Peace of Mind for a Struggling Father and Veteran

Through our Medical-Legal Partnerships with the VA, we bridge the gap between legal advocacy and essential healthcare for Veterans. VA disability ratings determine the amount of financial and medical assistance Veterans receive from the VA, making legal intervention a necessity in some cases. TLSC attorney, Zoe, recently stepped in to help a Veteran named Enoch. Enoch became overwhelmed by both mounting medical issues and financial strain. Zoe worked tirelessly to find the best legal path forward, preventing this Veteran from sliding into massive instability amidst his serious medical conditions. Enoch's story is just one example of how essential civil legal aid is for Texans around the state.

---

Enoch's Story

I was having trouble getting an upgrade to my VA disability because I didn't understand where to even start. I was dealing with some injuries from the line of duty that finally took its toll on my body. I couldn't work. I had surgery on my neck. I had torn muscles, anxiety, and depression. I began experiencing a bunch of mental health issues because I was overwhelmed with everything that was going on. I was homeless, staying wherever I could.

I didn't know what to do. I reached out for help from all kinds of avenues, and I couldn't find anyone that would help me with my case. Nobody would talk to me. Part of the problem is I didn't have all the medical information from an accident I was involved in during my time in the military. That's when I was put in contact with Texas Legal Service Center, and we began our journey.

Zoe, my TLSC attorney, was really cool. She listened. She cared. I had memory issues from a traumatic brain injury, so I forget things a lot. She helped remind me of things. We would go over what to say when it came time to do the examination for the VA, because i would forget and it allowed me to write things down. She would send me copies of things - like the paperwork that I requested. She really went the extra mile to help me out. I'm very appreciative of working with her and having somebody that's nice and kind actually taking the time to listen and make sure the case was getting taken care of and looked at. During the whole process, I was always kept up to date. It gave me a peace of mind.

Now that I've received help, I've felt a little bit better. We've increased my disability rating, so that's one further step along this road to a 100% VA disability rating. I feel more at ease because now I've got a little bit of help from the VA coming in to help with my bills. My VA benefits are now being taken care of. And now I actually have a chance to go to school through the VRE (Veteran Readiness and Employment) program and further my education to better myself. This whole journey has been about trying to better myself and help me and my children out. The help that I was provided will carry on to my children and I am extremely grateful. If your having doubts or trouble please reach out. This has truly changed my life. Thank you TLSC.

— Enoch