Girard & Centonzio Veterans Disability Lawyers

06/02/2026

The firm was well represented at the Irreverent Warriors Kansas City Silkies Hike on Saturday the 30th. It was cool and cloudy, then it rained, and then it was hot and muggy. True Kansas City weather.

Irreverent Warriors is committed to tackling veteran su***de through camaraderie, connection, and authentic community. Their signature events, hikes and retreats, bring together hundreds of veterans in combat boots and the iconic military “silkies” shorts. These gatherings are filled with laughter, banter, and genuine connection, recreating the sense of platoon brotherhood and sisterhood that so many lose after leaving the service. They believe there is a gap in modern mental healthcare; rebuilding the "emotional safety net" that the platoon provided on active duty.

https://www.facebook.com/irreverentwarriors

05/27/2026

A company violated federal law for acting as a vetted agent and charging veterans fees to help file disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs, a North Carolina court ruled this week. The federal circuit court ruling issued Wednesday found that Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting, LLC, also referred to as “Guardian” in court documents, ran afoul of federal law. The class action lawsuit brought by veterans also alleges that the company violated North Carolina laws around deceptive trade practices, but the court has not ruled on it yet.

A North Carolina judge ruled that Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting, LLC, acted as an accredited agent, even though it wasn't.

05/23/2026

This weekend, people across the United States are honoring those who died while serving their country. It is our duty to support military families, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This tribute should not be limited to once a year. We should express our gratitude to those who are currently serving, have served, and have lost their lives in service every day, acknowledging the sacrifices they've made to protect our country and our rights.

05/13/2026

A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would increase base monthly disability compensation paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs, potentially raising benefits for millions of veterans and surviving family members beginning in late 2026. The proposal arrives as rising living costs renew pressure on Congress to go beyond routine cost‑of‑living adjustments for VA benefits.

These benefits reflect "how seriously the country takes the long-term cost of military service," Thompson told Newsweek.

05/05/2026

A new bipartisan bill in Congress aims to curb what lawmakers say are predatory collection practices by so-called "claim sharks" — companies that charge disabled veterans large sums for help claiming benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The bipartisan bill would block companies from using auto-dialers to harvest private information about disabled veterans. The firms charge veterans for a service lawmakers say is supposed to be free.

04/29/2026

5 things to know in veterans news: Battlefield site cleanup, more caregiver support and a ‘green star service flag’

A national organization that advocates for families grieving the loss of a veteran to su***de are pressing Congress to establish a “green star service flag.”

04/12/2026

A massive outdoor tribute to post-9/11 fallen service members that puts on display thousands of worn combat boots — each representing a different service member who died — will be staged at temporary memorial sites in several states next month.

To find out more about the locations, check out:
https://www.bootsofhonor.com
https://osdri.org/botg
https://memoriesofhonor.com/programs/boots-of-honor

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2026-04-01/memorials-combat-boots-post-9-11-service-members-21251719.html

At the memorials, visitors are encouraged to write messages next to or inside the boots, which are later mailed to the service member’s family.

04/07/2026

One man is riding his motorcycle tens of thousands of miles across the country. He's on a mission to make sure America's fallen heroes and the families they've left behind are never forgotten. Minnesota veteran Anthony Price has spent nearly eight years organizing and leading motorcycle rides across all of the lower 48 states to visit Gold Star families, those whose loved ones never made it home. What started with small rides in Minnesota soon turned into something bigger as he suggested they go national.

One man is riding his motorcycle tens of thousands of miles across the country. He's on a mission to make sure America's fallen heroes and the families they've left behind are never forgotten.

03/20/2026

The commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars — which represents 1.3 million veterans — urged lawmakers to take aggressive action to stop unaccredited companies from illegally representing and charging veterans exorbitant fees to file claims for disability and other benefits. Federal law requires companies to be certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans in preparing, presenting, and appealing claims. The absence of fines and other court-ordered penalties enables unaccredited companies to flourish. “This business model exploits veterans and is unacceptable,” Whitmore said.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2026-03-03/vfw-crackdown-sharks-illegal-help-20940478.html
Source - Stars and Stripes

https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2026-03-03/vfw-crackdown-sharks-illegal-help-20940478.html

Carol Whitmore, VFW commander-in-chief, said an absence of fines and other court-ordered penalties enables unaccredited companies to flourish.

03/17/2026

Despite her diminutive size, Denisse Montoya has a big heart when it comes to fellow veterans. And she’s challenging the warrior ethos she learned in the military to use physical fitness and camaraderie to help veterans.

Teaming with Illinois Joining Forces, the Jesse Brown VA in Chicago, and the Merging Vets and Players organization, Montoya leads a boot camp workout that leaves participants sweating, huffing and ready for more. Through it all, she’s giving veterans a form of therapy through movement and connection.

Air Force veteran Denisse Montoya is using her platform as one of Illinois' leading women veterans to help former military members get back in shape both mentally and physically.