A review I never thought I’d finally get to write
I’ve been putting this review together since Deuterman took my case because there were a lot of areas that needed fixing. With just a few things left, I finally feel confident enough to post it. I am incredibly grateful to Deuterman Law Group, especially Rachel, the paralegal I worked with most.
When I came to Deuterman, I was exhausted by the VA process. Anyone who has dealt with VA claims knows how overwhelming the forms, exams, appeals, deadlines, and uncertainty can become. When your family’s future is tied to it, that weight is hard to explain.
There was a point when I felt my case had lost momentum. Communication and follow-through were not where I believed they needed to be, and I worried opportunities would be missed. I don’t say that to attack anyone, but because what happened after Rachel became involved meant that much more.
Rachel completely changed my experience with this firm. When she took over, it felt like a 180!
She listened, paid attention to the details, acknowledged what I sent, explained what was happening, and made sure my evidence was handled properly. I never felt like I was sending things into a void.
And there were a lot of moving pieces… A LOT!
My case involved PTSD and major depressive disorder, unemployability, Higher-Level Reviews, other medical conditions, VA exams, and several other claims because the military wrecked me from toenail to hairline. Rachel kept it organized and made sure the right evidence was put in front of VA.
What meant the most wasn’t just that she knew how to move paperwork. She treated me like a person.
This was never about chasing a percentage. It was about accepting that my service-connected conditions changed what I could do professionally and making sure my wife, my son, and I would still have stability. Providing for my family has always mattered tremendously to me, and accepting that I could no longer sustain working was hard enough.
Rachel took some of that weight off my shoulders. She became a trusted sounding board and talked me through things I normally would have flipped out over. Talking to her felt like talking to a friend who also happened to be incredibly professional and a master of her craft.
Then the decision came.
VA granted me Individual Unemployability and, most importantly for my family, determined that my total disability was Permanent and Total and established Chapter 35 benefits.
Seeing those words was incredibly emotional. It meant security, health-care opportunities, educational benefits for my wife and son, and being able to plan our future without wondering whether the foundation underneath us would disappear.
One of the first people I thought about was Rachel. I literally waited for the clock to hit 9:00 that morning so I could call and tell her because I knew she would be just as excited to hear the news.
I also want to thank Sydney Kotalik for representing me and being the teeth of the dog in this fight, along with Donia and Holden for stepping into the ring and throwing some punches. I’m grateful to everyone behind the scenes, but Rachel deserves special recognition because she was the face and voice of that effort for me.
So Rachel, if you ever read this: thank you. Truly. Thank you for listening to my million questions, taking my concerns seriously, communicating with me instead of making me feel like another file number, being my hero and helping turn everything around.
Some professional relationships you forget when the business is finished. This will not be one of them. I will remember what you did for my family.
To any veteran intimidated by filing a claim: having the right people in your corner can make all the difference. When you raised your right hand and signed that blank check, you accepted sacrifices that may follow you long after the uniform comes off.
Five stars for Deuterman Law Group, and if I could give Rachel more than five, I would