Issue Position: Veteran claim tips

Issue Position

I want to start of by saying, "Thank you all who have served and for those who continue to serve." I want to talk quickly on an issue that most veterans and soon to be veterans may find of interest. That issue is filing a complete and successful compensation claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Speaking from experience, and I have battled with the regional office here in Jackson, Mississippi. It will save a great deal of time and heart ache if veterans make sure that they give the V.A. all the evidence in support of their claim that they can find. I mean all the evidence possible! The V.A.R.O. (veterans administration regional office) is going to scrutinize every piece of information the veteran sends them.

Some quick things I want to share with veterans are tips on possible ways to make your claim for compensation stronger and hopefully the rater grants your claim. While I am not a lawyer, and the information I give is not to be taken as legal advice, these are methods that I have found to help me win my claim at the regional office. One thing that I would recommend veterans familiarize themselves with is the 38 CFR Book C, Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The information lists all of the medical codes that the V.A.R.O. uses to rate the different medical issues that a veteran may be diagnosed with. I found this helpful because it gives the maximum amount of rating percentage allowed for each medical condition listed under that particular code. Sometimes, we as veterans feel that we should be granted a higher percentage for a medical condition and sometimes it is just that the code may not allow for a rating no higher than 20%, 30%, or 40% etc. Knowing this could possibly limit the time it takes for a claim to be rated simply because of the limited amount of time being wasted through sending and resending information to the V.A.R.O.

Another thing I would suggest is do not withold any medical information that a veteran may have in his/her possession. Even if the medical documentation did not occur during military service. Give them all the medical information that is needed, to avoid or limit the amount you have to resend information. The reason that I put emphasis on giving them all the medical information they need is because I battled with the regional office for two years. Most of the time was them sending me computer generated letters asking for more medical evidence before they made a decision. Also, try not to file another claim if you have a claim already pending. This could cause the veterans claim to be prolonged.

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