,,,Thirty Years of Veterans Law: Welcome to the Wild West

The rise of veterans issues in our local communities since the Global War on Terrorism began in 2001 has seen the phrase “veterans law” grow and surge in a number of different aspects. The term “veterans law” is a relatively recent term in jurisprudence and, over the past decade, has evolved into many different meanings. Among other things, the term could refer to the law issued from the federal appellate court deciding veterans’ claims for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). “Veterans law” could also be used to discuss the litigation and legislation regarding the types of discharges veterans face and the implications of these discharges when seeking benefits. In 1988, when Congress created a new federal appellate court whose sole purpose was to provide oversight to decisions made by the VA, it was the first time that judicial oversight was specifically applied to veterans’ claims. As Chief Judge Frank Q. Nebeker, the first Chief Judge of the new court phrased the issue, “For the first time, the court