What's been your own experience with veterans disability benefits?

LT John Chang — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 12:49:42 -0400

A friend is looking to start up a nonprofit to help those who don't realize what they're entitled to claim.

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Aug 28 at 2018 12:57 PM

LTC Stephan Porter — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 12:57:11 -0400

Just now entering the process, so interested in the answers.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2018 1:33 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 13:33:43 -0400

Claim denied! Medical evidence cannot substantiate that this trauma occurred while in an "active duty status"

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Aug 28 at 2018 1:34 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 13:34:58 -0400

My disability pension is large; and, I have total access to my local VA. LT John Chang

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Aug 28 at 2018 1:46 PM

MSG Stan Hutchison — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 13:46:49 -0400

I have only filed three times. The first one was for tinnitus. Denied because I failed to get any entry of the problem in my active duty medical records. I did not complain about while on active duty, so no entry in my medical records. My bad.
The second was for prostate cancer, presumed by VA to be Agent Orange caused. Received approval in less than 4 months. No assistance. Filed online and provided the necessary documents from the start. I think that is the key. The third was an NOD when I was downgraded (as I knew I would be) VA reduced me to 20%. I appealed immediately with supporting documentation. The NOD was approved and I was upgraded to 40% all within 4 months once again.

Bottom line: Ensure you submit all the required documentation right from the get-go. It is easer to get approval from the start than trying again and again to appeal.

Get the documentation together first!.

Response by SFC Harry H. made Aug 28 at 2018 1:56 PM

SFC Harry H. — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 13:56:42 -0400

Our VA disability system is so abused now. I'm sorry, but if you don't realize you have an issue that you should be claiming then it probably wasn't an issue caused by the government. Good initiative though. I feel a program as such will only lead and help dishonest people into a claim. Although there are some things that granted disabled vets don't realize entitlements are there to claim. Specially when buying a house.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Aug 28 at 2018 2:21 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 14:21:31 -0400

My experience was that I think I got screwed on one issue, otherwise the VA evaluated my claim and awarded percentages based on their own established rules, as my condition was at the time I was evaluated. I was evaluated before I left the Army, because I went to TAP. DAV came and talked to us about claims. As I out processed I went to the DAV office on post And filed my claim with their assistance....they did my claim paperwork based on my medical records. They printed it for me, I signed it, walked next door to the office on the same floor and the VA accepted my claim and time stamped it. It wasn't processed until my retirement date. That took about a month or two. I ended up with 60%

I think it is a relatively bad move. On one hand, this strikes me as morally reprehensible preying on Veterans who don't know, and will pay you for something that can Be done for free. Nonprofit doesn't mean you don't need operating funds. On the other, I know there are deserving vets that have been screwed by their first bite at the Apple and may need experienced assistance.
- First off, you'd have to be living under a rock for the last decade to not know you can file a claim.
- Market Actors: Most installations actually host an office for Veteran Service Organizations like DAV that help you with the claim and appeal process, at no charge. Why should they pay your friend? How can he guarantee a better outcome?
- Competitive advantage: what unique knowledge does your friend have into the claims Process that would give a competitive advantage?
- profit model: how exactly is your friend going to get paid? The max a veteran will get is $2700/month with some exceptions. Most veterans fighting a claim, need the money. Most claims get between 30 and 60 percent. So $810-$1620 per month. Assuming he'll have to either work a flat fee (bad idea) or a percentage for the first year (anything more is predatory), how many clients per year will that take to cover his expenses, pay him a wage, and put something back into the business?
- barriers to entry: there are some large players out there that do this, have a good track record of winning, and know the system. What regulatory licenses/registrations will you need to pursue this industry? Law degree? Medical License? Etc
- market and customer pool: so how many vets with a legit claim depart the service per year and don't know they can file? Really your chance to be successful with the claim is To hit the VA as close to the ETS as possible, otherwise it is a slog, assuming your friend stands by his service, he will then be in that slog. How long can he wait to get paid. Long breaks after service make the claim harder to prove, and a bad business risk to take on.
- sustainability: how much of the customer pool will be there when the we draw down on deployments? Can you hold a ten year drought?

this is a non-starter-uppper and with out sufficient lipstick available to make this pig pretty. His time and effort will be better served working for a VSO that have more experience with these processes.

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made Aug 28 at 2018 4:59 PM

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 16:59:44 -0400

LT John Chang as a former Disabled Veterans Service Officer, the DAV helped so many ceteta s that would have gotten list in the system and not received proper compensation. For the 13 years I was involved, I saw talented, grateful service officers reach out on the certified and accrediated level fight tooth and nail for deserving veterans and still do. With regard to nonprofit organizations, from my past personal experience, many of them realized their was profit in broken veterans and they fronted their nonprofits to make money. Investigations and inquiries proved this. If I were your friend, I would assume that veteran entities such as organizations, VA, partners with veteran entities may be suspicious and reluctant to embrace nonprofits rising up without some major vetting procedures.

Response by SPC Michael Dillon made Aug 28 at 2018 9:45 PM

SPC Michael Dillon — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 21:45:53 -0400

http://www.journalinquirer.com/crime_and_courts/veteran-gets-years-for-bilking-comrades/article_b6016420-d817-11e6-8af8-7306b9527b72.html .

Veteran gets 1 years for bilking comrades

“I’ve just never seen a veteran do this to another veteran,” Carl McElhiney Jr. of Stafford told a federal judge during the sentencing Tuesday of John J. Simon Jr. for

Response by PFC Deborah Shepherd made Sep 3 at 2018 5:31 PM

PFC Deborah Shepherd — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 17:31:44 -0400

I filed when I first got out it took about 6 months. I got a rating of 30% as the years went by I got worse and I went through my DAV and in 3 months I had a 70% rating. That was about 2 years ago I have other issues and it was recommended to me to file again for unemployabilty this would get me a100% I am not ready yet.