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How To Effectively Communicate With Your VA
The well written letter is the most potent weapon in your arsenal.
VAWatchdog recommends that the veteran only communicate with VA by letter.
Every letter must always be delivered using certified mail, return receipt
requested.
* All communications with your VA must be by certified mail only!
* Telephone calls must
be avoided.
* Even a fax, although it may seem faster and simpler, is no
guarantee that your message was delivered. Sure, you get that piece of
paper saying the transmission was successful but you don't know if the
machine on the other end had toner and paper.
* Your letter should be neatly crafted to resemble an official VA communication just as they would write to you.
* The format is the same for all communications to your VA. All correspondence should appear much like the templates below.
* Keep it brief. Do not tell your life story. These are business communications. Most letters to VA should be a single page only.
* Stick to the point. If you want an
increase for that knee condition, don't go into details about your
finances or other problems.
* Be polite, courteous and professional.
The person who reads your letter is a human and this is not the time to
vent your anger at VA. It's likely that this person wants to award you
the rating you deserve. Don't alienate him or her with your personal
feelings.
Notice of Disagreement (NOD)
01/01/2012
VIA Certified Mail RRR
Department of Veterans Affairs
Your Regional Office
PO Box 12345-0987
The Big City, State ZIP
Reference: DOE, JOHN L / 000/111/9087
Dear Sir/Madame:
I applied for a disability benefit rating DATE. I am in receipt of your letter of DATE that notifies me that your decision is to deny my request.
This letter is my Notice of Disagreement with that decision.
I wish to appeal that decision using the DRO process. Thank you for your kind consideration of my request.
Respectfully,
John Doe
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
A letter to request an increase in an existing benefit.
01/01/2012
VIA Certified Mail RRR
Department of Veterans Affairs
Your Regional Office
PO Box 12345-0987
The Big City, State ZIP
Reference: DOE, JOHN L / 000/111/9087
Dear Sir/Madame:
I believe that my condition has steadily become worse since this rating was awarded. I have compared my current condition to that listed in the Schedule For Rating Disabilities and I see that it would be more appropriate that I would now be rated at 30%.
I am applying for that rating increase.
Thank you for your kind consideration of my request.
Respectfully,
John Doe
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
A Generic Letter To Use For Any Communication With VA
01/01/2012 (DATE)
VIA Certified Mail RRR
Department of Veterans Affairs (The Address of Your VA Regional Office is Here)
Your Regional Office
PO Box 12345-0987
The Big City, State ZIP
Reference: DOE, JOHN L / 000/111/9087 (These numbers may be located on communications from VA to you)
Dear Sir/Madame: (Always use this generic salutation)
(In the body of your letter, tell the VA why you are writing. Describe a problem. Make a request. Ask a question.
Be specific. The more specific you are the better the VA reply is likely to be.
Keep this brief. Rambling and writing irrelevant information will delay the response.)
Thank you for your kind consideration of my request.
Respectfully,
John Doe
(Don't forget to sign your name and to include all current contact information)
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
Make copies for your records!
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