The Nick & Nick Podcast

Mick Wagoner w/ Veterans Legal Support Network

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Nick interviews Mick Wagoner, founder of the Veterans Legal Service Support Network (VLSN), a 10-year-old nonprofit in Omaha that provides free legal advocacy for veterans who can't afford representation. Wagner, a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and attorney, helps veterans upgrade bad discharge papers and secure VA benefits they've been denied.

  • How military discharge classifications (honorable, general, other than honorable, dishonorable) directly impact veteran benefits eligibility
  • The connection between combat injuries like TBI/PTSD and subsequent behavioral problems leading to bad discharges
  • Why veterans with "other than honorable" discharges lose access to healthcare, disability compensation, and education benefits
  • The appeals process for upgrading discharge status and securing VA benefits retroactively
  • Red flags to avoid when choosing veteran advocacy services (beware of 100% disability guarantees)
  • How VLSN operates as a small nonprofit providing free legal services to veterans who fall through the cracks
  • The critical 12-month window after discharge to file disability claims with presumptive service connection
  • Wagner's vision for establishing veterans legal clinics at law schools like Creighton University

    • Resources mentioned: Veterans Legal Service Support Network (vlsn.org), Midlands Community Foundation, Douglas County Veterans Service Office, Afghan Community Center, Bellevue University Veterans and Military Support Center

    ...more
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    The Nick & Nick PodcastBy Nick Prososki & Nick Bermel