DAV vs VA Claims Insider. Which is better at advocating for us as a VSO?

DAV lost my husband's claim. The guy retired and my husband's claim got lost, they took ABSOLUTELY NO ACCOUNTABILITY. We lost TONS OF TIME, IMPORTANT TIME WASTED. My husband was on his own. It was a nightmare crap show, to see how incompetent, lackadaisical, and frustrating to see the degree of run around due to the above. MILITARY INCOMPETANCE UP THE WAZOOO. LOST RECORDS, BURNED RECORDS, GOOD LUCK TRACING YOUR 22 YEAR MILITARY SERVICE...AND WHEN YOU DO, ALL YOUR DUCKS ARE FOUND, REFOUND, AND IN A ROW...YOU QUALIFY FOR 10% HEARING LOSS, BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE EMPLOYED BY THE VA, HE WAS SENT TO ANOTHER STATE, AT HIS EXPENSE, FOR THE SAME RESULT. NOT AN EASY TASK, SHAME ON THE DAV AND THE VA. AS HIS WIFE, IT TOOK ME LETTERS AND REQUESTS TO FIND THE LOST AND BURNED RECORDS...CRAP SHOW. HE WAS IN ARTILLERY FOR GOD SAKES, OF COURSE HIS HEARING IS FUKED BIG TIME! FRUSTRATING INDEED!

DAV was a bad experience for me personally. I never heard anything back from them had to do everything my self. But the moment I got approved there was quick to take their cut though. But like I said this is my experience

AMVETS was great!

I used the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) to be my representative 2 1/2 years ago and still use them and was very happy with their assistance. I also heard the DAV, VFW, American Legion are good depending on your area.

The only individual who may charge fees for their services are ACCREDITED LAWYERS & ACCREDITED CLAIMS AGENTS. These 2 never charge fees to file claims. It's illegal. These 2 may charge fees for appeals and MAY charge up to 33 1/3% of any accrued or back pay, if you will. Fees of 20% plus expenses are considered customary and over that can raise flags with the VA.

Thanks for the info gentlemen. I sent a request for a phone call from VA claims insider before thanksgiving and haven’t heard anything from them yet. I was supposed get a call on the 18th of December. Didn’t happen. My DAV VSO has been on me like flies on poop to get my stuff filed. I am glad I went with the DAV. My final decision is supposed to be made by 4Dec2020. Hopefully that will happen a lot sooner. But I’m also ok with a years worth of back pay.

I had the DAV for 4 years and never herd a word from them I was basically handling the case myself until 2011 when I asked for my cfile and they ask what was wrong. They screwed my case from the beginning filed wrong forms never followed up on anything I filed all my own from 9s. I would check with the VVA. I am on my 17th year and still waiting for a remand.

I have used DAV as my VSO, file claims,etc. VACI was not very helpful, they did connect me to TeleMedica for my Nexus stuff, I still had to pay out of pocket $500-700 for that, they have nearly Never followed up w/me or my Claim, But would like to have $8,000 of my backpay and claim money if I get to 70%, (Imagine That..!!!) Very Disappointed in them. I could NEver recommend VACI in good faith. DAV has been good, but only to a point, they're not helpful on any advice, or the in the Weeds, stuff vets need. YEs, can they see easier with the VA system, Yes. In my experience, DAV has been helpful, but would rather have Concrete assistance in my Claim and process. I'm exploring the Legal Route, but unsure if I can. Chisholm , Chisholm & Kilpatrick, do VA stuff, but they declined, and gave no Reason. Hill & Ponton would not either, because I am still working.

Folks need to be aware of VSO’s who claim to help but charge. They are scammers. I was getting ready to get out in 2019 and was contact by email then called by a man claiming to be retired Infantry wanting to help me “get the most out of my VA Claim” with a fee. His military lingo and demeanor was spot but everything about the claim sounded very suspicious. I never emailed back or answered his calls. When you separate call VFW, DAV, or your nearest VA to get a VSO who will assist you submit your claim free of charge.

Im a Viet Nam vet. Used the county vetrep. Got me 10% Filed appeal. Denied. Local VA doctors used to literally laugh at me. Said geez we get guys at 100% that dont even have half the problems you got. Went to DAV. 10 became 70% DAV said, no, appeal that. Now at 90%. DAV also told me i should file for reimbursement for pharmacy copays. Got a check for reimbursement of 18 months of copays. 76 bucks a month for 18 months. Im now a DAV lifetime member and cant say enough good things about them.