"It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired.
You quit when the gorilla is tired." — Robert Straus
How To
When you deal with your VA benefits there are dozens, maybe hundreds of resources on the Internet, usually way too complex
to read or they want your money to open their secrets...how do you choose where to take advice and council? I think I have
the answer. When you want to deal with your VA, whether you're filing a claim or trying to get along with your health care providers,
you need to hear the voice of a veteran who actually uses the VA. I'm in the process of providing that resource for you...for free.
No sign-up, no registration, instant access to reliable information. It's your VA, use it effectively.
This is a Work In Progress throughout 2021. Check back every now and then for updates.
Let's File A Claim
Filing your claim for VAbenefits isn't as hard as some want you to believe. Let's set the effective date of any claim you file in the next year. This one is easy so let's do it right now.
American Rescue Plan Helps Veterans
As part of the American Rescue Plan, the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP)
provides financial aid to help you recover from the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Medical Experts For Veterans Disability Claims
Serving Veterans, Service Officers, & Attorneys since 2015
Nexus Letters / Medical Opinions - Get Started Now
Veterans Law Attorney Personal Injury Law
Nationwide Representation Free Veterans Consultations
Workers Compensation - Social Security Disability - Pain & Suffering - Emotional & Mental Anguish
Veterans unemployed due to pandemic now eligible for VA job training funds
VRRAP covers education and training programs approved under the GI Bill and Veteran Employment
Through Technology Education Courses, or VET TEC, that lead to high-demand jobs.
These include associate degrees, non-college degrees, and certificate programs.
Alabama
V A Claims Intake Center
PO BOX 4444
JANESVILLE, WI
53547- 4444
Toll Free Fax:
844-531-7818
Gregory Rada Veterans Law Attorney
Military Veteran - Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom
VA disability appeals, TDIU claims, MST, PTSD, other mental health disability claims, appeals and veterans disability claims processes.
Attorney Rada offers free telephone case evaluations and nationwide representation.
Interest rate reduction refinance loan
If you have an existing VA-backed home loan and you want to reduce your monthly mortgage payments—
or make your payments more stable—an interest rate reduction refinance loan (IRRRL) may be right for you.
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
Jim Strickland is a Vietnam era Army veteran and nationally recognized expert on VA
disability benefits. Jim writes extensively about VA and Social Security disability benefits.
Jim's Mailbag is a regular column featured at Stateside Legal where veterans, servicemembers,
and family members can ask Jim their questions about VA and Social Security disability benefits.
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SCRA
Question:
Good Day, I have bought a car through a Chevrolet dealership and it was financed through Credit Acceptance. For the past two months, I have been trying to get the SCRA on my financed car through Credit Acceptance. They keep telling me they are unable to do so unless they get my Active Duty orders, which I sent to them. And when I call, they are telling me I should speak to the Chevrolet dealership n order to get it.
Reply:
The Servicemember's Civil Relief Act (SCRA) covers many financial legal actions that can happen when you're called up for active duty or suddenly deployed from your home. I'm not sure how it is that you believe that SCRA should be in effect for you but I have to point out that the SCRA provision doesn't provide you protection from paying your debts. If you don't meet the specific eligibility requirements for SCRA, then actions like repossession can and do happen and then you're left to sort it all out in court later. If you feel that an auto dealership has caused you financial harm and that SCRA applies to your situation, you should consult a JAG or a civilian attorney.
Presumptive Conditions
A "condition", in the language of the VA, is any disease, illness or injury that occurs during active duty military service.
To be service connected and eligible for a disability compensation rating, the condition must be caused or contributed to by an event that occurred during service.
If the condition existed prior to service, it must be shown to have been aggravated (made worse) by military service.
To achieve a disability compensation rating, the veteran must prove that he or she had appropriate military service, that an event that caused the claimed condition occurred and that a medically diagnosed condition that is disabling exists today.
The regulations that govern presumptive conditions only eliminate the requirement to prove that an event caused the condition. For example, a Vietnam veteran does not have to prove that agent orange caused the diabetes he has today. It is presumed that he was exposed to agent orange and also that agent orange is at the root of the diabetes.
While agent orange and the Vietnam veteran are the best known of all presumptive conditions and ratings, atomic veterans, certain Korean veterans and other veterans may also be eligible for presumptive ratings of certain conditions.
The regulations are complex. Some veterans who have a Vietnam Service Medal aren't eligible for presumptive ratings because they didn't set their boots on the soil of the country of Vietnam.
Many Korean veterans don't realize that they may be eligible for service connections due to exposure to the herbicide agent orange.
If you believe that you may be eligible for any presumptive condition and rating, the best way to find out is to file a VA disability claim. The process of adjudication is the only sure way to know.
Presumptive Veterans Disability Conditions
Presumptive Disability Benefits 38 CFR § 3.309 - Disease subject to presumptive service connection Agent Orange - More diseases covered Vietnam vets w/bladder cancer get presumptive benefit Vietnam-era veterans who served in Guam were exposed to Agent Orange Identifying Conditions in Complex Gulf War Claims
Question: Service connected prostate cancer is temporarily rated 100% disabling until veteran receives surgery treatment. Approximately six months following treatment, VA evaluates 100% rating and if PSA is considered undetectable at time of evaluation, VA reduces rating to applicable % for any secondary conditions. Reason for rate reduction is VA considers veteran cured of prostate cancer due to undetectable PSA. Five years hence of rate reduction, veteran diagnosed with biochemical prostate cancer recurrence and is treated again, this time with radiation therapy and adjuvant hormone deprivation therapy. The VA increases disability rating to 100% due to active cancer recurrence. Again, 100% rating is temporary and subject to VA evaluation approximately six months following treatment. Likewise, if PSA level is again undetectable, VA will reduce 100% rating because the veteran prostate cancer is considered cured once again. So how many times must the prostate cancer recur and be treated before the VA rates the disability permanent?
Answer: Great question. The answer...maybe never.
The VA stance on whether or not any cancer is permanent is in need of an update by Congress. For that matter, the entire VA disability rating system is ancient and doesn't serve anyone well today. Attempts have been made to get the system updated and failed.
The Dole Shalala Commission was probably the most thorough analysis and recommendation update I've seen. It was complete, workable, understandable and affordable so it was promptly shelved by VA.
Let your Congressional representatives know how you feel and maybe some day we'll have a system that works.
M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, Chapter 2, Section C - Service Connection (SC) for Disabilities Resulting From Exposure to Environmental Hazards or Service in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, Chapter 2, Section B - Determining Service Connection (SC) M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii, Chapter 1, Section I - Developing Claims for Service Connection (SC) Based on Other Exposure Types
Vaccine Eligibility Expanded at DoD Sites
All eligible and authorized TRICARE beneficiaries and Defense Department personnel
can now get vaccinated for Covid-19 at DoD sites.
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Two options explaining the
Benefits you've earned.
Dependents & Survivor Benefits Specializing In Veterans Law Federal Tort Claims Disability Claims
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Veterans Struggle to Get Copies of Needed Service Records Due to Pandemic
Access to some VA benefits, services delayed as backlog of requests hits 500,000
Fascinating historical documents, reports on items in the news, oddities and fun stuff and government bloopers, they're all here.
Were you hazed while serving in the military? GAO may want to hear from you
The Government Accountability Office is looking for service members who were victims of hazing while they served.
The office is collecting the information for a study on the Defense Department’s efforts to prevent and respond to hazing.
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!
Nexus and IMO Letters
Welcome to the KnowVA Knowledge Base
Locate information more quickly and efficiently
Where did your claim disappear to?
Veterans hit by huge pandemic-related records backlog
National Archives estimates it will take 18 to 24 months to clear the backlog once the records center is fully staffed
disability claim
Find out how to file a claim for disability compensation
or increased disability compensation.
CDC updates guidance on how COVID-19 spreads
The CDC updated its guidance on COVID-19 transmission May 7,
underscoring that the virus spreads via small respiratory droplets and particles in the air.
Title 38 - Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief
Volume: 1
Date: 2019-07-01
Original Date: 2019-07-01
Title: PART 17 - MEDICAL
Veterans Affairs:Use of Additional Funding for COVID-19 Relief
As of April 14, 2021, the Department of Veterans Affairs reported 224,538 cumulative
COVID-19 cases among veterans, with 11,366 deaths.
Never Stop Reading
Never Stop Learning
Rates of Parkinson’s disease are exploding.
A common chemical - trichloroethylene (TCE) - may be to blame
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General
COVID-19 fraud is rapidly evolving. This page is frequently updated.
Schedule for Rating Disabilities
Do you need some help with your claim?
I'm accepting limited appointments to talk live on the phone or to videoconference with you. There is no fee for this service.
If you'd like to talk, provide me with some information about who you are and what's up and I'll be in touch. /s/ Jim
When You Hit A Dead End
The Department of Veterans Affairs
White House Hotline
855 - 948 - 2311
< Denis.McDonough@va.gov >
Yes, this really works. No, it doesn't ring in the White House. The email address and phone number are staffed by a seemingly serious group of players, many who are veterans, and if you have a legit issue, telling these folks is like bringing in the artillery.
Let's prepare for your call or email. Make some notes before you proceed so you don't forget anything.
I prefer email since there's no waiting for someone to answer and I can take my time to prepare the story in just the right detail.
Be sure to include your DOB, your last 4, contact info...a couple of numbers, your preferred email and such.
Describe the problem as briefly as you can. Less is more. Include the necessary components but don't tell your life story.
Don't rant. Be polite...military courtesy will get you places that hollering IN ALL CAPS won't. Respect!
Don't waste their time with bogus complaints about your feelings being hurt. If you appropriately utilize this
service, I'll vouch that this works like a champ.
Tell them you read about this at The VAWatchdog Dot Org...they know who we are.
Independent Medical Opinions Nexus Letters
Thomas Grieder, MD PhD
25 Years Service as a VA Psychiatrist
Lead Psychiatrist East Los Angeles
PTSD Clinical Team
I'm Jim Strickland
and I approve of this message.
Three Consequences of Using Marijuana After Your State “Legalizes”
1. Marijuana users will fail future NICS firearm background checks.
You may file claims on eBenefits or you can mail them in using certified mail or you can even fax them in.
Download VA benefit letters
To receive some benefits, Veterans need a letter proving their status.
Jim Strickland
jim912@gmail.com
New financial tool provides Veterans more control and transparency
Any Veteran with a debt related to VA benefits can now access their debt information online
The secret truth of the student debt crisis
Most student debt will be canceled sooner or later, because an ever-growing share
of borrowers cannot possibly repay their loans. Ever.
The NPRC
Military Records
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Since 2005, We're Keeping An Eye On Your VA
Because Somebody Has To!
Welcome Home! I'm Jim Strickland. I'm an Army vet, I was 91-D20 in USAREUR at the
98th General Hospital near Camp Baumholder 1967 - 1970. I publish the VAWatchdog
Dot Org to help you obtain the benefits you earned by your service to our country.
I'll share what I'm reading today, the important stuff. Feedback is always welcomed.
NO DIGITAL ADVERTISING means no ad-trackers. Nobody is looking at your data here.
Veterans Law Attorney
Graduate of the US Military Academy West Point, 20 years of active Army service, multiple deployments,
XVIII Airborne Corps, and Third Army, Airborne and Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal badges.
$113.1 Billion Discretionary VA Bill for ’22 Submitted
The Biden administration’s proposed $113.1 billion spending bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs addresses delivery of health-care services, homelessness, suicide prevention, support for caregivers, and technological improvements.