Posted on Feb 13, 2016
The 4 Key Things That Must Be Proven In Every VA Benefits Claim
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This is going to sound strange coming from an attorney who represents veterans, but not every veteran needs to hire an attorney or veteran service organization to represent them. There are many of you out there who are perfectly capable of handling your own VA claim or appeal.
I encourage veterans who want to take charge of their own claim to work through these eight steps to improve your own VA claim. I developed the eight-step approach, and use it in my firm’s claims and appeals cases, after years of studying how the VA does, and does not, handle claims and appeals.
The first step in this approach is to admit that we, veterans, see the problem in our VA claims and are ready to do something about it.
The problem isn’t the VA. The problem isn’t Congress. Okay, they are the problem. But you can’t fix that problem. The VA has been a soup sandwich for 100 years and will continue to be one.
The problem — the one that we can fix — is that we have the ability to take back the power in our own VA claims and appeals.
There are four key things that need to be proved in just about any VA benefits claim — what I call the four pillars. These are:
•Make sure you have qualifying service and eligibility as a veteran
•Know the five paths to service connection
•Take the mystery out of the impairment rating
•Fight for the correct effective date
I encourage veterans who want to take charge of their own claim to work through these eight steps to improve your own VA claim. I developed the eight-step approach, and use it in my firm’s claims and appeals cases, after years of studying how the VA does, and does not, handle claims and appeals.
The first step in this approach is to admit that we, veterans, see the problem in our VA claims and are ready to do something about it.
The problem isn’t the VA. The problem isn’t Congress. Okay, they are the problem. But you can’t fix that problem. The VA has been a soup sandwich for 100 years and will continue to be one.
The problem — the one that we can fix — is that we have the ability to take back the power in our own VA claims and appeals.
There are four key things that need to be proved in just about any VA benefits claim — what I call the four pillars. These are:
•Make sure you have qualifying service and eligibility as a veteran
•Know the five paths to service connection
•Take the mystery out of the impairment rating
•Fight for the correct effective date
The 4 Key Things That Must Be Proven In Every VA Benefits Claim
Posted from taskandpurpose.comPosted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Disabled Veterans
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Disabled Veterans
Posted 9 y ago
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Thanks SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. I thought SGT (Join to see) asked a similar question last week.
The four pillars are not sufficient in and of themselves
•Make sure you have qualifying service and eligibility as a veteran
•Know the five paths to service connection
•Take the mystery out of the impairment rating
•Fight for the correct effective date
Since the VBA is in control of the evaluation process and they contract out evaluations, you need to ensure that your evaluation is properly recorded. Normally I would not recommend this but based on the lengthy appeals backlog and the vast number of evaluations it is in your best interest to ensure your evaluation is properly recorded.
I am wrestling with that issue right now. VBA denied my request because they falsely claimed I did not I attend my scheduled appointment and they said I did not provide my employment information. I have a copy of the receipt of the employment information from VBA since it was sent from the VA Patient Advocate at Martinsburg, WV VAMC.
TO BE FOREWARNED IS TO BE FOREARMED.
The four pillars are not sufficient in and of themselves
•Make sure you have qualifying service and eligibility as a veteran
•Know the five paths to service connection
•Take the mystery out of the impairment rating
•Fight for the correct effective date
Since the VBA is in control of the evaluation process and they contract out evaluations, you need to ensure that your evaluation is properly recorded. Normally I would not recommend this but based on the lengthy appeals backlog and the vast number of evaluations it is in your best interest to ensure your evaluation is properly recorded.
I am wrestling with that issue right now. VBA denied my request because they falsely claimed I did not I attend my scheduled appointment and they said I did not provide my employment information. I have a copy of the receipt of the employment information from VBA since it was sent from the VA Patient Advocate at Martinsburg, WV VAMC.
TO BE FOREWARNED IS TO BE FOREARMED.
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