Each year, thousands of veterans return to civilian life carrying the lasting effects of their military service. While many transition successfully, others face significant physical, psychological, and financial challenges that can persist long after they leave active duty. For many, these hardships are compounded by complex legal and administrative barriers that make it difficult to access the benefits, health care, and other resources they have earned through their service. This summer, Proskauer kicked off a new pro bono initiative across all U.S. offices focused on serving veterans. From navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits system to seeking discharge upgrades or appealing adverse benefits determinations, legal representation can play a critical role in helping veterans secure the support they deserve.

The Challenges of Returning Home

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were approximately 15.8 million veterans living in the United States in 2023. Veterans face significant challenges as they transition from military service to civilian life.

While every veteran’s experience is different, many veterans live with service-related physical and mental health conditions, including chronic pain, traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. These conditions can make it more difficult to maintain employment, build relationships, and successfully transition to civilian life. At the same time, many veterans struggle with the loss of structure, purpose, and close-knit community that military service provides, making social reintegration particularly challenging. Although treatment and support are available, stigma surrounding mental health and addiction continues to discourage many veterans from seeking help, delaying care and often worsening long-term outcomes.

These challenges frequently intersect with economic hardship. Some veterans struggle to translate military experience into civilian employment or face periods of unemployment while pursuing additional education or training. Others experience financial instability stemming from service-related disabilities or ongoing medical treatment. Difficulties accessing stable employment and health care can, in turn, increase the risk of housing insecurity and homelessness.

For many veterans, these obstacles are compounded by the complexity of the VA benefits system. Applying for disability compensation, health care, and other benefits often requires extensive documentation, strict eligibility requirements, and lengthy administrative proceedings. Veterans whose military service was characterized as “other than honorable” (OTH) face an even steeper uphill battle. An OTH discharge can significantly limit or prevent access to VA benefits. Research has shown that veterans with OTH discharges face increased risks of adverse outcomes, including homelessness, and suicide. Fortunately, many veterans can appeal an OTH discharge or challenge adverse benefits determinations, but doing so requires navigating a complex legal and administrative process. This is where legal representation can make a meaningful difference. Attorneys help veterans gather military and medical records, prepare discharge upgrade applications, navigate VA procedures, and advocate throughout the appeals process.

Serving Those Who Served: How Proskauer Supports Veterans

Supporting veterans is a key focus of Proskauer’s pro bono program. This summer, Proskauer kicked off a project focused on increasing the pro bono legal services we provide to veterans.

One of the Firm’s key partners in this work is the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that veterans and their families receive the benefits to which they are entitled. Through NVLSP’s Lawyers Serving Warriors® program, Proskauer attorneys across the Firm’s U.S. offices work on a variety of matters, including discharge upgrade and Combat-Related Special Compensation claims for veterans.

In addition to its partnership with NVLSP, Proskauer collaborates with several organizations serving veterans across the country. In Boston, the Firm works with the Veterans Law Unit of the Legal Services Center at Harvard Law School, representing veterans and their family members who cannot afford counsel. Boston-based teams have successfully obtained numerous discharge upgrades and increased veterans’ benefits awards. In Los Angeles, attorneys partner with the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Veterans Legal Services Project, providing limited-scope advice on tickets and expungements through an annual clinic while also taking on full-scope discharge upgrade and other veterans’ matters. Finally, in New York, the Firm partners with the City Bar Justice Center’s Veterans Assistance Project, which provides legal advice, advocacy, and representation to veterans experiencing poverty and other systemic barriers related to VA benefits. Through that partnership, Proskauer attorneys participate in legal clinics and provide full-scope representation in discharge upgrade and veterans’ benefits appeals matters. Together, these partnerships enable attorneys across the Firm to help veterans secure the care, benefits, and fresh start they have earned through their service.

Intern Kristin Santana contributed to the drafting of this post.