut off the other, triggering the crash that sent a Porsche hurtling to the train tracks below. The family of Altin Nezaj is suing the drivers who now also face -->
Lawyer Andrew Finkelstein to Discuss Trial Presentation New York, June 18, 2020: Trial advocacy is both an art and a science, and the skills required to practice it successfully come with experience—although many attorneys stop honing those skills when they focus on other specialties after graduating from law school. Personal injury attorney Andrew Finkelstein, managing -->
As if the rising toll of COVID-19 victims and the economic impact wasn’t enough, now criminals are taking advantage of the situation to trick people into downloading malicious software onto their computers; giving out sensitive information enabling identity theft; or emptying their wallets for ‘cures’ or treatments that don’t exist. If you’re following the news, -->
20
Apr
Apr
The President declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency in early March 2020. The effects of COVID-19 have been changing the way individuals interact and our Country operates in all aspects of life on a daily basis. While businesses deemed essential remain open, most states have implemented some type of social distancing protocol and non-essential -->
27
Mar
Mar
As of March 26, 2020, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), reports 68,440 cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States. These cases include both confirmed and presumptive positive cases. More information about COVID-19 is available at https://www.cdc.gov/. In response to COVID-19, Federal and State governments have been enacting provisions affecting individuals and -->
Blog, Veterans Services
Updated DOD list identifying Agent Orange sites outside of Vietnam released by VA
28
Feb
Feb
Veteran’s with qualifying service during Vietnam are able to receive disability benefits for certain disease associated with Agent Orange and herbicide exposure on a presumptive basis. For presumptive diseases a Veteran does not need to show the condition started during or worsened due to, military service. Rather, when there is qualifying service the Veteran need -->