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Katrina J. Eagle, Attorney at Law

Legal Experience

In August of 2008, Ms. Eagle became the managing partner of a new law firm, The Veterans Law Office of Eagle & Wildhaber, LLP.  With this new endeavor, she and her law partner, Michael Wildhaber, have renewed their commitment to assisting America’s veterans and their families obtain the VA benefits to which they are entitled.  Until that time, Ms. Eagle had been the lead attorney of the west coast office of The Law Office of Wildhaber & Associates, PLLC since 2001.  Her legal practice is concentrated in the area of federal veterans’ benefits, including practice before the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Board of Veterans' Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.  She also represents clients in US District Courts for claims of medical malpractice committed at VA hospitals and, or medical centers.

Ms. Eagle began assisting military veterans as a legislative analyst on Capitol Hill for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in 1995.  In this capacity, she attended Congressional hearings regarding veterans' issues and prepared corresponding written reports.  Ms. Eagle also met with Congressional members and staff to discuss and explain pertinent VFW initiatives.  She assisted in drafting veterans-related as well as VFW representatives' testimonies, speeches, articles, and correspondence.  She also coordinated and spearheaded legislative campaigns for VFW's grassroots lobbying network.  While working with the VFW, Ms. Eagle began to pursue her law degree in the evening program at The George Mason School of Law.

In 1998, while still attending law school at night, she was recruited as Deputy Director for the Veterans Benefits Program of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA).  As Deputy Director, Ms. Eagle represented VVA member-claimants before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals.  She also obtained her accreditation as a VVA service representative (which she has maintained ever since) and assisted the Director with the training and advising of 300 VVA Service Representatives nationwide.  She also represented VVA on numerous veteran-related panels and advisory boards, and drafted veteran-related articles for VVA publication.  Ms. Eagle was also able to meet and provide claim analyses and consultations to VVA members regarding their VA benefit entitlements and eligibility.   

In January of 1999, she joined Health Policy Analysts in Washington, DC, where, as an associate analyst, she focused on veterans’ health issues, most notably hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus.  This role also helped Ms. Eagle realize that providing legal counsel to veterans appealing their VA benefits claims was her true passion, thereby guiding her decision to join The Law Office of Wildhaber & Associates, PLLC, in January 2001.  In 2007, her dedication to veteran advocacy was recognized when she was elected as Vice President of NOVA, Inc. (National Organization of Veteran Advocates).  Ms. Eagle is also active in local veteran groups, working as co-chair of the Military Law Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association and member of the United Veterans’ Council.

Prior to attending law school, Ms. Eagle worked as a legal assistant at the law firm of Berliner, Corcoran & Rowe in Washington, DC from July of 1993 to November of 1995. There, she assisted attorneys in areas of legal and medical malpractice and general trial litigation.  At the same time, she also worked with the American Bar Association's Task Force for Drafting Guidelines for Trying International War Criminals, conducting extensive research and preparing focus papers for the ABA.

Education

Katrina Eagle graduated with a B.A. in International Affairs in 1993 from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.  While attending GWU, she earned a fellowship with Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), where she assisted in the development of fact sheets, position papers, and legislative alerts for health professionals regarding global environmental degradation.  During the summers of 1992 and 1993, she worked with the US Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board ("The Access Board") as a document specialist, translating publications regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into alternate formats such as Braille and audio formats.  Ms. Eagle received her law degree (JD) in 1999 from the George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, VA.

Community Service

Since August of 2003, Ms. Eagle volunteers every year at the Homeless Court Program, an integral part of Stand Down.  During this three-day annual event, she provides legal assistance to homeless veterans who have had minor run-ins with local law enforcement.  By working with lawyers from the District Attorney's Office, she has succeeded in minimizing sentences or, in most cases, clearing the veteran's record. In addition, she assists homeless veterans obtain legal and job counseling, and medical assistance, among other provisions.

Bar Memberships and Professional Affiliations

National Organization of Veterans Advocates; Vice President, 12/2007
Military Law Committee, San Diego County Bar Association; Co-Chair, 12/2007
Supreme Court of the State of California, 2001
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, 2000
Court of Appeals of Maryland, 2000 (inactive)
Accredited Service Representative of United Spinal Association, 2006
Accredited Service Representative of VVA, 1998

Professional Honors and Awards

Legion of Honor Award (The Chapel of Four Chaplains), 2/08
U.S. Navy’s “Leaders to Sea” Participant, USS Lake Champlain (CG-57), 6/07

Public Presentations and Publications

"Hepatitis C Outbreak Amongst Native Americans"
Conference of Alaska State Public Health Officials, June of 1999
"Hepatitis C and the Military Veteran"
State of Montana VVA Convention, August of 1999
"Filing Service-Connection Claims for Hepatitis C and Diabetes Mellitus"
NOVA Seminar, September of 2002
“The Role of a VVA Accredited Service Representative”
VVA Annual Convention, Reno, NV, August of 2005

"Recent Court Decisions"
NOVA Seminars, March of 2003, November of 2004, November of 2005

“Advocating for America’s Veterans” – An On-Air Interview
The American Veteran Radio Show / San Diego, CA / February 2007
“An Overview of a Veteran Advocate’s Practice at the US Veterans Court”
NOVA Seminar, May of 2007

“Representing Veterans At The US Veterans Court”
American Assoc for Justice (AAJ), Telephonic Seminar Panelist, May 2007

“Common Errors in VARO Decisions; and How to Determine Whether the VA Medical Opinion Is To Blame” – Advance Service Rep Training Seminar,
Orlando, FL / August 2007

“Practicing Veterans Law Since June 2007”
National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) Conference,
Boston, MA / September 2007

“Defending the Military Veteran: Representing Veterans with Disabilities at the VA and Beyond”
National Organization of Social Security Claimant Representatives (NOSSCR), St. Louis, MO / October 2007

“Claimants, Medical Conditions, and Ancillary Issues Unique to An Advocate’s Practice”
NOVA New Practitioner Seminar; Washington, DC / October 2007

“An Introduction to Veterans Benefits Law”
Tennessee Bar Association Teleseminar; February 2008

“A Notice of Disagreement Has Been Filed – Now What?”
Oregon State Bar Association Seminar re Veterans Law / March 14, 2008

“How to Challenge a VA Proposal to Reduce or Sever Service-Connected Compensation” and “VCAA Notice Requirements” – Advance Service Rep Training Seminar, Orlando, FL / August 2008

“Winning Presumptive Service-Connection Claims for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange and, or Radiation”
NOVA New Practitioner Seminar; San Francisco, CA / September 2008

“Veterans Facing Criminal Charges – How a Community of Professionals Can Serve Those Who Served Our Country”
Nevada Lawyer Magazine, November 2008 (co-authored w/Steve Binder, Esq.)