What tips do you have to navigate VES or Veteran Evaluation Services?

Apply quickly!

Get help! If you are still on active duty, get guidance from those who work at your military branch's Transition Center. They're called ACAP for Army, Airman & Family Readiness Center for Air Force, Fleet & Family Readiness Center for Navy; and something similar for USMC.
If you have already transitioned out, see your state's department of veteran affairs county Veteran Assistance Counselor. They can guide you through the process and some will even complete most the forms for you while there in their office.
For MST survivors, start by contacting your states' MST Coordinator for guidance on all the various forms to complete yourself, and those needed by witnesses of friends you told about it to. There are both male & female MST Coordinators. Call your specific gender coordinator for the best assistance.
If you feel like you can handle it on your own, then e-Benefits (is being migrated over to VA.gov website) is there for you!

My first suggestion would be to secure a Veteran Representative to wage the war for you, as they are more knowledgeable. equipped to handle this task & have direct access to the VA Records Department. Personally, I took advantage of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Outreach Office for assistance & to closely monitor the developments of my case. None of this happens overnight & it shouldn't be expected, as there are Millions of us, many still waiting just like you. VFW, DAV, AMVETS, American Legion, and many more resources are available to us; Find an office close to where you live & allow them to guide you along your path... It's Free and they will find or make use of every advantage available to you. You've earned this & then can help! (After I was Medically released/discharged from Active Duty with TBI, Permanent Nerve Damage & PTSD at the 100% Rating, within 2 years my Benefit Compensation was reduced to 20%, losing all Base Access/Medical Care & my ability to maintain living expenses... Over a 20 Year period of time, through multiple evaluations, appeals & even a period with Voc Rehab, I was finally judged as Unemployable & am now compensated at the 100% Rate.)

Make copies of all your medical records because the VA will lose paperwork! I was medically separated veteran and I still had to submit and resubmit same paperwork multiple times to get my issues service connected due to the ARMY not including all my medical issues listed or submitted to ft Sam Houston at the time of my final rating. It took me 8 yrs to get my 100% service connected disability permanent & totally rating! Which is bullshit since I was a medical separation case. The VA will deny you many times to try and discourage you, but don’t quit. That what they really want you to do. Don’t wait to start the dreaded paperwork and good luck!

i got my dissability 6yrs ago due to depression report was sent from VA to my lawyers which went to court they had enough to prove i was disabled and awarded me win
i have a disc of information which i thought i would be entitled to back pay VSO told me after they seen paperwork wind up is when i served seems those who enlisted during peace time dont qualify ? i was treated for depression at ft. knox in 1982 supposdely government doesnt acknowledge the time frame
i feel as if they do but the said no i had them copy the disc which has all my heatlh and service records
since i moved i cant find the discs that sucks !!!! sure whish i knew where i put it
thanks may god be with us all and bless us for those whom we lost

Checkk up on them! they never turned in my medical exam, never said a word. They sent me to appointments without sending along the authorizations. I would be willing to bet that they are working from home and are not near as watched as they should be. Ive had them hang up on me when kids cry. Not return my calls. Just dont think their watching out for you. They're not.

actually the VA can easliy do bone and skin grafts to tell if a person has been exposed to toxins. I went for a review for Fort Mcclellan Anniston Al. But they said it was not on the exposure list even tho they have a website warning of potential exposures. I was not expecting 100% but a few weeks after my 2nd bone and skin graft I got it. But they wrote down other things besides exposures like stomach 10% ect. try to talk to them about skin and bone grafts evidently they saw something they didnt want to talk to much about. But it makes it difficult to talk to drs who dont see the exposure as the main reason.

I don't know of how much help this would be but I went through the Wounded Warrior Project, and my advocate was someone name Valarie, at least I think that was her name. She handle my case I was receive 100% total and permanent disability.

Let me know what you need?

Sorry for the year delay. I'm not on here much. But I am a 100% disabled veteran and really good at VA comp and pension. And very willing to help.