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National Veterans Legal Services Program Inc

EIN 52-1238058 · Arlington, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE AT NO COST LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES AND CURRENT SERVICE MEMBERS.

Income
$9.6 million
Spending
$9.5 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
93
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$258,436, executive director/president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 80 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $4.6 million spent. WORK FOR VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS (FORMERLY APPEALS TO THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS):NVLSP PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO HELP VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES SECURE DISABILITY AND DEATH BENEFITS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. NVLSP'S INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION SERVICES INCLUDE PRO BONO REPRESENTATION BEFORE VA REGIONAL OFFICES, THE BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS, THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS (CAVC), OTHER FEDERAL COURTS, AND MILITARY DISCHARGE REVIEW AGENCIES. IN 2024, NVLSP FILED OVER 850 NEW INDIVIDUAL APPEALS IN THE CAVC ON BEHALF OF A VETERAN OR SURVIVOR DENIED BENEFITS BY THE BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS (BVA) AND CONTINUED LITIGATING HUNDREDS OF PENDING APPEALS. HISTORICALLY, IN A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE CASES THAT NVLSP HAS APPEALED TO THE CAVC, NVLSP HAS BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN AN ORDER SETTING THE BVA DENIAL ASIDE BASED ON ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR AND REMANDING FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS, OR AN ORDER GRANTING BENEFITS TO VETERANS OUTRIGHT.
  2. $1.7 million spent. LAWYERS SERVING WARRIORS (LSW) PRO BONO PROGRAM:NVLSP PROVIDES AT NO COST REPRESENTATION THROUGH LAWYERS SERVING WARRIORS (LSW), OUR NATIONAL PRO BONO PROGRAM. LSW OFFERS AT NO COST LEGAL HELP TO VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS ON A NUMBER OF BENEFITS ISSUES; CASES ARE PLACED WITH VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS FROM LAW FIRMS AND CORPORATE LEGAL DEPARTMENTS NATIONWIDE. EACH VOLUNTEER RECEIVES TRAINING AND GUIDANCE BY NVLSP'S TEAM OF EXPERT ATTORNEYS, ENSURING THAT EVERY VETERAN RECEIVES TOP NOTCH LEGAL REPRESENTATION. LSW OFFERS ASSISTANCE IN FOUR DOD AREAS: 1) APPLICATIONS FOR COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION; 2) APPLICATIONS FOR MILITARY MEDICAL RETIREMENT; 3) UPGRADING LESS THAN HONORABLE DISCHARGES AND STIGMATIZING NARRATIVE REASONS; AND 4) APPLICATIONS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE TRAUMATIC INJURY PROTECTION (TSGLI). THE PRO BONO PROGRAM ALSO HANDLES LITIGATION IN FEDERAL COURT TO APPEAL UNFAVORABLE DECISIONS AT ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS. LSW OFFERS ASSISTANCE IN TWO VA AREAS: 1) APPEALS TO THE US COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS (CAVC) AND 2) REMANDS FROM THE CAVC TO THE BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS. IN 2024, THE LSW PROGRAM PLACED OVER 600 INDIVIDUAL CASES FOR FULL REPRESENTATION. REMOTE CLINIC APPOINTMENTS WERE PROVIDED TO APPROXIMATELY 200 VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS. WE ALSO PROVIDED VIRTUAL KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PRESENTATIONS TO VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, AND THE VETERANS' COMMUNITY. WE TRAINED PRO BONO ATTORNEYS TO ASSIST WITH BRIEF SERVICES AND FULL REPRESENTATION.
  3. $1.4 million spent. CLASS ACTIONS (FORMERLY IMPACT LITIGATION):NVLSP BRINGS CLASS ACTIONS AND OTHER LAW REFORM LITIGATION TO BENEFIT LARGE NUMBERS OF VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. BY COMPELLING THE VA AND MILITARY DEPARTMENTS TO BRING THEIR REGULATIONS AND PRACTICES INTO COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAWS, ONE CASE CAN HELP THOUSANDS OF VETERANS OBTAIN THE FEDERAL BENEFITS THEY ARE DUE. IN 2024, NVLSP'S DOCKET INCLUDED NINE CERTIFIED OR PUTATIVE CLASS ACTIONS AGAINST THE VA OR MILITARY BRANCHES. AS PART OF NVLSP'S WORK ON ITS LONGEST-RUNNING CLASS ACTION, NEHMER V. DEP'T OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS (N.D. CAL NO. 86-6160), NVLSP SUCCEEDED IN FORCING THE VA TO PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RETROACTIVE BENEFITS TO SURVIVORS OF DECEASED VIETNAM VETERANS WHO SUFFERED FROM DISEASES THAT WERE THE RESULT OF EXPOSURE TO AGENT ORANGE. OTHER CLASS ACTIONS HAVE RESULTED IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VETERANS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS GAINING ACCESS TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF UNFAVORABLE DECISIONS RELATED TO CAREGIVING STIPENDS; VA EXPANDING ACCESS TO IN VITRO FERTILIZATION MEDICAL CARE; AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY RE-ADJUDICATING THOUSANDS OF SAILORS' MEDICAL SEPARATIONS WHO MAY BE ENTITLED TO MEDICAL RETIREMENT PAY. NVLSP ALSO ENGAGED IN OTHER IMPACT LITIGATION, INCLUDING LITIGATION RELATING TO A RULEMAKING PETITION AND VARIOUS REQUESTS FOR RECORDS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. NVLSP CONTINUED TO REPRESENT VETERANS THROUGH ITS BURN PIT CLAIMS ASSISTANCE PROJECT, IN WHICH NVLSP REPRESENTS VETERANS BEFORE THE VA IN THEIR CLAIMS FOR DISABILITY COMPENSATION FOR DISEASES RELATED TO EXPOSURE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS SPEWED BY OPEN-AIR BURN PITS USED BY THE MILITARY TO DISPOSE OF WASTE IN SOUTHWEST ASIA. IN SEPTEMBER 2024, NVLSP LAUNCHED ITS FAMILY CAREGIVER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, DEDICATED TO HELPING VETERANS AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS ACCESS THE VA'S PROGRAM OF COMPREHENSIVE ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS (PCAFC) AND REPRESENTING THEM IN APPEALS FROM OF PCAFC DENIALS.
  4. $699,891 spent. PUBLICATIONS AND TRAINING:NVLSP TRAINS AND MENTORS LAWYER AND NON-LAWYER ADVOCATES WHO REPRESENT VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ON A PRO BONO BASIS ON CLAIMS FOR VA AND MILITARY BENEFITS. NVLSP ACTS AS A FORCE MULTIPLIER, PROVIDING IN-PERSON AND WEBINAR TRAINING. NVLSP'S WEBINAR AND IN-PERSON TRAINING PROGRAMS EDUCATE VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS, ATTORNEYS, AND CLAIMS AGENTS ABOUT THE LATEST COURT DECISIONS AND BEST PRACTICES IN VETERANS LAW. OUR TRAINERS SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE WITH A BROAD AUDIENCE, HELPING TO EXPAND OUR ADVOCACY NETWORK. TOPICS IN 2024 INCLUDED: RECENT COURT DECISIONS ADVOCATES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT; EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER VA CLAIMS, VA BENEFITS FOR GULF WAR ILLNESS AND DISEASES CAUSED BY BURN PITS, NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY PENSION, UNDERSTANDING THE VA'S RATING OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, CHANGES TO VA'S CHARACTER OF DISCHARGE REGULATION, UNDERSTANDING CHANGES TO VA'S RATING OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISABILITIES, AND TOTAL DISABILITY RATINGS BASED ON INDIVIDUAL UNEMPLOYABILITY. NVLSP ALSO ADMINISTERS A BASIC TRAINING COURSE IN VETERANS BENEFITS, AN ONLINE COURSE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ADVOCATES NEW TO VETERANS LAW WITH A WORKING UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THE VA BENEFITS SYSTEM. NVLSP CREATED THE VA BENEFIT IDENTIFIER APP TO HELP VETERANS AND ADVOCATES DETERMINE THE VA BENEFITS TO WHICH A VETERAN IS LIKELY ENTITLED; THE APP IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. NVLSP ALSO PUBLISHES EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY MATERIALS THAT EMPOWER ADVOCATES FOR VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS. SINCE 1991, WE HAVE AUTHORED THE VETERANS BENEFITS MANUAL, THE COMPREHENSIVE TREATISE ON VETERANS LAW. NVLSP UPDATES AND REVISES THE VETERANS BENEFITS MANUAL ANNUALLY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.