CVLC Files Comment on Proposed VA Rule Change

Connecticut Veterans Legal Center filed a comment on a proposed Department of Veterans Affairs rule change regarding Characterization of Discharge determinations. Along with other advocates and veterans, CVLC called for the removal of all regulatory bars to VA benefits for administratively discharged veterans. This policy change would bring VA regulations in line with Congressional intent and ensure that as many veterans as possible receive the care that they need and have earned.

CVLC Files Amicus Brief in Doyon v. U.S.

Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (CVLC), with the pro bono assistance of Perkins Coie, filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit case, Doyon v. United States. CVLC enthusiastically supports Robert L. Doyon and the positive ramifications his case will have for all veterans seeking relief from the Boards for the Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NR).

CVLC Discharge Manual Released

CVLC and the Veteran Legal Clinic at Harvard Law, with generous support from the Bob Woodruff Foundation and American Bar Association, recently released the Military Discharge Legal Practice Manual, which enables attorneys and advocates to successfully represent veterans who unjustly received less-than-honorable or other stigmatizing discharges.

Racial Disparities in Congressional Nominations to the Military Service Academy

CVLC and Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic's Gatekeepers to Opportunity Racial Disparities in Congressional Nominations to the Military Service Academy declare 16 policy recommendations to more fully address issues of underrepresentation at the academies. More must be done by Members of Congress to disrupt a legacy of discrimination and exclusion of people of color.

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Wars Don't End On The Battlefield

The mission of Connecticut Veterans Legal Center is to help veterans recovering from homelessness and mental illness overcome legal barriers to housing, healthcare and income.

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CVLC Pro Bono Attorney awarded DeMayo Pro Bono Award

CVLC pro bono attorney, William Bohonnon, to be awarded the The Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award at the CBA’s annual awards celebration, Celebrate with the Stars, held virtually on Thursday, April 8. Attorney Bohonnon is being honored for his pro bono work through the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (CVLC).

Army agrees to review bad paper discharges in landmark lawsuit

Federal court preliminarily approves settlement in nationwide class action lawsuit, Kennedy v. McCarthy. The Army has agreed to review bad paper discharges of thousands of veterans affected by PTSD, TBI, MST, or related conditions. Visit kennedysettlement.com for info.

CVLC stands in solidarity with all who are fighting for justice for Black lives and all those working to dismantle racist systems of oppression.

Whether it is supporting World War II veterans who fought against external fascism only to return to Jim Crow or service members who received unjust administrative discharges because of racial discrimination, we cannot achieve justice for veterans without achieving racial justice. CVLC’s focus on ensuring that all veterans can access healthcare, housing, and income is inextricably linked to undoing deeply entrenched, systemic racism.

As the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and other Black Americans by both civilians and the police show, the work for racial justice must continue. To address these issues, we should not be turning to the use of active duty and reserve military personnel – over forty percent of whom are people of color – to quell the protests taking place.

Together, we can make change. We are honored that fighting for justice is part of what we do every day and we urge you to support other local organizations dedicated to ending systemic racism like: Co-Creating Effective and Inclusive Organizations (CEIO), CT Core, Black Lives Matter New Haven and Connecticut Bail Fund.

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THANK YOU, CVLC SUPPORTERS!

CT Veterans Legal Center is an independent nonprofit. Our work is made possible through the generosity of many corporations, foundations and individuals. For every dollar donated to CVLC, $15 in income, reduced debt, or health benefits is generated for a veteran.

Our Mission

The mission of Connecticut Veterans Legal Center is to help veterans recovering from homelessness and mental illness overcome legal barriers to housing, healthcare and income. Listen to Suzanne and Leonard tell their stories.

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Individual Veterans Served

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“It’s like having the USS Enterprise with a couple of battleships watching my back.

I know that CVLC has got me. I’m very grateful for that.”

Ralph Clyburn

Veteran, CVLC Client

Latest News and Events

CVLC Attorney Featured in National Story on Military Sexual Trauma

By CVLC | December 14, 2021

CVLC was honored to see Attorney Chelsea Donaldson’s work with military sexual trauma survivors featured in Peggy McCarthy’s national coverage of the continuing issue of MST and its impact on our veterans. Read more here: http://c-hit.org/2021/12/09/as-congress-moves-to-change-military-sexual-assault-prosecutions-attacks-continue-to-haunt-survivors/

CVLC Op-Ed on Veterans’ Continuing Legal Needs Published

By CVLC | December 13, 2021

Last week, CVLC’s Pre-Law Fellow, Steve Kennedy, published an op-ed across HearstCT Media, including the New Haven Register and Connecticut Post, highlighting the need for continued support for veterans beyond thanking them for their service. As an Iraq veteran himself and lead plaintiff in a class action suit against the U.S. Army, Steve knows the…

2021 Saluting Service

By CVLC | November 12, 2021

Connecticut Veterans Legal Center Celebrates Pro Bono Partnerships Removing Legal Barriers to Housing, Healthcare, and Income for Connecticut’s Veterans New Haven, CT (November 12, 2021) – Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (CVLC) hosted its annual Saluting Service benefit to celebrate veteran legal victories and to showcase the important work of CVLC’s pro bono partnerships with…

CVLC Welcomes Fall 2021 Interns

By Cindy Johnson | October 19, 2021

CVLC is excited to welcome our Fall 2021 interns! Brett Jennings Brett Jennings is a rising senior Political Science major at Yale University with a Certificate in Programming. At Yale, Brett has been involved with the Yale Scientific Magazine as both a section editor and writer, Code Haven as a mentor teaching computer science to…

CVLC Welcomes Summer 2021 Interns

By Cindy Johnson | July 8, 2021

CVLC is excited to welcome our Summer 2021 interns! Grace Craven Grace Craven is an undergraduate at the University of Connecticut majoring in political science and human rights. Her primary focus of study is policy and law reform, in addition to the intersectionalities of non-able bodiedness and mental health in relation to the current legal…

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