GnySkinner

I can't find the intent to file form I logged on to my eBenfits to file an intent to file. The only thing I found was the actual claim form for when you are ready to file the full claim. I tried the search and entered "intent to file", that didn't take me to any form. I tried entering the form number and that took me to the pdf form but not the online form. Anyone know where to get to the intent to file on eBenefits?

Thanks, that worked

Why can't I find this list? I have searched and every link is invalid. Don't they want us to know? I need a current active list for the Marine Corp. I'm 99.9% positive my MOS is on the Highly Probable list but I would like to have a print out to take with me to my C&P. Thanks

I log on to Ebenfits about once a week to check if the status has changed. The girl from QTC who is scheduling my C&Ps said the VA sent them 580 pages. They sent me 193 on the first disc and now are sending another 60 some on the second disc. From that alone I don't trust the VA. Since the VA sent 580 pages to QTC, wouldn't that mean that they already have all my records, I mean, they sent them to QTC. My status on ebenfits is "evidence gathering".

I did file for my complete C-File. First back in January and again in April. I received a CD 2 weeks ago but it wasn't complete. I called the number on the letter and they said they would send it to a supervisor. I called again last Thursday and the extremely helpful guy who answered the phone (and I do really mean that) told me an additional 60 some pages were sent to me on 5/22 with my STRs, stuff dated from 1979 to 2000. I don't have that yet but it should be here by Tuesday. My VSO said he couldn't see any of my active duty medical stuff nor my initial claims from 1999. I had already filed for copies of everything before I even met with him the first time.

So what do you recommend? Should I just go it alone, using this forum as my help line? I don't even know what the FL VSO is doing for me. I thought he got copies of everything I did and would be telling me the next step but he said he doesn't get the notifications. I also assumed he could see everything available on line, stuff I couldn't see, because he had some special log on. I do know he couldn't see my STR, I still don't have those either.

I actually called my local VSO (in WI) to see if I could change. I'm getting mixed information from the VSO's on that. I filed in FL with my VSO there and am now in WI in a campground, I'm a snowbird. I'll be moving in to a house in a different county in a couple of months. I have been told 1) I have to stay with the current VSO and 2) I can switch but it has to be in the county I live. Unfortunately the campground and the house I will be moving to are in different counties. When I first met with my FL VSO he told me to make a list of all my current conditions. I ordered my VA health records, created a 3ring binder and made copies of everything, each time I went to the Dr. for each condition. Each tab contains all the medical information, medications, dates I was diagnosed, tests performed, progress notes, literally everything I have on every condition. When I went back for my second visit he looked at the list, not the stuff in the binder, and said we should file for this and not that because these will be easier and these will be harder. He told me I read too much and doing the research is his job. Believe me that didn't sit well with me because I always research everything, even if I just want to buy a new flashlight. The problem as he saw it was that there wasn't a specific diagnosis for "pain". My knees, shoulders, elbows and back hurt all the time. I know it is from the training, jumping off LAVs, going on 25 mile humps carrying up to 70 lbs or more, laying in a hidden location without moving for over 24 hours, and more, over 20 years of bodily abuse. I know my shoulder is from an incident in. Like a good recruit I kept my mouth shut for fear of being held back in training. Absolutely no way I was going to sick call in boot camp, and now I'm paying the price for it. It is well documented over the many years since my retirement, but not during my time in service. But "pain" isn't a diagnosis. He said since I was SC for back then we should apply for that but not the other pains. Now I've read about a special review retirees can ask for called Gulf War Syndrome. It is for undiagnosed pain and lists lots of what I am feeling. I didn't know if I should request that or not. I'll do some searching here in the hadit forum and see what people think about that.

One other clarification. I did 6 tours overseas. I am a Gulf War veteran and my service records show this. 2 of my 6 month deployments were in the Gulf War zone. The ships I was on were never fired upon and I never fired my weapon during combat. I don't have any combat service medal. I have the armed service expedition medal for being in theater.

I still haven't received my C-File but I think when I do it will be next to nothing. I never went because I didn't want to be labeled a sick bay commando. Heck, I was the one calling others names for going to sick bay instead of sucking it up. I used to joke around and say I probably wouldn't be able to walk by the time I turned 50 with all that I put my body through, well, I wasn't far off.

Broncovet, I think I didn't make my comments clear. I don't consider myself a combat vet for training in boot camp. Although I was a drill instructor at both Parris Island and San Diego (not by choice), I am a Gulf War veteran. I was not in active combat but I was in theater. My question was simply because I didn't know which box to check since it is at the top of the form and not specific to each issue. Like, what does "Combat Activity Y/N" have to do with kidney stones? Nothing as far as I know, but it is in the Military Service Information section of the form I have to fill out for my Kidney Stone condition. Why would that even be on that form? They aren't asking if the injury is related to combat and there is another question asking which war you served during. It would certainly be clearer to me if the question was more like Combat Y/N Theater Y/N. But I read that simulated combat training, again not boot camp stuff, is evaluated the same as active combat. If you loose your hearing training for combat is it evaluated the same as if you loose it in combat? Honest question, I don't know the answer. And if it is something that combat doesn't matter then why are they asking me? Am I better off not to answer at all?

More information....I was in theater in the Gulf War. I have looked up the qualifying dates and locations and I was there. I am considered a Gulf War veteran,. I was thinking that maybe I should ask for the specific Gulf war Syndrome review that I was reading about. I'll wait to see how my current claims come out first. My VSO told me not to put in for all my muscle and joint issues right now. I had an exit physical in 1999 and nothing since then. I thought after you got out you weren't allowed to go back and be reevaluated. I just found out that I could this January so I called the DAV and they sent me to a VSO. He filed my claims. I have requested my entire C-file but as yet haven't received it. They sent me only the current stuff from 2018. I called and asked them to reopen my FOIA because I didn't get any of my STRs or claims from when I retired in 1999. According to them I should be getting the rest of it ASAP. I don't understand how reconsidering the back issue will help and honestly, I don't know how my VSO filed, but since he already did I'm guessing it is what it is. The VA did a hearing test but they didn't do the Maryland word test so I know it has to be redone. Plus they didn't have my service record audio-grams. I know that my MOS is on the list for high risk of hearing loss, my VSO looked that up. Hopefully I'll have my military service audio-grams before my C&P. I'll make a point to find them. As for the Tinnitus, I know exactly when that started. We didn't use hearing protection when training because we couldn't hear commands and orders. We were told NOT to use hearing protection. I can't imagine why that wasn't even a part of my 1999 initial retirement claims. I don't even remember having anyone help me with all this 19 years ago. I probably just went through a quick physical and signed a few papers. Now I'm learning what I should have done back then.

Broncovet, Sorry it took so long to reply. for some reason I didn't get any notifications that my question was being answered. I have a C&P exam next week and the form that QTC is asking me to fill out in advance has a question on it, "Combat activity? Yes/No" This question is not in the claim specific portion of the form. The start of the form is titled MILITARY SERVICE INFORMATION. Then later on the form there are sections for each specific claim. I have 8 active claims right now. I retired in 1999 and didn't know that I could and should have my disabilities reviewed periodically so this is the first time I have gone back to the VA to be checked. So I have put in claims for: an increase to my migraines (current 10%) Reevaluate my back (current SC but at 0%) kidney stones vertigo tinnitus hearing loss gerd mental health I have C&Ps scheduled for all except the GERD. The QTC form for all of these is standard in the beginning, name, length of service, branch, served during (Gulf War in my case) and then the Combat activity Y/N question. I think I am going to check YES based on the SIMULATED WAR information that Berta gave. Everything related to my head and body is due to my simulated war" training. Gunny

No combat medals

Berta, unfortunately that document doesn't pertain to me. I retired in 1999 and it refers only to veterans who were discharged on or after 2003. I am considered a Gulf War veteran but I wasn't in active combat. I trained for combat pretty much the entire 20 years. There is a question on my form that I have to fill in to take to my C&P and it simply says "Combat activity?" Yes/No. thanks

I thought I read somewhere that the VA description of combat activity included "Preparing for combat" as well as actively in combat. I have looked for the legal VA definition and can't find it. Can anyone provide a link or past the legal definition in here for me? Thanks