Do Not Wait to File Your Claim with the VA

SPC Douglas Bolton — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 10:08:55 -0500

You may be one of the thousands upon thousands who are seeking compensation from the Military for an injury or mental situation you are facing. You are not alone.
What follows are some suggestion to hopefully help you on your journey. Please know that these are just suggestions and will not necessarily get you compensation.

One of the things I learned quickly is that the older you are the harder it is to get compensation. I was in the Military from 1959-1962. I was deployed to Korea in 1960. This was not war time. This was not Vietnam. I was in between all of that. I was selected to be in the Army Security Agency (somewhat like the Military CIA). My training was to be a radio/teletype operator; MOS 053-10. I monitored the airways for breaches in security. It was not an exciting job, and there were hours upon hours of nothing while working. Once and awhile it got interesting, like when a Colonel came on the air and invited all of his officer friends to his drunken party. He even gave directions, and contact information over the air. I jumped on it immediately and contacted the Local MPS. They were at his spot within minutes, and stopped the “party.” He was later busted.

Your job was to never take the earphones off of your ears. You had to spend every minute (for twelve hour shifts) listening to air ways and picking up Morse code messages.
The static was pretty intense at times, even more when you had to take one side of the earphones off and try to adjust the frequency of the receptor. Again, I had to leave the earphones on. This took a heavy toll on my hearing. I had tinnitus (ringing in the ears) coming on. I had headaches during my off duty times. But, during my time in the Military, and I am sure still now, it was duty first. You had to fulfill your duty while you were working. I had another incident while in the military. I was in a jeep accident where I was flung from the jeep and landed back first on a boulder. I was knocked unconscious, and woke up in a field medical tent. I had three surgeries; two on my neck and one in my lumbar area.

When I came back to the United States, I was stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. I finished up my Army time, and took my parting physical. They cleared me with a statement that I was physically sound. They never ex-rayed my back or performed a hearing test. I got out of the Military, and still had the tinnitus. I let it go for many years thinking there wasn’t an avenue to receive help from the military. I didn’t know about the compensation program. I just began to seriously seek help about seven years ago, when I was 71 years old. I had severe hearing loss. I had strong tinnitus, and battles with depression, because I couldn’t hear what my grandchildren were saying. That is when a hearing specialist, that was treating me, shared the compensation program from the Military. I had no idea. So, I met with a Veteran’s advocate group. This is the VA advocacy that has representatives who fight for you. They helped me file a disability claim to the Veteran’s Administration. I put down what I did for a MOS (job) and what I did daily in Korea. I also filed a claim for a back injury.

As far as my hearing, I got a form letter back from them saying my hearing loss was due to aging, and I was denied. This happened because I waited for over 50 years to file a claim. The details were cloudy as far as my time in Korea according to the VA. The claim for my back and neck were also denied because they felt, again, that it was due to old age.

You need to start your claim immediately if you are injured or have physical problems of any kind. Do not wait. It is easy to procrastinate like I did, but then you will be facing disappointment and heartache. It is much harder to get a claim passed. What you will need is a written letter from a doctor saying they felt your injury was due the time you were in the military. That is a huge game changer, and should get you the claim you deserve. It may take you a while to find a doctor willing to do this, but they are there and keep looking.

Above all… don’t ever give up! I am still fighting for my rights and you should too.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Dec 6 at 2017 10:11 AM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 10:11:35 -0500

SPC Douglas Bolton: You look so handsome, Specialist. Thanks for the crucial and so very relevant post of yours. -Margaret

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Dec 6 at 2017 10:19 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 10:19:10 -0500

Thank you for the great info Douglas.

Response by SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter made Dec 6 at 2017 10:27 AM

SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 10:27:46 -0500

You are absolutely right SPC Douglas Bolton. The longer you wait the harder it can get to prove your claim. However nowadays the troops can file a claim prior to them leaving active duty which makes it a lot easier. I never knew this process to exist when I got off active duty in the mid eighties. Even after several years in the reserves going pass the first Gulf War this process wasn't available or at least I never heard of it.

However what's mostly important in proving your service connected ailment is documentation. If it's not written down the VA does not care and will not accept hearsay of what a Doctor may have told you.

I was able to get 100% based on documentation in my active duty medical records for vertigo. I had went on sick call several times for it however each time the blew it off as nothing.

I continued to have the condition periodically over the last 25 plus years. Fast forward I filed a claim and surprisingly to me the VA awarded me 100% for that condition alone which includes tinnitus, and pressure in my ears.

I'll wrap it up after so many test medications and evaluations. They sent me out to an outside ENT Specialist. He evaluated me reviewed my active duty medical records and referred back to the incidents of the vertigo that were recorded. Bingo that was it, so I advise any of you active duty, reserves etc,. that when seeing a Doctor ensure they document what they are saying of your ailment or condition.

Peace!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2017 12:05 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 12:05:26 -0500

SPC Douglas Bolton Great post. I waited until ten years ago to file my claim. The paperwork was lost in the system, so five years ago, I went to the VFW for help. A VFW Veteran Service Officer helped me with my claim, that was approved four years ago. It was not approved for the rating that it should have been, so I will continue to fight.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Dec 6 at 2017 10:56 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 22:56:01 -0500

My best disclaimer was, My advice is worth every penny you paid for it

Response by Sgt Christopher Collins made Dec 9 at 2017 6:23 PM

Sgt Christopher Collins — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 18:23:38 -0500

I had some conditions, unknown to many, that began one by one to show themselves about 8 yrs later and never thought about it until late 2013. Of course the VA denied, denied, denied. Augh

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2017 8:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 20:01:09 -0500

Good evening Mr. Douglas. I will tell you a trick that seems to work on thousands of people who filed claims. "Denied" and " Not service connected"...... those are the words VA use to get you and others to give up, especially after waiting so long for a response. The VA advocate that you saw, was not a big help.... To be honest with you, time is irrelevant when you decide to file a claim. The biggest task in your case is to track down the medical records from the paper days that are in the archives stored somewhere. That will be proof that your back injury was service connected, not old age............ I had to Google to find out which records center had copies of my medical paper records before they went digital. Once I found it, then I requested copies of it from 96-2004...... If you really want to be compensated by VA, you have to be persistent and put up a fight. In order to make it a good fight, track down your medical records to prove your case.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Dec 10 at 2017 5:34 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 05:34:50 -0500

I was lucky, I had a cousin who's husband was a POW in WWII. She worked a lot with them helping file claims. When I got out, she worked with me to get my claim filed - I was amazed it was approved the first time. Two things helped: 1. I made myself a copy of my medical file. 2. She showed and told me how to file a claim. The advice she gave me helped me and has continued to help me.
Make sure you get someone to review your case before you file it, that's what VSO are for, to help you all if you don't know how to. Also remember the claim is for YOU and how it effects YOU.
Most of all, don't wait. When you got a problem that is related - boom get it done. Today it is so easy, you can file electronic now. No excuses.

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made Dec 17 at 2017 9:50 PM

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 21:50:05 -0500

SPC Douglas Bolton your submission was thorough, whoever assisted you followed protocol. There are VA wide systematic procedure issues, the VA is trying to identify claims awards that may be questionable and not truly supported by evidence, the VA has become more rigid in looking at the evidence to ensure someone has not found a technicality to get rated by verses a true medical condition. So, yes sir, forge ahead until they identify the facts of your record.

Response by Sgt Jon Mcvay made Dec 31 at 2017 10:57 AM

Sgt Jon Mcvay — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 10:57:59 -0500

I was medically discharged and filed when I got out. How ever no one prepared me for the battles I would be facing in 1989. Here it is 2017 and the battle still goes on. Where can I start to help others? While in the service get into your medical files every thing that happens to you from the least a paper cut to the worst injury you may receive. If you do not have copies of your medical files you can request them from St. Louis Mo. then make copies of them in ...you guessed it , triplicate. Get them certified by a notary of public. Take one to the county seat and have it placed on record, save the recorded number in a safe. Take the second copy to the Veterans Administration and have it put on file. The third is your copy to save, place it in a safe. DD-214 get 5 copies and have notarized. The next part go through the V.A. list of injuries that they allow you to claim on and write down everyone that applies to your medical files (military). Key note if your issues could have been caused or aggravated by a condition or injury you received in the service then write it down. Medical documentation outside of the VA is critical. For some reason the VA is 5-6 years behind non government professionals. Also if you are denied then find a lawyer, sure it costs money that is restricted to the amount paid out by the VA. Ask for it all and dont accept the first 3-5 as the best your going to get. I believe that during the Reagan years the rating was changed to this. You get lets say 50% disability rating for one issue. If you got another 50% rating for the second issue you would have been 100% but what they do is 50% of the 50% which would be 25% but because they only do 10% increments you would get 80% for a disability rating. There is more I could inform you on but I have run out of time.

Response by Sgt Jon Mcvay made Dec 31 at 2017 11:03 AM

Sgt Jon Mcvay — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 11:03:36 -0500

contact your congressman and persist. Write down dates times and who you talked with. Keep all writen responses.

Response by SPC Edward Banning made Jan 8 at 2018 1:31 AM

SPC Edward Banning — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 01:31:34 -0500

Yeah ive been with this bad back for 2 decades now and keep getting shut off at the word go. Gave up after the first 5 years.

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Jan 8 at 2018 1:15 PM

SFC Greg Bruorton — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 13:15:24 -0500

Douglas, I was a 05C about the same time that you were, and yes, I have tinnitus as well, which may have come through countless hours around 10kw generators and the faithful J-38 key. I've just begun making a claim with the VA because of Agent Orange and its symptoms and I've learned it will take a year at least.

Response by LCpl Emanuel W. made Jan 23 at 2018 11:47 AM

LCpl Emanuel W. — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 11:47:56 -0500

I filed a claim shortly after getting out of the active service back in 1998. I was approved for 20% SC. Since then, things are getting worse. Now the problem is getting a rate increase. My biggest problem is getting transportation to the VAMC, which is over 33 miles from me. That delays a lot of things with my claims.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jan 30 at 2018 9:32 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 09:32:15 -0500

You can get help with this from the VFW or the American Legion.

Response by SPC Mike Lake made Feb 5 at 2018 8:56 AM

SPC Mike Lake — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 08:56:41 -0500

They are alot quicker just got mine back didn't take long at all and it was approved I got a 50% increase

Response by SSG Ken Gilder made Feb 25 at 2018 4:46 AM

SSG Ken Gilder — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 04:46:43 -0500

Don't bother with the VA bureaucrats. A few are good, but most of them are about as useful as pockets in underwear. When I needed help submitting paperwork, and getting all my ducks in a row, I went to my state's department of veterans affairs. They had an office on the VA medical center campus, with several Veterans Service Officers (VSO's) from several different Veterans Service Organizations (also VSO's).

I got hooked up with a VSO from the American Legion. He took care of it all, and even used his office phone to FAX paperwork across the country.

It took seven months after submission, but the claim was approved, and backdated. I wound up getting a six figure check with a crooked number in front.

Response by LCDR Rich Bishop made Mar 1 at 2018 7:01 AM

LCDR Rich Bishop — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 07:01:46 -0500

Mr. Bolton & All,

The VA has changed, I retired in Oct 2010 and 7 years later I went on-line and filed to obtain my disability percentage rating. Its a New VA, President Trump has fired over 400 non-performing personnel. I just had my first appointment at LHI Inc., who is contracted by the VA and they were outstanding and tried to help me to get what I deserved. Refile and go back!
BTW, the VA will pay for certification / license tests – take advantage of this to make yourself more competitive in the workforce - https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/licensing_certification.asp

Licensing and Certification - Education and Training

The GI Bill provides education benefits to veterans and their dependents.

Response by SSG David Clayton made Mar 16 at 2018 12:07 AM

SSG David Clayton — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 00:07:03 -0400

Thank you SPC Bolton for your service and for taking the time to post your experience.
You really have to know the right questions to ask in the VA system, but the communication has improved drastically since even I was discharged from the Army in 1992. I began having Tinnitus about 2012. I thought just because it was not documented at sick call in my medical record, then it wasn't considered ''service connected''. Well to my surprise, I heard some guys talking about this in the waiting room at the VA regional office. Certain disabilities are considered service connected simply because they are ''JOB/SKILL'' related. I was awarded a 10% rating due to ''military noise exposure'' just because my DD214 shows that I was a Generator Mechanic. By the way, you must provide them a copy of your DD214; DON'T ASSUME they know your MOS/job skill! The time lapse for my claim obviously did not matter. The comp and pen doctor (contracted thru OTC) also evaluated me with left ear hearing loss. However, another vet told me that I must file a separate claim for this ,since the finding was not the reason for the original claim. Therefore, I am following up with this doctor with my private health insurance and will submit these records with my claim. Maybe I will get a rating increase for the hearing loss being affected by the tinnitus?
I hope this helps someone.
SSG David Clayton