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Erin Zimmerman and Rachel Elliot, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic students who took part in the Clinic’s Advanced Veterans Clinic class, played a key role in securing a victory for an Army veteran at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Zimmerman and Elliot worked closely with Clinic attorneys Martha Bradley Kleinhesselink and Carter Brooks Templeton on drafting the briefing for Rollins v. McDonough, a case challenging the Board of Veterans’ Appeals’ denial of two key claims: compensation for muscle tissue damage and entitlement to a higher or separate rating for the residuals of a left nephrectomy.
On April 18, 2025, the Court issued a memorandum decision vacating both adverse portions of the Board’s January 2024 decision and remanding the case for further proceedings. The Court agreed with the arguments advanced in the student-authored briefing, holding that the Board failed to adequately address the veteran’s lay evidence.
“This is exactly the kind of impact we hope our students can have,” said Carter Templeton, an attorney at the Veterans Clinic who helped supervise the student briefing. “Erin and Rachel wrote thoughtful and persuasive briefs that helped secure a real win for one of our clients. Their work reflects not only their own talent and dedication, but also the strength of the Clinic’s model—where students don’t just learn the law, they practice it at a very high level.”
The Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic represents veterans and their families regarding their VA disability benefits and discharge upgrades, free of charge. Law students have the opportunity to work in the Clinic for credit and experience.