Does anyone have advice on how "buddy letters" should be written for undocumented injuries (for getting a VA disability rating)?

2017-03-11T21:24:14-05:00

Went to the VA when I first got out and was told I needed to be rated for disability before I register. They said I needed buddy letters that detail how I got hurt for injuries that I did not see the PA for.

I've been putting it off because I still had hopes of getting back in. However, this is starting to look like it may not be possible.

Does anyone have any advice for how these should look?

Response by SFC George Smith made Mar 11 at 2017 10:15 PM

2017-03-11T22:15:57-05:00

I have never heard of it...
But it sounds Like How so many are getting on to the rolls of the VA and Milking the system that Never served...

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Mar 11 at 2017 10:30 PM

2017-03-11T22:30:07-05:00

No prescribed format that I know of. If an incident, a brief description i.e. To Whom It May Concern: I, PFC Long T. Schmuckatella, was present the when PFC Wheeler fell out of the window on the second deck of the barracks at Ft Jackson. He injured his leg but didn't report to sick bay because the platoon sergeant threatened to beat him to death if he missed morning formation. Wheeler had limited use of his leg from then on and could not run or dance as he could before the fall. I was with him for six months after the fall and his limitations were obvious throughout that time period.
Signature'

The more detail the better and it being notarized wouldn't hurt.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Mar 11 at 2017 10:31 PM

2017-03-11T22:31:03-05:00

I wrote one for a shipmate once. He was an asshole, but I had knowledge of the incident, and it didn't seem right to let my dislike of him color that. It worked, he got the additional %.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Mar 11 at 2017 10:58 PM

2017-03-11T22:58:11-05:00

Oh, I just now saw your last question there. The one I wrote was just a 'To Whom it may Concern' written in Word. No form, just me describing the thing, then signing it at the end and sending it off.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 11 at 2017 10:58 PM

2017-03-11T22:58:44-05:00

PFC Jim Wheeler I just did one for a friend, who retired in 06-07. I think you should consult with a VSO (Veterans Service Officer) at your local service organizations (American Legion, DAV, VFW etc), or your state veterans commission. They call know how to the negotiate the bureaucracy of the VA.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2017 12:38 PM

2017-03-12T12:38:40-04:00

I had a sgt served in Iraq, was on the roof, when a motor attack began, his spotter left, while trying to get down from the roof with no spotter support, he feel from the roof, broke his shoulder and had a tbi, when he requested to go to medics he was told he would get an article 15 by the smg, so he didn't, once back in conus, years later, with migraines and shoulder pain, he was evaluated, he indeed suffered a broken shoulder and mild skull fracture, all of this was also provided by personnel that where there, in sworn affidavits, this sgt is now medically retired, because those that were there stepped up, personally I would've taken the article 15, then gone after the sgm, that sgm no longer serves due to other irregularities but that's another story, so if you have people that witnessed an incident get sworn affidavits, submit previous med records as well as recent even if it is civillian

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Mar 13 at 2017 10:30 AM

2017-03-13T10:30:56-04:00

I've done several for Soldiers for VA ratings, and a couple TBI linked Purple Hearts. I just address them to either:
My Name and address; Date;
To; "Whoom it may concern" or "VA rating official" depending on the circumstance. Include day date and time of incident written as "on or about" and locations as "at or near" during "combat" or "training" operations.
I observed PVT Snuffy fall, get struck by, cut, crushed, run over or blown up. Snuffy didn't go on sick call because the units mission precluded him from doing so at the time of the incident due to "enemy situation" "location" "evacuation assets being used for higher priority cases" "we didn't understand the future implications of not seeking immediate care" (not understanding future implications connected with Concussive injuries led to many TBI injuries being worse than they could have been, because Soldiers received multiple strikes early on and kept going).
Prior to the injury PVT Snuffy could "run 2 miles in 8 minutes do 100 push ups and 90 sit ups", "Do complex mathematical equations without a calculator" "fire expert". After the injury Snuffy's performance significantly decreased and he could no longer perform X, Y or Z to standard or Snuffies ability to perform X,Y, or Z was greatly impacted.
Please feel free to contact the undersigned at; Phone number, email;
Signature Block
I usually take them and have them notarized. I just stick to the facts and have had good luck helping the guys with their issues.