Veterans Legal Clinic Staff Attorney Katie Becker successfully persuaded the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to award benefits to a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the early 2000s. The veteran's experiences as a combat medic caused him post-traumatic stress disorder, and an explosive blast caused a traumatic brain injury. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs initially denied the veteran benefits, finding no current diagnosis. Using a Veterans Legal Clinic-funded psychologist, Becker obtained an evaluation of the veteran with which she persuaded the VA that the veteran experiences both PTSD and TBI. The decision resulted in a substantial retroactive award and ongoing monthly payments to the veteran.