How Federal Marijuana Policy Is Pushing
Veterans into the Black Market
A California group is fighting to end a federal
prohibition that makes it impossible
for veterans to get cannabis through the VA.
How Do You Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits?
Information on social security disability benefits
Mask Exemption Cards From the ‘Freedom
They’re Fake
The group, which is selling the cards online, is not a real government organization, federal officials said.
Applying for Disability Benefits During a Global Pandemic
It can take months or even years to get approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in the best of times. Needless to say, now is not the best of times, however, don’t let that stop you. And don’t put it off.
The NPRC
Military Records DD 214
Urgent Care Centers
One of the most important benefits you have today is
the authorization to use an urgent care center
near to you. But first, you have to
to take with you. Don't wait until you need this
benefit to prepare for it. Read this now,
print your papers and be prepared!
CVSO
Do You Need No Cost Help Filing
A Claim?
Travel Advisories
Google Tracks You
and we don't.
DuckDuckGo apps block
Google's hidden trackers.
The world needs an alternative
How America Lost the War on Covid-19
It wasn’t because of our culture, it was
because of our leadership.
Robert Wilkie <robert.wilkie@va.gov> 855-948-2311
You Need An
Independent Medical Opinion
'How To Lie With Statistics'
Accreditation & Discipline
Lodging & Camping in southern Illinois with access to the Shawnee National
We offer lodging, camping,
stabling, corral, pasture,
access to a hunting lease and
discounts for America's
military veterans!
Our active duty military and COVID-19
America's active duty military is suffering.
Some won't recover, others won't fully recover and will be med boarded with lasting disabilities. Some of you will finish your obligation but will face lifelong disabling conditions. Are you ready?
Veterans Disability Benefits
Learn about types of benefits available to some veterans with disabilities. These include compensation, pensions, and grants for veterans with certain service-connected disabilities as well as pensions for some veterans 65 and older and grants for vets with age-related disabilities
Nexus and IMO Letters
What You Should Know about Disability and Debt
There Are Protections...When it comes to debt collection, disability income enjoys special status.
Just the FAQs - Divorce & the Disabled Veteran
Under Development
Just Do It Yourself!
Welcome to the KnowVA Knowledge Base
Locate information more quickly and efficiently
Web Automated Reference Material System
Compensation and Pension Materials
How To Get Urgent Care For Free
You are authorized urgent care but you must be prepared!
How Divorce, Alimony, and Child Support
Affect Veterans' VA Benefits
VA benefits can be garnished only for spousal or child support,
and only under certain conditions.
How to file a VA disability claim
Find out how to file a claim for disability compensation
or increased disability compensation.
Types of VA disability claims and when to file
Find out when you can first file a claim for service-connected benefits—and what to do if you want
to request more benefits or have new evidence to
support a claim we denied in the past.
Informed Consent and Advance Directives
A Rule by the Veterans Affairs Department on 05/27/2020
Drug testing, HIV testing, Mental Health
Will I still get a stimulus check?
Welcome Home
We're glad you're here
Stay a while, won't you?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255
How do you win your claim or appeal? The facts speak for themselves!!!
BVA Annual Report 2018 Board Dispositions By Representation Page 31
Appeals Allowed/Awarded By Attorney 44.61%
By Agent 38.79% By State Service Officer 35.17% By AL 34.53% By DAV 33.70%
This isn't the complete list, you need to
click here to see that.
Your chances of winning an appeal are
better if you are represented by an
accredited veterans law attorney.
Download VA benefit letters
To receive some benefits, Veterans need a letter
proving their status.
Splitting Up and Splitting Benefits
In the federal retirement world, divorces
can be complicated
Jim Strickland
jim912@gmail.com
Medical Marijuana Card
Tell the doctor you saw it on VAWatchdog
and ask about veterans discounts!
Title 38 - Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief
Volume: 1Date: 2019-07-01Original
Date: 2019-07-01Title: PART 17 - MEDICAL
COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR VETERANS
Information regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs
Ignored warnings result in Veterans denied benefits
VA ended a review process that might have prevented thousands of mistaken denials during pandemic.
VA Health Care Public Health Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
What you should know
VA is working closely with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal partners, monitoring an outbreak of Novel Coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
VA Sees a Surge in Veterans Using
Telehealth to Access Healthcare
Due to the COVID-19 emergency, veterans are logging onto the VA Video Connect app more than 120,000 times a week to access care, a 1,000 percent increase in traffic compared to a typical three-month span.
I did that for years & it's
the best thing ever. Get
into the belly of the beast.
Do You Need
Medical Care
RIGHT NOW?
You are already authorized
to use an urgent
care clinic!
Hey Jim: Spent some time reviewing VA’s Proposed Rule in regards to Characterization of Discharges. I think they are actually doing a pretty good job at bringing things up to date. Some might cringe at it, but VA is setting down a standard for behavior for those that want VA benefits and the biggest change I see is them laying out a deliberate time standard for “willful misconduct”—fundamentally, VA proposes two or more incidents within a two year period of service can lead to such a categorization. Now, for those veterans with an Honorable or General Discharge under Honorable Circumstances, that’s no problem—the strength of the discharge itself provides for eligibility. For those with an OTH discharge, then the VA determination as to “willful” or “willful and persistent misconduct” comes into play. So, we face a situation where a veteran may well be denied benefits because of their behavior/acts of immaturity when they served and they then bettered themselves after discharge, but that seems to make sense to me. In the end, I would hope all veterans can take pride in their service and that they served appropriately. In cases where service circumstances led to issues, the discharge upgrade route is always available, as is appeal of VA COD determinations for compelling circumstances. For malingerers, willful disciplinary issues, and the like, I do think those individuals shouldn’t be entitled to receive follow-on benefits.
Best, Drew
Guidance for VA home loan borrowers
during COVID-19
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security (Cares) Act of 2020 Guidance for Borrowers
with VA-guaranteed Home Loans
Create or update your will fast / 100% free
Make your will with FreeWill today
Healthcare directives,
proxies, living wills and durable financial power of attorney.
All are free to use.
Schedule for Rating Disabilities
Owe VA Money???
To Loneliness And Isolation For Seniors
Did you know that hearing loss and tinnitus are the
most commonly rated veterans disabilities? Did you
know that hearing loss and tinnitus can cause
other secondary conditions, particularly mental
health problems like depression and loneliness?
Watchdog says former top VA official steered
A former top official at the Department of
Veterans Affairs improperly steered a
$5 million contract for leadership development
and training services to a friend's business,
Regional Processing Offices
VA has three Regional Processing Offices (RPO)
that handle GI Bill claims. Find your region
Frequently Asked Questions for Student Veterans
Just who do you think
you are?
Stats about veterans.
Percent of U.S. adult population who are veterans in 2017, by state
Employment Data for Veterans With Disabilities
Employment Situation of Veterans Summary
Immigrant Veterans in the United States
Demographics of the U.S. Military
Veterans and Military Documents
Military Programs and Benefits
Facts on Veterans and Entrepreneurship
American War and Military Operations
Casualties: Lists and Statistics
Tinnitus and hearing loss among
Veteran Social Security Beneficiaries
Veteran-Owned Businesses and Their Owners
48 Interesting U.S. Military Facts
The American Veteran Experience and the Post-9/11 Generation
National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics - Quick Facts
Global Firepower - 2019 World Military Strength Rankings
PAPER Evidence Records
and Claims All Go Here
V A Claims Intake Center
PO BOX 4444
JANESVILLE, WI
53547- 4444
Toll Free Fax:
844-531-7818
Who is eligible to get a coronavirus stimulus check?
If you owe child support, you might not get one
VA & Marijuana Random Drug Screens
Veterans Psych Evaluations
Brett Valette, Ph.D.
Providing Military Veterans Personalized Psychological and Medical Evaluations. Complete the Contact form, and you'll get a personal phone call from us. We listen, and want to know what you are going through. We provide Independent Medical Evaluations (IME), Independent Medical Opinions (IMO) and nexus letters for ratings reviews, secondary conditions, medical conditions, discharge upgrades, and many types of denied claims. We also provide Social Security Disability claim reports.
Some Wounds Can't Be Seen Contact Us Today
Update and Clarify Regulatory Bars to Benefits
Based on Character of Discharge
A Proposed Rule by the Veterans Affairs Department on 07/10/2020
You've Arrived at the VAWatchdog Dot Org!
Welcome Home
We've been keeping veterans informed of news and events important to them since 2005.
You'll find all you need to file your claim and referrals to professionals who can help you when things don't go well.
What you won't find here is unending chat or opinions from strangers who like to think of themselves as experts.
Our goal is to ensure that you are awarded the benefits you earned with your service to our country.
We're here to help you take charge of your benefits, and that is all.
Extra schedular ratings under
How can I get an extra schedular rating?
To receive an extra schedular rating the veteran
must first show that the veteran’s
conditions result in a disability picture
that is not covered by the schedule of ratings.
C&P Service Clinician’s Guide
Scheduled For A C & P??? Filing A Claim?
This is a must read for you!!!
I've been posting this again and again over the years and it's still one of the best ways
I know to win your case.
Published in 2002 the principles and much of the
verbiage still applies and is in daily use at the VA.
Combine these principles
with an IMO and you win.
VA Urgent Care Pharmacy Locations
Find VA-approved urgent care/retail location
pharmacies near a specific
address or ZIP code, or search by VA Facility.
Compensation and Pension Examinations
The VA C & P Exam
AND consider this while you're at it...most of us walk away from a C & P exam unhappy. The examiner didn't hear us, she didn't look at our records, he didn't do what he should have done, etc., etc. ad nauseum. By time we drive home we've convinced ourselves we MUST get a copy of the report and when we do we'll set this exam thing straight! OK, great...I get that you're angry, unhappy, frustrated, all of that but if you try to get a more favorable (in your mind) exam at this juncture, you may set your claim back by YEARS. Yes, really. Claims adjudication is a process. When you interrupt the process and the train comes off the track, you may go all the way back to start with additional clutter in your folder. The process demands you wait for the decision and if you are denied, you appeal. The 'inadequate exam' is one of the more frequent reasons to appeal...and win. Methodical patience wins.
Separating Fact From Fiction
The Must Do & Must Not Do of the C & P Exam
* The examiner does not make the decision about your claim.
* You may take records with you but the examiner may refuse them.
* The examiner won't treat you or prescribe medicines.
* NEVER try to fake any symptom. If you aren't prescribed a neck brace, don't wear one.
* The examiner will only perform the task assigned by an order of the regional office.
* You do not have to allow the examiner to cause you pain or discomfort during the exam by manipulating joints, etc.
* The examiner does not have any insight about how your claim will be decided. Don't ask.
* You may request that a family member or friend join you during the exam. The examiner may agree or refuse your request.
* DO NOT attempt to secretly record any part of the exam.
* DO make notes for yourself before you go. This is the only way you'll be sure to tell the examiner all the details you want to share.
* DO NOT over-exert yourself trying to please the examiner. This exam is about your worst symptoms, not the best.
* DO be courteous at all times. Don't complain to the examiner about all the indignities you've suffered. Focus on the reason you're there.
* DO use your common sense. This exam probably won't make or break the decision about your claim but it can help.