Nick interviews Mick Wagoner, founder of the Veterans Legal Service Support Network (VLSN), a 10-year-old nonprofit in Omaha that provides free legal advocacy for veterans who can't afford representation. Wagner, a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and attorney, helps veterans upgrade bad discharge papers and secure VA benefits they've been denied.
- How military discharge classifications (honorable, general, other than honorable, dishonorable) directly impact veteran benefits eligibility
- The connection between combat injuries like TBI/PTSD and subsequent behavioral problems leading to bad discharges
- Why veterans with "other than honorable" discharges lose access to healthcare, disability compensation, and education benefits
- The appeals process for upgrading discharge status and securing VA benefits retroactively
- Red flags to avoid when choosing veteran advocacy services (beware of 100% disability guarantees)
- How VLSN operates as a small nonprofit providing free legal services to veterans who fall through the cracks
- The critical 12-month window after discharge to file disability claims with presumptive service connection
- Wagner's vision for establishing veterans legal clinics at law schools like Creighton University
Resources mentioned: Veterans Legal Service Support Network (vlsn.org), Midlands Community Foundation, Douglas County Veterans Service Office, Afghan Community Center, Bellevue University Veterans and Military Support Center
