Personal Injury & Veterans Disability Lawyers

I served six years in the Marine Corps and deployed to Desert Storm. When I got out, I filed for disability compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs—the federal agency that handles benefits for Veterans with service-connected injuries.

I thought it would be simple. It wasn't.

The paperwork made no sense. The updates were vague. And when the decision finally came, it didn't match what I was living with. I didn't know what to do next. I just knew I couldn't get through it alone.

That experience is what led me here.

I served in the Army for five years, from 2005 to 2010, and deployed to both Iraq and the Horn of Africa. I worked in rocket systems—fast-paced, high-pressure missions where every second counted. When I got out, I took that focus into law school, and then into the courtroom as a prosecutor. But something about it wasn't enough.

I wanted to keep serving—but in a way that really meant something to me. That's when I transitioned into Veterans disability law.

I still wear the uniform—and I still serve, just in a different way now.

For years, I worked as an attorney for the Department of Veterans Affairs, defending their decisions when Veterans appealed. I saw how complicated the system could be. I saw Veterans get denied for reasons they never even understood. And I saw how often people were left behind.

That's why I joined Berry Law.

When I left the Navy, I figured the tough part was behind me. I had served as a Cryptologic Technician, working under pressure every day. But nothing prepared me for the frustration of navigating the VA disability benefits system through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The process was slow. The language was confusing. And the denial letter I received made it feel like my service didn't matter. That experience stuck with me—and it's one reason I joined Berry Law.

When I joined the Army National Guard, I did it to serve—but I never expected the biggest fight would come after. Leaving the military, I thought I was stepping into a new chapter. Instead, I found myself up against a system that makes you prove everything all over again.

I served six years in the Colorado Army National Guard—first as a Forward Observer, then as a Military Police Officer. The job taught me how to stay calm under pressure, protect the people around me, and follow through even when things got tough. What I didn't expect was how hard it would be for Veterans to get the benefits they earned.

The Marine Corps taught me that leadership isn't about stripes on your collar—it's about who you show up for. That lesson stuck with me through every rank and every duty station, from Afghanistan to Morocco to Norway to bases across the U.S.

I spent 20 years in the Corps serving as a Generator Mechanic, Ops Chief, Utilities Chief, and Recruiter. I worked with Marines from all backgrounds, and no matter the role, the mission was the same: take care of your people and follow through.

That mission didn't stop when I retired.

When I left the Army, I thought filing for disability benefits would be simple. I had no idea how wrong I was.

I filed my first claim in 2017 through a Veterans Service Organization. They helped me get started, submitted the forms, and sent me on my way. When the Department of Veterans Affairs denied my claim, no one called. No one explained. No one offered help. I had to chase them down just to schedule a follow-up—and even then, I was expected to guide the process myself. It felt like I needed a law degree just to be heard.

That experience stuck with me. It's why I joined Berry Law.

I didn't join the Marines to become a lawyer or work in client services. I joined to serve. As a Field Artillery Cannoneer and IED Detection Dog Handler, I spent six years in the Corps, including a deployment to Afghanistan's Helmand Province. I also served as an instructor at the Marine Corps Cannon Crewman Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, before being medically separated as a Sergeant.

When I left the service, I faced the same challenge many Veterans do—navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims process. But what sounds straightforward on paper can feel like an uphill battle in reality.

With over 15 years of military service, including deployments to Djibouti and Poland, I understand how much Veterans carry—even after the uniform comes off. The injuries. The stress. The isolation. And then there's the VA system: slow, confusing, and often discouraging.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is supposed to help Veterans get the compensation and care they've earned. But too often, it just leaves them waiting. I've been there myself. I know what it's like to submit a claim and feel like no one's really listening.

That's why I do what I do now.

When I left full-time service, I had to navigate the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to file for disability compensation. I assumed my experience in uniform—my understanding of systems, structure, and policy—would give me an edge. It didn't. The process was slow, confusing, and full of vague denials. I kept getting letters that didn't reflect reality and updates that offered no answers.

That experience is what brought me to Berry Law.

Now, I help Veterans across the country who are stuck in the same system that frustrated me. I guide them through the claims process, translate the legal language into something they can actually understand, and help them feel supported through every step.

Joining the military was one of the proudest moments of my life. I raised my right hand with the intention of serving my country fully as a Diesel Mechanic in the Marine Corps. Unfortunately, due to medical reasons, my time in the service was cut short. Ever since my early discharge as an E3, I've carried a deep sense of guilt—a feeling that I should have done more, stayed longer, and shared more of the burden with those who continued on.

That guilt has never fully gone away, but working at Berry Law has given me a way to honor my commitment in a different form. This work gives my service a second chapter, one where I can continue to support my fellow Veterans, even if I'm no longer in uniform.

After I left military service, I saw how many Veterans were still fighting—this time with the VA. The Department of Veterans Affairs is the government agency that provides benefits for injuries, conditions, and disabilities tied to service. But getting those benefits is often overwhelming. The claims process is slow, complicated, and easy to get lost in.

That's what brought me to Berry Law.

I help Veterans across the country move their claims forward and fight back when the VA gets it wrong. Whether it's an initial filing or a long-overdue appeal, I bring both legal insight and lived experience to every case I touch.

I spent 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving from 2002 to 2022. My career began as a CH-53E flightline mechanic, and I also served as a door gunner and tail gunner during combat operations. Later, I transitioned into recruiting and became a career recruiter, guiding the next generation of Marines. I retired at the rank of Master Sergeant after four deployments and assignments across North Carolina, Nebraska, Iowa, California, and Texas.

After hanging up the uniform, I wanted my next chapter to still be about service. I had heard of Berry Law's reputation for fighting for Veterans and first learned more about the firm through fellow Marine Veteran Dave Ossian. Later, my brother Sean Shepherd joined the team and spoke highly of John Berry's leadership. Hearing their experiences convinced me that this was where I was supposed to be.

I spent eight years in the Marine Corps as a Ground Communications Technician. I was stationed in Okinawa, Camp Pendleton, and deployed to Afghanistan. Whether it was maintaining comms in the field or troubleshooting equipment under pressure, the job taught me how to stay focused, adapt quickly, and never quit on the people counting on me.

After separating from service, I assumed the next chapter would be smoother. But trying to work through the Department of Veterans Affairs—the VA—for disability compensation showed me otherwise. I filed my own claim and got vague responses, delays, and requests for more evidence that felt like a never-ending loop. I know what it's like to wonder if anyone's actually listening.

That experience didn't just frustrate me—it gave me purpose.

I joined the Army in 2005 and served as an Aircraft Electrician, maintaining UH-60, AH-64, and CH-47 helicopters. During my two-year deployment to Afghanistan, I made sure every helicopter was ready to fly when it was needed—because lives depended on it. I learned to troubleshoot under pressure, stay focused, and protect the people counting on me.

That same mindset drives my work today.

After separating from the military, I struggled with where to go next—and like many Veterans, I avoided the VA. I'd heard too many stories about the hassle, the rejections, and the sense that nobody really listens. But eventually I reached out, and Berry Law helped me get the benefits I deserved. That win? It changed my mindset—and it made me want to pay it forward.

Now I walk Veterans through the first steps of the VA disability process. The VA is the government agency in charge of providing compensation for service-connected conditions, but the system isn't always easy to navigate—especially if you're carrying invisible injuries or trauma.

I didn't come to Berry Law to sell anything—I came here because I saw a chance to serve again. This time, with a mission that changes lives in a different way. As part of Berry Law's Veteran Support Corps, I'm usually one of the first voices a Veteran hears when they reach out. Some have been denied before. Others aren't sure where to start. My job is to make sure they know they're not alone—and that we have a team who gets it because we've been there too.

Too many Veterans think they need to “tough it out” or that someone else had it worse. But this isn't a contest. If you served, you deserve support. Period. That's what I remind people of every single day.

I've seen what happens when the system doesn't get it right—and I've made it my job to challenge that.

Before I became an attorney, I served in the U.S. Army for seven years. I was a carpentry and masonry specialist, deployed to Afghanistan, and promoted to Sergeant. I learned how to lead, how to work under pressure, and how to keep going when things got hard. That mindset still drives me today.