The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program is a national nonprofit organization funded by the U.S. Congress.

The Pro Bono Program connects veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors in need with specially trained volunteer attorneys who may advise and represent them for free when they have been unjustly denied benefits or compensation earned during military service.

• Appealing for veterans' benefits, 
• Discharge upgrades, and 
• Applying for United States citizenship through service. 

When a veteran, family member, survivor, or caregiver applies for VA benefits and their request is denied, the person who applied may appeal their request. Appeals are heard at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Individuals are not required to have an attorney, but they are required to follow the court rules and procedures when appealing a VA decision. Court rules can be complicated and hard to navigate without an attorney to help. Apply with the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program to get help.

The U.S Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) reviews decisions of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). It is the only court; it has exclusive national jurisdiction and is not a part of the VA.

While the BVA is part of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), the CAVC is an independent federal court. The BVA no longer provides the final decision in a veteran’s claim for benefits or compensation earned from military service, because BVA denials may be appealed to the CAVC.

To qualify for the program, the person must be a veteran or a relative, caregiver, or survivor of a veteran whose VA claim has been denied by the BVA and they want to appeal the decision, then they may qualify to receive an attorney to represent them for free at the CAVC.

To receive the free legal services of an attorney in an appeal to the CAVC, they must: 

• Be a veteran, family member, caregiver, or survivor of a veteran, 
• Have had a VA claim was denied by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, 
• Not have an attorney to help, 
• Have a low-income, and 
• Have a case that contains at least one issue that could be argued in their favor. 

Although the person appealing the VA claim does not need to be represented by an attorney, having an attorney is helpful because an attorney: will not only already know the rules and procedures that govern appeals to the CAVC but also will be able to:

• Knows the rules and procedures to govern appeals, 
• Communicates with CAVC staff, 
• Negotiates with VA attorneys and staff, 
• Prepares and files all paperwork, and 
• May ask for and conduct oral argument (if appropriate) 

Applications for the Pro Bono Program are completed in one of two ways: 

• An online application.
• By downloading, printing, completing, then submitting a set of application forms by fax, email, or mail.

If the Pro Bono Program is unable to assist someone because it is unable to determine if the case contains at least one possible issue that can be argued in their  favor, they  will still be invited to contact the Program’s Helpline at (855) 446-9678 if they  have questions about the CAVC’s processes and procedures and/or need assistance with their  paperwork.

To learn more about and/or apply for the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, please click here:  https://www.vetsprobono.org/cavcrep or call (202) 628-8164 or (888) 838-7727 (toll-free).

To receive the free legal services of an attorney in a discharge upgrade appeal, the veteran must: 

• Have been discharged under conditions Other than Honorable (OTH) or Undesirable, 
• Have been diagnosed with or exhibit symptoms of PTSD, TBI, MST, or another mental health condition, and 
• have a case that contains at least one meritorious/viable issue that may be argued in their favor 

For more information on types of military discharge, see https://lawforveterans.org/work/84-discharge-and-retirement/497-military-discharge 

To apply for the services of the Discharge Upgrade Pro Bono Program, applicants must complete the Discharge Upgrade Program Intake form. The intake form asks for information concerning the applicant’s contact information, military service, and mental health status. Individuals will need a copy of their DD-214 and other documents to support their claims.

Individuals may apply online here - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LVPF289. 

Individuals may also apply via mail, email, phone, or fax: 

1. Download the intake form,
2. Print it out,
3. Fill it out,
4. Submit the form. Mailing Address: 

The Veterans Consortium 
Discharge Upgrade Program 
2101 L Street NW, Suite 840 
Washington, DC 20037 
Phone: (202) 733-3324 
Fax: (202) 628-8169 

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To learn more about and/or apply for the Veterans Consortium Discharge Upgrade Program, please click here:  https://www.vetsprobono.org/dischargeupgrade or call (202) 733-3324.

Veterans who are not United States Citizens, but would like to apply for citizenship, the Veterans Consortium Veterans Naturalization Assistance Program may be able to help. Those that meet the following criteria are eligible: 

• Active-duty service members, 
• Received an Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions Discharge, and 
• Have a copy of their DD-214 

How does someone apply or qualify for the Veterans Naturalization Assistance Program? 

Those that may qualify for the program can contact the Veterans Consortium at (202) 733-3337 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..