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    CCK News

    CCK Partners, Staff Present at 2018 Veteran Advocate Conference

    Kaitlyn Degnan

    March 20, 2018

    Updated: June 20, 2024

    NOVA Conference

    CCK Law: Our Vital Role in Veterans Law

    robert chisholm

    Robert Chisholm, Founding CCK Partner

    Founding Partner Robert Chisholm presented on key case concepts using a real case study, and discussed how to use these concepts to effectively represent veterans and their dependents in front of the VA. Mr. Chisholm discussed how to argue for earliest possible effective dates for claims, as well as how to manage cases as they are appealed to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.


    barbara cook

    Barbara Cook, Partner

    Barbara Cook discussed how to effectively write arguments and appeals at the Regional Office and Board of Veterans’ Appeals, as well as the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. VA decisions and examinations can often contain factual and legal errors.  To effectively argue a claimant’s case, advocates must identify these and then present them to the agency or the Court in a thorough, concise, and persuasive manner.


    Zachary Stolz

    Zachary Stolz, Partner

    Zachary Stolz shared insight on case remedies at both the Agency level of VA practice and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. He tackled how to best use VA regulations, such as the VA’s Duty to Assist, in order to argue successfully for benefits. He also advised the conference on how to best approach certain claims based on what evidence is in the record, and how to further develop these cases.


    Jenna Zellmer

    Jenna Zellmer, Attorney

    Court Attorney Jenna Zellmer discussed how to pursue direct service connection as a means of obtaining benefits for veterans through the VA. Direct service connection refers to a pathway to service connection that requires (1.) medical evidence of a current disability, (2.) evidence of an in-service event or injury, and (3.) a medical nexus, or link, between the in-service event and the current disability.


    kerry baker

    Kerry Baker, Licensed VA Practitioner

    Kerry Baker, an expert in military exposures, reviewed herbicide agents, contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, environmental exposures in Iraq and Afghanistan, and ionized radiation. Kerry Baker offered resources and advice to advocates when arguing for veterans who have been impacted by military exposures.

    About the Author

    Bio photo of Kaitlyn Degnan

    Kaitlyn joined CCK in September of 2017 as an Associate Attorney. Her practice focuses on representing disabled veterans before the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

    See more about Kaitlyn