A Blank Rome team, working with the firm’s pro bono partner The Veterans Consortium, successfully represented a former member of the United States Marine Corps (“the Veteran”) in his petition to reverse an Other Than Honorable Discharge. The Veteran served in Operation Iraqi Freedom between 2002 and 2005; his service ended after a singular use of cocaine in between deployments. The Veteran experienced a series of traumatic events in service, including witnessing his close friend being killed by an enemy sniper. As his wife described it, the “old” version of her husband “never came back” from Iraq. The Board for Correction of Naval Records changed the Veteran’s discharge status to General (Under Honorable Conditions) in view of the substantial evidence showing how these events impacted the Veteran’s mental health.
The team collected client documentation; prepared the client’s personal statement and third-party statements including from the client’s wife; a medical opinion that concluded that the Veteran’s post-traumatic stress disorder developed in service; and a legal brief.
The Veteran is thrilled to have his honor restored, saying “the amount of gratitude I have is immeasurable.” Blank Rome is proud to have achieved this result on behalf of the Veteran and The Veterans Consortium.
The Blank Rome team was led by Alan R. Feigenbaum.
