Brian K.

Brian spent 12 years as a Marine — three combat deployments, two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, including extended time near burn pits in both theaters. He medically retired as a Gunnery Sergeant after a training accident left him with a fractured spine. What came next was a decade-long education in VA bureaucracy that he wouldn't wish on anyone.

His medical retirement package should have made the VA process smoother. It didn't. Brian's initial rating came back at 30%. For a veteran with a fractured spine, PTSD, TBI, and respiratory issues from burn pit exposure — 30% was an insult. It took four years and two rounds of appeals before Brian reached a rating that actually reflected his injuries.

During those four years, Brian did what Marines do: he adapted. He learned every aspect of the appeals process — Higher Level Reviews, Supplemental Claims, Board of Veterans' Appeals. He learned what medical evidence the VA needed and what they'd ignore. He learned the difference between a C&P examiner who understood burn pit exposure and one who'd never heard of it.

By the time Brian reached 100% P&T, he'd become the person other veterans called when they needed help. He formalized that into a mission when he connected with Jesse and they launched VetAdvocates in 2019.

Brian specializes in the most complex cases: burn pit exposure, PACT Act claims, toxic exposure, multi-condition claims, and veterans who've been denied multiple times and don't know where to turn. He's helped more than 2,000 veterans navigate the system — including many who'd been told their case was hopeless.