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Filing a claim for benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is actually quite simple. It is what comes after you file that can cause much headache, heartburn and consternation for the veteran and/or their family members.
One of the things you must know out the gate is that the VA is obliged under law to assist you in obtaining all pertinent information regarding your claim. The VA can assist in obtaining your medical and service records. It is its job to do so. That’s the good news. Unfortunately, due to the requirements of the service member’s job (MOS/AFSC) those records may not always be readily available. This is especially so if your duties involves Special Operations units. Those records many times are classified and extra hoops must be jumped to get access. This also applies to medical records. It is not impossible but it can be more difficult. If you are/were a special operator, you need to be aware of this up front. That is one of the more difficult aspects of getting through the VA claims process.
Most of the time, navigating the VA is not that difficult but it is time consuming. Even the simplest of claims can take several months. More difficult cases have taken years. That is sad because in the interim, the veteran and his family may suffer from continuing issues, financial strains & stresses that can compound matters leading to other more serious problems. You, the Veteran, needs to educate yourself and have as much info as possible before you begin. If the VA needs more information, it will ask you for it.
The first thing you can do if you are in the military now and something I suggest to everyone considering the military for either a one or two term enlistment or a career, keep a copy of every, EVERY piece of paper that you get that has your name on it. Whether you file those papers away in a hard file or scan them into a computer, KEEP IT ALL! You never know when it might come in handy or necessary. On a personal note, keeping my very first passport helped me prevail on a claim as it proved I was boots on the ground in Vietnam.
The VA started out as a very honorable venture. "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan" (Abraham Lincoln).
Since that time the VA has blossomed and ballooned into one of the largest (and most bureaucratic) organizations dedicated to veterans in the world. In spite of its size and capabilities it does not know everything about you, your health, the bases or posts you were assigned to or the things done at those installations.
The military is usually pretty good at keeping records and even better at keeping things secret. That does not mean things cannot be found out and uncovered. A common phrase I hear is, deny, deny, deny until we all die. This is where your tenacity comes into effect. You must keep fighting for your due. You must keep fighting; keep looking for that one missing piece of data that will win your award. As long as you respond within the timeframes given by the VA, your clock on that claim keeps running. The old adage, the sooner, the better, is a rule to live by. You have absolutely nothing to lose by filing a claim for disability benefits. Every day you wait is a day missed that you could possibly be compensated and cared for by the VA. You have to prove your case to the VA but they also must help you.
You do not have to bear this battle alone. In addition to the VA and your own personal records and knowledge there are other resources available to help you. All of the fraternal service organizations, the VFW, American Legion, DAV, AMVETS, VVA, etc. all have service officers to help you with your claims. You also DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER of any particular organization to use its service officer. Most counties and parishes across the US have service officers that do nothing but assist veterans. In addition to these resources there are Accredited Attorneys and Accredited Claims Agents who also assist veterans in the claims process. Filing a claim costs you nothing…nothing but your time to do the paperwork. I also recommend you look for a service officer, attorney or claims agent in the same manner you would buy a car. Find someone with whom you feel comfortable. Then proceed from there. If at any time you lose confidence in that person, look for another. It costs you nothing to change your representative in filing a claim.
James “Jim” Gilmore is a 100% rated Disabled Veteran from the Vietnam War. He is a VA Accredited Claims Agent. Jim lives in Thailand with his wife Lisa and helps serve the US Veterans residing in Thailand and surrounding countries.
One of the things you must know out the gate is that the VA is obliged under law to assist you in obtaining all pertinent information regarding your claim. The VA can assist in obtaining your medical and service records. It is its job to do so. That’s the good news. Unfortunately, due to the requirements of the service member’s job (MOS/AFSC) those records may not always be readily available. This is especially so if your duties involves Special Operations units. Those records many times are classified and extra hoops must be jumped to get access. This also applies to medical records. It is not impossible but it can be more difficult. If you are/were a special operator, you need to be aware of this up front. That is one of the more difficult aspects of getting through the VA claims process.
Most of the time, navigating the VA is not that difficult but it is time consuming. Even the simplest of claims can take several months. More difficult cases have taken years. That is sad because in the interim, the veteran and his family may suffer from continuing issues, financial strains & stresses that can compound matters leading to other more serious problems. You, the Veteran, needs to educate yourself and have as much info as possible before you begin. If the VA needs more information, it will ask you for it.
The first thing you can do if you are in the military now and something I suggest to everyone considering the military for either a one or two term enlistment or a career, keep a copy of every, EVERY piece of paper that you get that has your name on it. Whether you file those papers away in a hard file or scan them into a computer, KEEP IT ALL! You never know when it might come in handy or necessary. On a personal note, keeping my very first passport helped me prevail on a claim as it proved I was boots on the ground in Vietnam.
The VA started out as a very honorable venture. "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan" (Abraham Lincoln).
Since that time the VA has blossomed and ballooned into one of the largest (and most bureaucratic) organizations dedicated to veterans in the world. In spite of its size and capabilities it does not know everything about you, your health, the bases or posts you were assigned to or the things done at those installations.
The military is usually pretty good at keeping records and even better at keeping things secret. That does not mean things cannot be found out and uncovered. A common phrase I hear is, deny, deny, deny until we all die. This is where your tenacity comes into effect. You must keep fighting for your due. You must keep fighting; keep looking for that one missing piece of data that will win your award. As long as you respond within the timeframes given by the VA, your clock on that claim keeps running. The old adage, the sooner, the better, is a rule to live by. You have absolutely nothing to lose by filing a claim for disability benefits. Every day you wait is a day missed that you could possibly be compensated and cared for by the VA. You have to prove your case to the VA but they also must help you.
You do not have to bear this battle alone. In addition to the VA and your own personal records and knowledge there are other resources available to help you. All of the fraternal service organizations, the VFW, American Legion, DAV, AMVETS, VVA, etc. all have service officers to help you with your claims. You also DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER of any particular organization to use its service officer. Most counties and parishes across the US have service officers that do nothing but assist veterans. In addition to these resources there are Accredited Attorneys and Accredited Claims Agents who also assist veterans in the claims process. Filing a claim costs you nothing…nothing but your time to do the paperwork. I also recommend you look for a service officer, attorney or claims agent in the same manner you would buy a car. Find someone with whom you feel comfortable. Then proceed from there. If at any time you lose confidence in that person, look for another. It costs you nothing to change your representative in filing a claim.
James “Jim” Gilmore is a 100% rated Disabled Veteran from the Vietnam War. He is a VA Accredited Claims Agent. Jim lives in Thailand with his wife Lisa and helps serve the US Veterans residing in Thailand and surrounding countries.
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Health
Healthcare
Disabled Veterans
Vietnam War
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Healthcare Disabled Veterans Vietnam War
Edited 6 y ago
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 75
44
44
0
Well said. You have to keep every piece of paper, copies of orders, etc. You never know what you might have to prove
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
I don’t know if you are Active Duty or Reserve or Guard, So what medical service do you use; Army facility, AF med facility next to a Army Post, the VA ? When I first entered Active service after a short time In AF Reserves , I was assigned to McGuire AFB next to Fort Dix. All McGuire had was a Dispensary .. an attempt was made by the Base and Wing Cmdrs and a AF Flight surgeon to add a 10 bed hospital. E’thing Got built. Then came to a halt. What happened ? The Army thought they would lose some funds the AF paid them to care for seriously ill patients. They appealed to their U.S. Senate Rep to quash that clinic add on. It wasn’t built to steal from the Army.. S’times there were just cases that were serious enough for some o’night care in a separate setting.. but not evacced to a Army hospital 2 miles away. PFC Donnie Harold Harris So anyway because of the Army’s crying about the lost AF income and greed over a few $1000 bucks, and that NJ Sen. Mbr.
I had injury that required some meds the AF didn’t have so I got evacced to Dix. The AF told them what they thought I needed.. Some penny-pincher Doc gave me s’thing less expensive and the wrong med.
They sent me back to McGuire..
The Doc at McGuire told me over the phone to come back to dispdnsary before going back to your Squadron.. I want to see how good the medicine works.. So I have the ride leave me at the clinic
And I go in and report to Doc. I’m glad he did that because in minutes I broke out in a bad rash and attained a fever of a 107•F Doc wanted to know why they lowered what he recommended.. they wouldn’t give an Answer... he had our Wing Cmdr on the horn and
Explained to him the what the Army did . (All the service we’re getting some inferior docs..back in early 70s.. got a deal on taking some losers.) This Doc I had was one of the good ones. Our Cmdr got with Army I.G. To find out why they order the med changed.. Why? It was too expensive to give to an enlisted person ! The Hospital Cmdr caught heck.. He said he didn’t know they were giving inferior cut-rate drug samples to the enlisted .
A lot of accusations went back and forth at Fort Dix.. Forgunate at least some good med was sent and I was given another(Benadryl in early 70s?).. to take down the rash.
That and some hot paste under gauze helped.. I’m not the suing type and the Military has a lot of rules against suing unqualified docs
for bad practice..back then. I had no interest in getting out and wanted to get back to work. I got some days of med rest in my room.in the bks. (So we couldn’t use that new section U.S. Army Corps Engineers condemned it temporary.. That Senator and Army had s’thing to do with that.. just surmising.. that was a long time ago so I’m not concerned with libel/slander now.. besides I think that Senator is deceased..) I had to go over every other day to get checked over and a med tech bud who worked Mil pub hlth came by on in between days. I really wanted to get back to work.. and when I was released from so-called bed-rest I got reassigned to SAC Alert
Facility for a short work time.. it would be easier duty.. ha! I don’t work that way.. I have a set of the
Henkel knives and other kitchen tools.. I got working and making
Great stuff for them there . With
Less to cook for I could prepare a more exquisite entree and sides...
Well word gets back to main facilty and Airmen guests are raising a ruckus of where is their baked stuffed n rolled cheesy potatoes
And grilled roast brisket.. and roasted or grilled stuffed chops ( chop is cut butterfly style. Warm precooked dress’g spooned on.[2 oz.] close chip. Wrap with blanched bacon and grill or bake/broil in oven until proper cook temp of 165•F )
I would do baked stuffed potatoes in a half shell need a russet that has kind of a strong skin so it holds the whipped cheesy potatoes good without breaking down during cooktime. (Light skinned potatoes just don’t do well as stuffed . They can be baked but don’t alter the potato inside. . Baked Sweet Pototes. Getting the right oval ones with a lot of potato can be ajob to go through and pick them out.. but can be done. Just takes longer to prep.. after finding the right ones and baking to a almost done state
(98%). Halve n score potato tab butter and brown sugar insert back in oven a few minutes and remove to serving line. Marshmellows!
I have done simple syrup and added to the eggwhites mixing and made
Marshmellow up to a point but keep it warm and a crock on side and they can dip a dipper of their own marshmallow on their sweet potato.
Not e’body likes marshmallow !
I get off on another subject but I
do that sometimes a lot ! Cook’g In a main facility takes a lot more personnel that know what they’re doing w/o having to keep going back and showing them ..
I did pick up on a idea from an old
Master and used it several times.
A serving line has about 6 to 8 pan slots.. if you have 6 to 8 spaces you can get e’thing on the line... your main factor is timing so you can
And having enough personnel to do it. If people are deployed or have appointments.. (I’ve gotten my boss, A MSGT get on and talk them to moving a Airman’s dental(clean’g) appointment earlier or later or even to that Airman’s day off if I can.. they are supposed to ‘try’ and do that anyway.. get appointments on their time .
I get a few whiners that are upset their app’ts got changed to their day off because they had s’thing better to do on that day.. I always prayed for rain on my dental day..
Who wants to spend a day off doing nothing but watch tv or sleep or doing their training books ? I tell them: did you know it’s Going to rain tomorrow bob? How about and helping me a couple hours or a half day and i’ll Make sure you get comped, even if I gotta come on my off day to do it! So, will you pretty please(gotta grovel a little..). I know I can pull some you need some OJT line of bull. But that’s last resort..
The women on shift s’times are more willing.. Well Amn Margaret C. If you really Sunday off to sleep in after a concert.. I got a big lunch/dinner planned by those above us on your off day and I see by your train’g records you need some 1st Cook time.. So how about we schedule you for that day , will that work for you? Oky doky, See you then, have a great after concert day off ! They get what they want and I do too and so does Squadron train’g NCO..
I had injury that required some meds the AF didn’t have so I got evacced to Dix. The AF told them what they thought I needed.. Some penny-pincher Doc gave me s’thing less expensive and the wrong med.
They sent me back to McGuire..
The Doc at McGuire told me over the phone to come back to dispdnsary before going back to your Squadron.. I want to see how good the medicine works.. So I have the ride leave me at the clinic
And I go in and report to Doc. I’m glad he did that because in minutes I broke out in a bad rash and attained a fever of a 107•F Doc wanted to know why they lowered what he recommended.. they wouldn’t give an Answer... he had our Wing Cmdr on the horn and
Explained to him the what the Army did . (All the service we’re getting some inferior docs..back in early 70s.. got a deal on taking some losers.) This Doc I had was one of the good ones. Our Cmdr got with Army I.G. To find out why they order the med changed.. Why? It was too expensive to give to an enlisted person ! The Hospital Cmdr caught heck.. He said he didn’t know they were giving inferior cut-rate drug samples to the enlisted .
A lot of accusations went back and forth at Fort Dix.. Forgunate at least some good med was sent and I was given another(Benadryl in early 70s?).. to take down the rash.
That and some hot paste under gauze helped.. I’m not the suing type and the Military has a lot of rules against suing unqualified docs
for bad practice..back then. I had no interest in getting out and wanted to get back to work. I got some days of med rest in my room.in the bks. (So we couldn’t use that new section U.S. Army Corps Engineers condemned it temporary.. That Senator and Army had s’thing to do with that.. just surmising.. that was a long time ago so I’m not concerned with libel/slander now.. besides I think that Senator is deceased..) I had to go over every other day to get checked over and a med tech bud who worked Mil pub hlth came by on in between days. I really wanted to get back to work.. and when I was released from so-called bed-rest I got reassigned to SAC Alert
Facility for a short work time.. it would be easier duty.. ha! I don’t work that way.. I have a set of the
Henkel knives and other kitchen tools.. I got working and making
Great stuff for them there . With
Less to cook for I could prepare a more exquisite entree and sides...
Well word gets back to main facilty and Airmen guests are raising a ruckus of where is their baked stuffed n rolled cheesy potatoes
And grilled roast brisket.. and roasted or grilled stuffed chops ( chop is cut butterfly style. Warm precooked dress’g spooned on.[2 oz.] close chip. Wrap with blanched bacon and grill or bake/broil in oven until proper cook temp of 165•F )
I would do baked stuffed potatoes in a half shell need a russet that has kind of a strong skin so it holds the whipped cheesy potatoes good without breaking down during cooktime. (Light skinned potatoes just don’t do well as stuffed . They can be baked but don’t alter the potato inside. . Baked Sweet Pototes. Getting the right oval ones with a lot of potato can be ajob to go through and pick them out.. but can be done. Just takes longer to prep.. after finding the right ones and baking to a almost done state
(98%). Halve n score potato tab butter and brown sugar insert back in oven a few minutes and remove to serving line. Marshmellows!
I have done simple syrup and added to the eggwhites mixing and made
Marshmellow up to a point but keep it warm and a crock on side and they can dip a dipper of their own marshmallow on their sweet potato.
Not e’body likes marshmallow !
I get off on another subject but I
do that sometimes a lot ! Cook’g In a main facility takes a lot more personnel that know what they’re doing w/o having to keep going back and showing them ..
I did pick up on a idea from an old
Master and used it several times.
A serving line has about 6 to 8 pan slots.. if you have 6 to 8 spaces you can get e’thing on the line... your main factor is timing so you can
And having enough personnel to do it. If people are deployed or have appointments.. (I’ve gotten my boss, A MSGT get on and talk them to moving a Airman’s dental(clean’g) appointment earlier or later or even to that Airman’s day off if I can.. they are supposed to ‘try’ and do that anyway.. get appointments on their time .
I get a few whiners that are upset their app’ts got changed to their day off because they had s’thing better to do on that day.. I always prayed for rain on my dental day..
Who wants to spend a day off doing nothing but watch tv or sleep or doing their training books ? I tell them: did you know it’s Going to rain tomorrow bob? How about and helping me a couple hours or a half day and i’ll Make sure you get comped, even if I gotta come on my off day to do it! So, will you pretty please(gotta grovel a little..). I know I can pull some you need some OJT line of bull. But that’s last resort..
The women on shift s’times are more willing.. Well Amn Margaret C. If you really Sunday off to sleep in after a concert.. I got a big lunch/dinner planned by those above us on your off day and I see by your train’g records you need some 1st Cook time.. So how about we schedule you for that day , will that work for you? Oky doky, See you then, have a great after concert day off ! They get what they want and I do too and so does Squadron train’g NCO..
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
by the way Private I was an A1C and holding a 1st Cook and occasionally trusted to hold shift leader too.. my leaders had that much trust in me..
and my Cheffing skills. S’thing that normally falls to more senior cooks.
and my Cheffing skills. S’thing that normally falls to more senior cooks.
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SGT Thomas Seward
Orders... oh my, orders... I was asked about 10 years ago if I still had our Desert Storm orders. And I did. I don’t know if they still do ‘group’ orders, but there are about 20 others listed on the orders with me. It could be extremely important to someone else listed on the orders on future claims. The orders are proof that you were there and could be a witness to a fellow soldiers injury that didn’t seem important at the time!
I broke my elbow and the hospital records never caught up with my medical records, and the hospital records are AWOL. Witnesses are all I have left if the VA were to deny a claim.
I broke my elbow and the hospital records never caught up with my medical records, and the hospital records are AWOL. Witnesses are all I have left if the VA were to deny a claim.
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SGT Thomas Seward
PFC Donnie Harold Harris Sad doesn’t even begin to cover the deplorable treatment that we get on so many occasions.
That being said, there are also some fantastic people working for the VA! Many times the rules in place to protect us are the very rules that hurt us!
That being said, there are also some fantastic people working for the VA! Many times the rules in place to protect us are the very rules that hurt us!
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PV2 Jd Starr
MCPOCG Souixe Q. - Only 22 years? Lucky Dog!! I argued and fought for 39 years over a blown out knee from a parachute jump that had the medical records in their possession. Finally got the service connection, and now the VA is telling me that I have many more problems that are service connected, and are helping MOST vigorously to get all the approvals and ratings. Could it be that they don't want any Congressman poking around over why it took 39 years?
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SGT Warren Crutcher
The VA has several web sites now just to confuse you even more. They have the eBenefits which is a real pain to change your password every 90 days to a new one. Then you have VA.gov which you can do a lot of the stuff you can do on eBenefits, And they also have MyHealtheVet where you can make medical appointmments, refill prescriptions, print out your appointment schedule, and contact your Primary Care through secure messaging.
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SGT Warren Crutcher
SGT Warren Crutcher - UPDATE!! The E-Benefits web site is now being moved over to the VA.gov web site. VA.gov doesn't have that crazy DoD log in where you have to have a 20 character pass word and change it every 90 days. And it can't be similar to any password you've ever had in your entire life. So that's good news i hope.
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