Veterans Speak: The Fleig Family

U.S. Army Captain Ray Fleig was serving in Iraq in 2007 when insurgents attacked his base. He has no memory of the rocket attack, but his wife Tiffany knows all too well what happened and how serious his brain injury and other wounds really were. "Ray had shrapnel injuries. He took them to the abdomen, and, unfortunately, through his head ... and he still has shrapnel within -- just random pieces all over his body."

Tiffany called the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) seeking help. NVLSP, through its Lawyers Serving Warriors program, helped Ray obtain the maximum amount of disability retirement pay from the Army.

NVLSP determined however, that the VA failed to properly compensate Ray. NVLSP arranged to have Ray represented by volunteer attorneys from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP. Partnering with NVLSP, the Wilmer Hale attorneys helped Ray obtain a large increase in his monthly compensation benefits.

The monthly disability payment Ray and his family receive from the VA more than doubled, thanks to the work of his volunteer attorneys. Upon receiving news of the attorneys' success, Tiffany said, "It seems too good to be true. I am speechless. Thank you so much for all of your hard work. Words cannot explain how grateful we are and how much weight this will take off of my shoulders." Ray's doing better today. "I'm just such a lucky man, to have such a beautiful wife and such an amazing little girl. For Tiffany to stick by me when I was in such horrible condition, and take care of me and take care of my daughter so well ... I'm blessed," said Ray. The Fleigs live in Wisconsin.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Iraq
• military retirement
• traumatic brain injury
• army
• military spouse
• navy
• marine
• air force
• coast guard
• pentagon
• va claim
• wounded warrior
• Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Operation Enduring Freedom
• NVLSP
• legal aid
• pro-bono help
• Afghanistan Soldiers