On Memorial Day, we mourn those who lost their lives in military service and renew our commitment to fight for Veterans like Marcus to achieve the safety and stability they deserve.

Marcus* served in the United States Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa, Japan. During his service, he deployed to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan as part of Operation Damayan, a large-scale humanitarian mission that brought critical aid to communities devastated by one of the strongest storms ever recorded.

In the wake of widespread destruction, Marcus worked in overwhelming and emotionally taxing conditions. He witnessed immense loss and human suffering while helping deliver relief to survivors struggling to rebuild their lives.

Following his military service, Marcus battled severe anxiety and PTSD connected to his deployment experiences in the Philippines. Years of intense training and service also contributed to chronic pain, migraines and stress-related insomnia that disrupted nearly every aspect of his daily life.

Despite these challenges, Marcus’ service-connected disability benefits claims were repeatedly denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

For years, Marcus tried to navigate the complex VA system on his own, growing increasingly discouraged as the support he needed remained out of reach. Eventually, he was referred to LAFLA’s Veterans Justice Center, where attorney Louis Truong took on his case.

Louis carefully reviewed Marcus’ records and quickly identified the issues that had led to the repeated denials. He worked closely with Marcus to correct errors in the claims process, gather the necessary evidence and file appeals.

Thanks to Louis’ advocacy and persistence, Marcus ultimately received all the benefits he asked for, along with years of backpay for the care he should have received long ago. Now, Marcus has a stable income to support his healing.

Veterans like Marcus deserve the chance to recover and rebuild. Learn more about LAFLA’s Veterans Justice Center, the oldest free legal services program for Veterans in Los Angeles County.