Posted on Jan 20, 2015
What Advice Would You Give To A Veteran Making A Veterans Affairs Disability Claim?
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As I left Active Duty, I thought If its any advice I could share with submitting your Veterans Affairs Disability Claim. Each persons is unique, but similar in the process as stated on your E-Benefits account. To the members on Active duty, please use your last two years wisely, as to get everything medically documented. It will save you a lot of time, with the VA. I have found MRIs/X-Ray/CAT Scans help out tremendously. Be proactive and note its your claim and it could result in many benefits, more importantly health care for you and your family.
1. If you are still on active duty and thinking about getting out and filing a claim, go through the Benefit Delivery At Discharge or BDD program at your installation. To qualify you must have between 60 and 180 days left on active duty. We will take your claim and get you examined before you go home. Normally, decisions are available about two months after you separate or retire.
2. If you are still on active duty but have less than 60 days to go, you can still file a “Quick Start” claim. Quick Start claims are processed at dedicated facilities so decisions are quicker for most Veterans.
3. If you are out of service for less than a year, think you might have a claim, but are unsure if you want to “go through the hassle” apply. The evidence is fresher and cleaner, there are unlikely to be what we refer to as “inter-current injuries” (i.e. you back hurts a little but when you get out you get a job as a long hall truck driver or a construction working and don’t file a claim for years. In such cases even if there is some documentation of “something in service” without evidence of treatment for the condition within the first year, service connection is less certain).
4. If you’re concerned that it might not be appropriate to take money for a condition because “I’m fine, was just doing my duty and I have a job”–there are a lot of people who feel that way–consider this. I think you should file your claim. If granted you can always decline to receive the money. If, at a later date, your condition worsens or you age and it interferes with our work, or you decide you want compensation after all you can always contact us. That way we will examine you and determine your current level of disability. We won’t be trying to determine whether you warrant service connection in the first place.
5. If you have been out of the service longer but still think you have a condition related to your service apply! There is no filing time limit. It just might be a little more complex and take a little longer because of the need to develop more records.
6. Our goal is to complete all claims within 125 days or four months by 2015 with 95 percent accuracy. Right now more than 30 percent of our claims have been pending longer than that. Some claims, such as those involving participation in nuclear tests, covert operations, military sexual trauma or other similar circumstances where records may be difficult to locate can and frequently do take longer, sometimes much longer.
7. To meet the challenge of a rapidly growing claims volume, VA has been provided with significant numbers of new staff in the last couple of years. Their jobs are complex and it takes a while to become fully qualified so if you think we made a mistake, ask you may be right. As I said earlier, one of our goals is to get our quality level to 95 percent by 2015. Currently our quality level is 84 percent. While a significant portion our quality problems reflect process errors rather than errors in the final decision with respect to the granting or denying of benefits, rates paid and effective dates of payment, we do make mistakes.
http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/1089/some-tips-for-filing-a-va-disability-claim/
http://vets.yuku.com/topic/37612#.VL7yx885DIU
http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/
1. If you are still on active duty and thinking about getting out and filing a claim, go through the Benefit Delivery At Discharge or BDD program at your installation. To qualify you must have between 60 and 180 days left on active duty. We will take your claim and get you examined before you go home. Normally, decisions are available about two months after you separate or retire.
2. If you are still on active duty but have less than 60 days to go, you can still file a “Quick Start” claim. Quick Start claims are processed at dedicated facilities so decisions are quicker for most Veterans.
3. If you are out of service for less than a year, think you might have a claim, but are unsure if you want to “go through the hassle” apply. The evidence is fresher and cleaner, there are unlikely to be what we refer to as “inter-current injuries” (i.e. you back hurts a little but when you get out you get a job as a long hall truck driver or a construction working and don’t file a claim for years. In such cases even if there is some documentation of “something in service” without evidence of treatment for the condition within the first year, service connection is less certain).
4. If you’re concerned that it might not be appropriate to take money for a condition because “I’m fine, was just doing my duty and I have a job”–there are a lot of people who feel that way–consider this. I think you should file your claim. If granted you can always decline to receive the money. If, at a later date, your condition worsens or you age and it interferes with our work, or you decide you want compensation after all you can always contact us. That way we will examine you and determine your current level of disability. We won’t be trying to determine whether you warrant service connection in the first place.
5. If you have been out of the service longer but still think you have a condition related to your service apply! There is no filing time limit. It just might be a little more complex and take a little longer because of the need to develop more records.
6. Our goal is to complete all claims within 125 days or four months by 2015 with 95 percent accuracy. Right now more than 30 percent of our claims have been pending longer than that. Some claims, such as those involving participation in nuclear tests, covert operations, military sexual trauma or other similar circumstances where records may be difficult to locate can and frequently do take longer, sometimes much longer.
7. To meet the challenge of a rapidly growing claims volume, VA has been provided with significant numbers of new staff in the last couple of years. Their jobs are complex and it takes a while to become fully qualified so if you think we made a mistake, ask you may be right. As I said earlier, one of our goals is to get our quality level to 95 percent by 2015. Currently our quality level is 84 percent. While a significant portion our quality problems reflect process errors rather than errors in the final decision with respect to the granting or denying of benefits, rates paid and effective dates of payment, we do make mistakes.
http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/1089/some-tips-for-filing-a-va-disability-claim/
http://vets.yuku.com/topic/37612#.VL7yx885DIU
http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/
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Edited 9 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 38
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I will also add when you get your decision and you have a 0% rating on a specific issue, do not get pissed. A 0% rating is still a rating that can be reclaimed later when the issue gets worse.
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SSG Dwight Amey MSA, MSL, BS, AS
MSgt Rob Weston, in addition to your good advice the zero rating also serves as a justification of receiving free care and medications directly related to the zero rating.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., good question. I have been taking a lot of calls here at the Help Desk (myhealthevet, ebenefits tech support) of a lot of newly separated Air Force veterans not getting their dd214's as part of their out processing packets (to no fault of their own one yesterday who did not have his signature digital or otherwise.). What they don't realize is that the dpris feature retrieves their dd214 on ebenefits not "ebenefits". More clarity needs to be stressed at out processing briefings. The micro fish is not updated immediately following separation from service.
The best advice I can give a veteran already off active duty is to get a VSO and stay away from lawyers. When you get your award they get a piece of your money. Don't know about you but why? VSO's are free.
The best advice I can give a veteran already off active duty is to get a VSO and stay away from lawyers. When you get your award they get a piece of your money. Don't know about you but why? VSO's are free.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SSG Dwight Amey MSA, MSL, BS, AS please share with all VETERANS. This is a premier site I got while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.
http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/
http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/
Military Disability | VA Disability | Info for Disabled American Veterans
Disabled American Veterans: this is the one-stop shop for all your Military Disability and VA Disability needs.
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SSG Dwight Amey MSA, MSL, BS, AS
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, thanks for the website and information. I will pass this along when talking with service members when they call asking about passwords. In fact, last week I talked with two who were contemplating waiting to secure their physicals until after their terminal leave.
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SPC Lloyd Putman III
SSG Amey, thank you for putting this statement out there. There are so many lawyers now trying to advertise that they handle claims, the thing is, they get 10%. That is 10% of any and all financial benefits. That's the contract you have sign with them. The VSOs are free, and typically take less time than a lawyer.
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SPC Robert Dott
From Bob D. 173rd. That was my comment about getting a lawyer. Lawyers get whatever percent you negotiate of your initial check. They don't get 10% of all your financial benefits (monthly disability payments). It is against the federal law for "anyone to charge a fee for filing a claim for disability." Like I said, with the VA administration building not up and running here in Philadelphia, PA try getting a service officer to assist with filing a claim. It's really tough right now. I'm not advocating for lawyers. Don't take it for granted that all service officers are kicking ass everyday when working on claims. There are plenty of goldbrickers to go around.
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When filing a claim, make sure you're claim is talking about YOU and what the effects are. Read every question carefully. When answering, feel very descriptive. I'm not saying stretching the truth, but make sure you get all the details on the table, no matter how small. REMEMBER - This claim is about you and how what happened effects you!!! Once you've answered a section, set it down for a while. Come back reread it, checking for "is it the meaning I really meant?", check for spelling and correct grammar. I can't express this enough. Many times when writing things down, we think one thing and write another. Putting it down, come back later and reread it.
If possible while on duty, keep a copy of your medical file. I can't express this enough! It is possible, I did and glad I had the facts when I started working on my claim. Make sure you get things listed in order and have the documents to back it up. So many of us have talked so much about keeping records at home, now is where many of those records will come into play. Remember you got to prove the point, make it slap them in the face when they (VA) read it.
Once you get your claim together get someone else to review it. Contact the VFW, AL, there are people out there who work on this subject as volunteers. They are there to help you, use them.
Don't worry about getting the claim in tomorrow, but get it right the first time, even if it is the day after tomorrow. Once your claim is completed, make a digital copy and secure it so you have it.
I am a Retired Army Reservists, living in Denmark. I got my claim together myself, but had a person reread it as I was working on it. The person would make suggestions on how I should phrase things. I'm going to tell you - THE WRITE UP IS IMPORTANT!!!! You're better to take the time and get it right the first time!!
If possible while on duty, keep a copy of your medical file. I can't express this enough! It is possible, I did and glad I had the facts when I started working on my claim. Make sure you get things listed in order and have the documents to back it up. So many of us have talked so much about keeping records at home, now is where many of those records will come into play. Remember you got to prove the point, make it slap them in the face when they (VA) read it.
Once you get your claim together get someone else to review it. Contact the VFW, AL, there are people out there who work on this subject as volunteers. They are there to help you, use them.
Don't worry about getting the claim in tomorrow, but get it right the first time, even if it is the day after tomorrow. Once your claim is completed, make a digital copy and secure it so you have it.
I am a Retired Army Reservists, living in Denmark. I got my claim together myself, but had a person reread it as I was working on it. The person would make suggestions on how I should phrase things. I'm going to tell you - THE WRITE UP IS IMPORTANT!!!! You're better to take the time and get it right the first time!!
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CPO Ed Ball
If you are referring to PTSD/TBI this is absolutely true. Most other disabilities can be properly adjudicated with proper medical evidence. Ensure doctors document in their progress notes the items that are most important, i.e., my knee locks up 4 or 5 times a week. If you are using the VAMC or CBOC go to Release of Information (ROI) office and obtain a copy of your medical records to ensure the information is in the records, if not, make another appointment and ensure it's included. Have problems, see your Patient Advocate.
For PTSD, VA released stringent requirements for a stressor, but submit the stressor anyway with factual information dates, service members involved, unit(s) involved, casualty reports, etc... Were there newspaper articles? Stars and Stripes wrote articles on Commanding Officers assigned to specific units during OIF/OEF. I once wrote a 1 1/2 page Chronological chain of events for a unit during OIF deployment that substantiate a 1st SGT assassinating an unarmed insurgent in custody, cache weapons finds, IED explosions, Mortar fire, sniper attacks, mass casualties in local markets the unit was patrolling, assassinated police officials by insurgents, etc... needless to say the veteran had blacked out a significant amount of information that eventually got him to 70% disabled that allowed him to file for Individual Unemployability due to lack of "gainful employment". Plus we were able to get his CIB and PH annotated on his DD-214 after the fact through Board of Corrections with the Army.
For PTSD, VA released stringent requirements for a stressor, but submit the stressor anyway with factual information dates, service members involved, unit(s) involved, casualty reports, etc... Were there newspaper articles? Stars and Stripes wrote articles on Commanding Officers assigned to specific units during OIF/OEF. I once wrote a 1 1/2 page Chronological chain of events for a unit during OIF deployment that substantiate a 1st SGT assassinating an unarmed insurgent in custody, cache weapons finds, IED explosions, Mortar fire, sniper attacks, mass casualties in local markets the unit was patrolling, assassinated police officials by insurgents, etc... needless to say the veteran had blacked out a significant amount of information that eventually got him to 70% disabled that allowed him to file for Individual Unemployability due to lack of "gainful employment". Plus we were able to get his CIB and PH annotated on his DD-214 after the fact through Board of Corrections with the Army.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SGM Mikel Dawson please share with all VETERANS. This is a premier site I got while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.
http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/
http://www.militarydisabilitymadeeasy.com/
Military Disability | VA Disability | Info for Disabled American Veterans
Disabled American Veterans: this is the one-stop shop for all your Military Disability and VA Disability needs.
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