One more reason to be a texas veteran

my first go round with the VA actually started on active duty, 6 months out.my med record made the Dallas area yellow pages look anorexic, been dropped/crashed/smashed etc and made sure we had documentation.

then after that was settled i did what the VA asked and had a few surgeries, lots of therapy, both phys and head shrinking
more surgeries, more therapy, more procedures

one mornign i woke up in terrible shape and reopeed my file via the online forms......
15 months later they figured out i was really jacked up, like they hinted on the first run

biggest thing is documentation, all your med records from mil and civilian docs,
letter from friends
relatives
have you ever been hit in the head and lost your ways while on active duty?
toxic substances, etc
it takes time
use your texvet rep in your town they are key to getting the wheels going the right direction.
its all about the attitude as well, its a stressful event, but don't let it stress you
my journey was hard but tenacity prevailed. remember they want you to expire and you want to live, so beat em at their game.

Thanks for all the good advice. Some users offline have also been very helpful.

Do not try to do this by yourself. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) can provide great assistance. You can give them power of attorney to deal with the VA.

You do not have to be a member of the DAV to use this service.

I am going to join because they took great care of my case.

Curt

cheldreth wrote:

Do not try to do this by yourself. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) can provide great assistance. You can give them power of attorney to deal with the VA.

You do not have to be a member of the DAV to use this service.

I am going to join because they took great care of my case.

Curt

DITTO
i used dav on my first go round.

Hi there,
My advice is to find a veterans' service officer to help and skip the online application. The VA looks for three things 1. you had a disease or injury in the service 2. you have problems with it now and 3. a link between the two (doctor visits usually). There are "presumptive " conditions for Vietnam vets ex: diabetes, prostate cancer and 12 more conditions. You must have walked on Vietnam's soil for these,but, you don't have to prove anything else only that you have been diagnosed.There are many service officers that can help. Regards, Donna K. NY

larryf wrote:

I'm jealous. Perhaps it's my ignorance, but I don't have a disability rating or have ever dealt with the VA. Perhaps someone can email me privately or start a new discussion. What would be involved to find out if I qualify for any disability and how do I go about it? Or is it too late - I retired 13 years ago with zero disability.

I’ve been thru the VA nut roll so many times and have helped so many others, that I think that I could write a how-to book. It would be thick.

My first chapter would include this guidance.

1- Never assume that you don’t have a service connected disability. You would be surprised at what the VA recognizes as a disability and what will be paid.

2- Get started. It is very important to understand that any finding in your favor, and any % that you might be awarded, is retroactive only back to the date that you filed your claim. Essentially, you have forfeited money that you may have been entitled to for the last 13 years… and will continue to do so…. until you file the claim.

2- Get an Advocate, Dealing directly with the VA is kinda like being on trial for murder without a lawyer. I would suggest the Disable American Veterans (DAV) organization. If anyone has a Purple Heart, then it also could be the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) organization. Their services are free, but it might be appropriate to join. They are not unlike any other worthwhile advocacy group in depending on membership. Some states have advocate organizations to assist with obtaining benefits from that state. DAV or MOPH will educate you on the VA process, assist you in researching what you can claim, and help you file the claim(s). You can call them first to learn what you need to bring to a face-face meeting.

3- Having access to your military health records is worth all the tea in China. The VA cannot deny a legitimate claim that is substantiated by the paperwork in your medical record. You can still file a claim without them, but then you will be the one having to prove it with other medical documentation.

I have a friend that I helped to file a claim last year and he was awarded 30%. He had waited 15 years to do so. His foot dragging cost him about $65,000 in disability compensation over the 15 year period.

If you don’t want the money, I’ll be happy to have it.