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After 10 years of fighting, disabled Army veteran Keith Williams is getting the VA disability benefits he earned in uniform, thanks to the pro bono efforts of Womble Bond Dickinson attorney Mark Henriques.
Henriques took Williams’ case in 2008. Williams, who served in the Army for four years before his honorable discharge, was severely injured when he was struck by a car. The accident left him with a permanent knee injury causing severe muscle atrophy and a limited range of motion, forcing him to walk with a cane. After two operations, his doctors said his disability was permanent.
Unfortunately, the VA only rated Williams disability at 10 percent, even though his injured knee made it difficult to walk much less perform the jobs he was qualified to hold. Henriques argued that the VA had incorrectly rated Williams’ injury and that disability, combined with his PTSD, rendered him unemployable and subject to full disability benefits.
Henriques continued to represent the injured veteran through two hearings and two appeals.
Finally, in April 2018, after almost 10 years, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals agreed with Mark and found that: 1) Williams’ knee disability rating should have been 30 percent and 2) based on his total disabilities, Williams is unemployable and thus entitled to receive 100 percent disability.
Mark Henriques is a partner in Womble Bond Dickinson’s Charlotte office. A business litigator with significant jury trial experience, Henriques also helps lead the firm’s e-discovery team. He also hosts In-House Roundhouse, the firm’s podcast focused on providing in-house attorneys and corporate leaders with insight from their peers.
