One of the most confusing aspects of military and VA medical malpractice is determining who actually qualifies as a federal employee covered by the Federal Tort Claims Act. Veterans and military families reasonably assume that everyone providing care at VA hospitals or military treatment facilities works for the federal government. That assumption can be wrong, and it can destroy legal claims. The FTCA only covers federal employees acting within their scope of employment. Con

When priorities change for our clients, it matters to us too. Here at Rawls Law Group, we handle FTCA claims against the VA from start to finish on a constant and regular basis, and we have been doing so for decades. Naturally, we know better than anyone that navigating FTCA claims is usually not a quick process. In our experience, claims can often take a year or more depending on how (un)responsive the agency is. However, not everyone has time to waste. We filed a recurrent

While participating in an inpatient treatment program at a VA Medical Center, our veteran client suffered a stroke. After falling in his room and reporting weakness and difficulty walking, he was transported to the emergency department where imaging studies were performed. Unfortunately, despite clear neurological symptoms and abnormal imaging, the veteran’s VA providers misread the initial MRI and delayed the diagnosis of his stroke. The following day, the veteran fell again

Emergency departments handle life-threatening situations around the clock, making critical decisions under intense time pressure. While...

A damning new report from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) has uncovered serious  VA patient safety...