Photo Gallery
Sergeant Forbes in Germany in 1991
PFC Forbes in Texas (1988)
Geoff Forbes being promoted to Sergeant (701st Military Intelligence Brigade, Germany, 1991)
Staying current
Education & Training
Mr. Forbes frequently completes continued legal education and VA training to stay abreast of constantly changing laws and policies. This is an abbreviated list of his courses:
Welcoming Gender Diverse Veterans to VA Care
Privacy and HIPAA Training
Nuts and Bolts of Establishing Entitlement to Veterans Benefits for Guardsmen and Reserve Veterans
Outreach, Regulatory, Legislative Update
How Larson Impacts Service Connection and Obesity
CAVC/CAFC Caselaw Update: The Latest Developments in Toxic Exposure Advocacy
Understanding and Avoiding Potential Ethical Dilemmas When Representing Veterans with Mental Illness
What to Do When the Mail Stops: Surviving Government and Pandemic Disruptions
Filing Forms in the AMA to Maximize Response and Minimize Frustration
Deciding the Best Course of Action for Your Client: Picking a Lane in the AMA
Findings of Fact: What Are They and How Do I Get VA to Make Them?
What Were They Thinking: The Duty to Assist under the Appeals Modernization Act
CAVC Appeal, Supplemental Claim, or Both: Analyzing Your Options After MVA v. McDonough The ABCs of Service Connection - direct SC, secondary SC, SC by aggravation, SC by legal presumption, and obtaining benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.
Navigating Claims for Increased Ratings
Effective Dates
Nuts and Bolts of Running a VA Practice
VBA Date-Stamp Accountability Policy
Entitlement to Attorney Fees in VA Law - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Relationship Between VA and Veterans Service Organizations
The Structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs
Introduction to Reference Materials
Introduction to Identifying the Claim and the Issues
Introduction to the Development Process
Preparing and Submitting Original Claims
Developing Non-Original Claims
Fully Developed Claim (FDC) Program
Burial Benefits and Death Claims
Service Record Development
Overview of Medical Records (Federal & Non-Federal Records)
Dependency Development - Who and How?
Developing Original Disability Pension Claims
Special Issue Claim Development
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Development
The Appeals Process
CAVC/CAFC Caselaw Update – Part I
CAVC/CAFC Caselaw Update – Part II-Positioning Your Case for a Court Remand and What to Do if You Get It
How to Properly Substitute Before the Agency and BVA
Understanding Camp Lejeune Benefits for Veterans and Their Families Before and After the PACT Act
Charging Fees and Ethics in the VA World: Contingency, Hourly, Fixed Fees, and What is Out of Bounds
Mining for Military Records: Leaving No Stone Unturned
Handling Hearing Loss Claims and Considering Secondary Conditions
Fighting VA Overdevelopment in the AMA
Rules and Practical Considerations When Changing Lanes in the AMA
Strategies for Making Your Case Effectively Before BVA
Writing for VA: Making Concise and Cohesive Arguments to Win Your Case
Understanding the VA Caregivers Program for Competent Representation
Deep Dive into Discharge Upgrades
VBMS Demo from VARO representatives
Knowledge That's in Demand!
"Understanding Camp Lejeune Benefits for Veterans and Their Families Before and After the PACT Act...Making Concise and Cohesive Arguments to Win Your Case...Establishing Entitlement to Veterans Benefits for Guardsmen and Reservists...The Latest Developments in Toxic Exposure Advocacy..."