Does anyone have any good advice when it comes to wading through the VA claims process?

I also recommend using a VSO (DAV, American Legion, etc.) or your state may have a VSO who can help. For example in Texas, we have the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) who I use because they are local and located at my VA clinic. The face-to-face visits keep things on track. It does not preclude you from doing your homework when applying for any VA benefits. You need to do basic research. In fact, it behooves you to ask the right questions in guiding your VSO in the right direction with your claim. If one VSO doesn't seem attentive find one who is? I switched from the DAV to the TVC because of the lackluster follow through and more face-to-face personal service. My DAV VSO was located 90 miles away. We had limited personal contact other than snail mail and e-mail. Also it would be beneficial to use a VSO of an organization that you are member of; by way of example I am a Life Member of the DAV. I would highly recommend signing up for a Premium account at the VA's ebenefits portal to track your claims and status at http://www.ebenefits.va.gov.

DAV, American Legion, your State Veteran Office (not the VA), Order of the Purple Heart etc. Do not do this on your own.

I would not attempt this on your own. Veteran service representative (VSO) know how the word the documents. Make sure where you file your claim is where you will be living for a while. There are also some presumptive medical conditions for different areas you served in. The info you find on the web is very good. They have Express claimed at the St. Petersburg. You have to submit a fully developed claim. Keep copies of everything even the VSO paperwork. Where I go they have a office for OIF and OEF to help you through the process.

While I was out processing I had to go the VSO on base to out process. I needed the box checked. The only guy there was a Purple Heart VSO. I told him I'm not a Purple Heart recipient. He said they were there for All Veterans. He gave me lots of advice to get checked out medically before discharge. He said the VA could take years and to take care of all issues on AD. The process is more streamlined for you. Then when I left FSH I checked out DAV in Tallahassee. The chapter was very active and they helped a lot. The DAV where I live does not do much of anything. I use the DAV Reps at the Regional Office where I live. I don't use the American legion because I got kicked out the day I went there with my service dog they let me finish my sandwich I ordered and promptly kicked me out the door. My point is you have to be proactive and check each one out. I've had crappy DAV service officer who clearly hated females and screwed up my paper work. Redated my claimed, outsourced it to another state and told me they could do that til I died. He gave me screwed up advice. I'm still with the DAV but I have a wonderful person who found and fixed all the crap on my 3 year old IU. He connected all the dots because I had every document copied. Soon after that I had a lady from the VA claims call to say she was working on it and requested documents be faxed to her. I believe that it will be completed soon since the appeals team is calling me at home after three years. I'm always hopeful. That was my experience.

Thanks sir, that definitely helps. My claim was never denied, but I failed to appeal my initial claim and am now re-filing in hopes of increasing my original percentage and present a few new claims that I am providing letters from my old platoon leader, company commander and soldiers I directly served with to serve as "documentation." Anything helps, right?

Make copies of everything you submit and start your own file, bro. Think also about connecting with the folks at your local VFW and American Legion. They have people there who can assist with claims/appeals, etc. At least they do in Maryville TN. Best wishes and thanks for your Service.