Every VA disability claim tip, all in one place. Use this archive to find lessons learned the hard way and real‑world advice from a submariner who's navigated the VA claims depths.
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Your old VA phone calls and emails could be worth thousands in backpay. Request a copy of all VA communications from the past year using a Freedom of Information Act request - many veterans don't realize that informal claims (phone calls, e…
VA can't deny what they haven't seen—upload your civilian medical records NOW. Log into MyHealtheVet and use the Blue Button feature to download all your private provider visits, especially those showing treatment continuity since discharge…
VA ignores pain that doesn't show on X-rays—make them see it. Write a detailed functional loss statement today describing exactly how your condition limits daily activities: can't lift groceries, miss work, avoid stairs, need help dressing.…
Your X-rays from 2005 could be worth thousands in backpay. Most vets don't know military hospitals keep imaging reports separate from medical records—and these reports often contain the earliest diagnosis dates VA needs for service connecti…
Your denial letter is actually your appeal blueprint—decode it now. Stop reading that denial as rejection and start mining it for gold. Every VA decision letter lists exactly what evidence they claim is missing—that's your shopping list. To…
Listen up, sailor! When filing for hearing loss, get your mitts on those audiology tests and service records where you swapped sea stories with turbines screaming. Prove the jet engine symphony caused those muffled sounds in your noggin. Do…
Your spouse sees what VA doctors miss during 10-minute exams. Have them write a detailed statement describing how your conditions affect daily life—missed family events, help with basic tasks, personality changes since service. Use specific…
Don't accept that denial—fight back with a Notice of Disagreement within one year. Too many veterans give up after an initial denial, leaving earned benefits on the table. If VA denied your claim in the last 12 months, file a Notice of Disa…
Every day you wait to file costs you money—submit your Intent to File right now. Log into VA.gov and submit an Intent to File (ITF) immediately—it takes 30 seconds and locks in today as your potential effective date for up to one year of re…
Your worst days determine your rating, not your average ones. Start a flare-up journal today using your phone's notes app - timestamp each episode with severity (1-10), duration, work missed, and specific limitations like "couldn't dress my…
Your VR&E file is TDIU evidence gold that VA won't pull for you. If you've ever applied for Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31), that file contains counselor assessments documenting your employment limitations that directly support Total…
VA denied your claim without getting a medical opinion? That's an automatic error. When VA has evidence suggesting a connection between your condition and service but denies without requesting an expert opinion, they've violated their duty …
Your MOS/AFSC/Rate is evidence hiding in plain sight. Pull your DD-214 and cross-reference your military job code with conditions commonly granted for that specialty. Infantry? Hearing loss, tinnitus, knee problems are slam dunks. Aircraft …
VA screwed up your combined rating math? You can fix it retroactively. File a Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE) claim if VA miscalculated your combined rating or failed to apply bilateral factor correctly. Pull your rating decision, recalc…
Your service-connected conditions spawn other problems—claim them. That back injury causing depression? The PTSD meds causing weight gain and sleep apnea? These are secondary conditions worth additional compensation. Today, grab a sheet of …
Gulf War vets are leaving money on the table by filing one condition at a time. If you served in Southwest Asia after 1990, file ALL your presumptive conditions simultaneously—IBS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, headaches, joint pain. VA mu…
VA rates mental health on what you can't do, not diagnoses. Start a daily log using the exact language from mental health DBQs—track occupational impairment, social functioning, and frequency of symptoms like panic attacks or suicidal ideat…
Your VA pharmacy printout is evidence hiding in plain sight. Log into MyHealtheVet right now and pull your complete medication history—it documents severity, treatment resistance, and condition chronicity better than any statement. That anx…
VA ignoring your private doctor's records? Make them look. Submit VA Form 21-4142a to authorize release of specific private medical records directly to your claim. Don't just upload records—this form creates a paper trail proving VA receive…
Your C-file contains everything VA knows about your case. Submit a FOIA request to get your complete claims file, including C&P exam reports, rating decisions, and medical records. This helps you understand VA's reasoning and identify gaps …