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ARE YOUR BENEFITS EXEMPT FROM CLAIMS OR CREDITORS? Compensation payments are exempt from claims of creditors. With certain exceptions the payments are not assignable and are not subject to attachment, levy or seizure except as to claims of the United States. This is overlooked when it comes to child support, a veteran should seek legal counsel before going to court. WHAT CONDITIONS AFFECT RIGHT TO PAYMENTS? 5. Benefits will be reduced upon incarceration in a Federal, State or local penal institution in excess of 60 days for conviction of a felony. The amount not payable may be apportioned to a spouse, dependent children or parents. Due to financial hardship, while a veteran is incarcerated beyond 60 days, his or her dependents can request an apportionment of the veterans disability pay to maintain their bills http://www.vba.va.go...rms/21-8764.pdf

§ 3.303 Principles relating to service connection. (Direct Service Connection) (a) General. Service connection connotes many factors but basically it means that the facts, shown by evidence,establish that a particular injury or disease resulting in disability was incurred coincident with service in the Armed Forces, or if preexisting such service, was aggravated therein. § 3.306 Aggravation of pre-service disability (Direct Service Connection) (a) General. A preexisting injury or disease will be considered to have been aggravated by active military, naval, or air service, where there is an increase in disability during such service, unless there is a specific finding that the increase in disability is due to the natural progress of the disease. § 3.307 Presumptive service connection for chronic, tropical or prisoner-of-war related disease, or disease associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents; wartime and service on or after January 1, 1947. (Direct Service Connection) (a) General. A chronic, tropical, prisoner of war related disease, or a disease associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents listed in §3.309 will be considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by service under the circumstances outlined in this section even though there is no evidence of such disease during the period of service. No condition other than one listed in§3.309(a) will be considered chronic. § 3.310 Disabilities that are proximately due to, or aggravated by, service-connected disease or injury. (Secondary Service Connection) (a) General. Except as provided in §3.300©, disability which is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury shall be service connected. When service connection is thus established for a secondary condition, the secondary condition shall be considered a part of the original condition. § 3.358 Compensation for disability or death from hospitalization, medical or surgical treatment, examinations or vocational rehabilitation training (§3.800). (a) General. This section applies to claims received by VA before October 1, 1997. If it is determined that there is additional disability resulting from a disease or injury or aggravation of an existing disease or injury suffered as a result of hospitalization, medical or surgical treatment, examination, or vocational rehabilitation training,compensation will be payable for such additional disability. For claims received by VA on or after October, 1997, see §3.361. http://ecfr.gpoacces...0.1.1.4&idno=38

When a military service veteran files a claim for disability compensation with the VA for an illness or disability that resulted from military service, one of the first things a Veteran has to establish is whether the current illness or disability is connected to the Veteran's military service. This is called establishing service connection. How to Establish Service-Connection Link to source: http://www.disabilit...-connection.htm

Introduction Disability examinations of Gulf War veterans have unique requirements because this group of veterans is eligible for compensation not only for disability due to diagnosed illnesses, but also for disability due to undiagnosed illnesses. An undiagnosed illness is established when findings are present that cannot be attributed to a known, clearly defined diagnosis, after all likely diagnostic possibilities for such abnormalities have been ruled out. Examiners should follow the guidelines in the "Handout of Instructions for Compensation and Pension Examinations" but will also need to request more laboratory tests and specialists' examinations than average in these cases. Guidelines 1. Thoroughly review the claims file. 2. Address all conditions and symptoms specified on the examination request and also address all additional conditions and symptoms that you can elicit from the veteran during the examination, even if not specified on the request form. 3. Conduct a comprehensive general medical examination, following the AMIE General Medical Examination worksheet. For all conditions and symptoms which the General Medical Examination worksheet does not address in detail, follow the appropriate additional AMIE worksheets, and request specialists' examinations as indicated. Provide details about the onset, frequency, duration, and severity of all complaints and state what precipitates and what relieves them. 4. List all diagnosed conditions and state which symptoms, abnormal physical findings, and abnormal laboratory test results are associated with each. If all symptoms, abnormal physical findings, and abnormal laboratory test results are associated with a diagnosed condition, additional specialist examinations for diagnostic purposes are not needed. Diagnosed conditions will be handled as standard claims for service connection. Symptom-based "diagnoses" such as (but not limited to) myalgia, arthralgia, headache, and diarrhea, are not considered as diagnosed conditions for compensation purposes. 5. However, if there are symptoms, abnormal physical findings, or abnormal laboratory test results that have not been determined to be part of a known clinical diagnosis, further specialist examinations will be required to address these findings. 6. Provide the specialist with all examination reports and test results. Specify the symptoms, abnormal physical findings, and abnormal laboratory test results that have not been attributed to a known clinical diagnosis. Request that the specialist determine which of these, if any, can be attributed in this veteran to a known clinical diagnosis and which, if any, cannot be attributed in this veteran to a known clinical diagnosis. 7. After the specialists' examinations have been completed, and all laboratory test results received, make a final report providing a list of diagnosed conditions. Separately list all symptoms, abnormal physical findings, and abnormal laboratory test results that cannot be attributed to a known clinical diagnosis. Reconcile all differences among the examiners, by consultation or work group as necessary, before the examination is returned to the regional office. http://www.vba.va.go...ms/disexm25.pdf As I have posted many times before, I believe that it would be easier if a veteran file claims for specific conditions/disabilities that were diagnosed either in the military or shortly after discharge by a medical physician instead of filing claims for undiagnosed disorders. They both can be service connected but having in-service medical treatment and treatment after service should be a great help. This does not mean that VA will not deny your claims because VA has denied mine and my claims are still at BVA waiting for a decision.

Minnesota town duped by woman's story of military service BY MARK BRUNSWICKStar Tribune (Minneapolis)Monday, April 25, 2011MINNEAPOLIS -- The town of Cass Lake, Minn., embraced Elizabeth McKenzie last month when she arrived at the high school in her Army uniform for a welcome home ceremony. Though she isn't a tribal member, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Honor Guard gave her a blanket and an eagle feather to honor her as a woman warrior for her service in Afghanistan. There was a tribal drum ceremony and a reception line. Accepting the town's gratitude, McKenzie talked about the close calls she'd had and a war injury that brought her home. She led the march in the high school gym, carrying the American flag, and the local newspaper documented the hero's return. But none of it was true. The 20-year-old McKenzie was never injured in combat, had never been to Afghanistan, never been deployed anywhere. In fact, she's never been in the military. Now the 2009 grad of Cass Lake High School has been cited for impersonating an officer, which in Minnesota includes the military. And the people of Cass Lake are trying to recover from feeling duped by their own good intentions. "A lot of people feel bad, but in one way they can't blame themselves for having hope in somebody," said Zeb Hemsworth, the police chief of Pike Bay Township, who investigated the case. "Because having hope in somebody is a good thing." Reached for comment, McKenzie replied through an email that she didn't want to discuss the situation. Her hoax was elaborate, and by most accounts she carried herself like a soldier. Before a departure ceremony last year that was held at the town's American Legion hall, she posed in an Army battle dress uniform and told supporters she would be serving overseas with the Army's 302nd Battalion, 16th Regiment Military Police, an apparently fictional unit. She said she'd done her basic training at Fort Leonard Wood and had 11 weeks of advanced training. She said she'd helped with flooding cleanup in Fargo and after a tornado hit Wadena. That was the last anyone in Cass Lake heard from McKenzie until last month, when she was treated to a hero's homecoming. A TV news crew recorded the event as she shook hands and accepted hugs while wrapped in the blanket the tribal honor guard bestowed on her. Wally Humphrey, a member of the Leech Lake band who sometimes counseled McKenzie during her high school years, remembered feeling proud of her accomplishments. He remembered McKenzie's teen years as troubled and unstable, with moves to various foster homes. "It was good to see someone successful," Humphrey said. "So many kids don't make it these days." Hemsworth was in the auditorium that day and remembered being impressed with McKenzie's sacrifices. There wasn't a hint of anything being amiss, he said. But when a college recruiter for Fond du Lac Community College in Cloquet heard about the ceremony, she began to raise questions and told Hemsworth about her suspicions. McKenzie had been a student at the college during the period she claimed to be in Afghanistan. A check showed she had been enrolled in classes and regularly attended. She also had a part-time job in Cloquet, where she lived, with no extended absences. The police chief checked with the Minnesota and Wisconsin National Guard. McKenzie had never been a soldier, he was told. During the homecoming ceremony, some veterans had noticed that details of her uniform looked askew, though they'd kept their thoughts to themselves. The chevrons signifying her rank were different on her cap from her blouse, and neither was for the rank she claimed to hold, private first class. Asked by police for her official military papers, she could not produce them. Frank Bowstring, a Leech Lake veterans services officer, said that in hindsight more checking should have been done. "But you give the benefit of the doubt for someone who went overseas. You wouldn't question it," he said. Police say that when she was confronted, McKenzie admitted to them that she had never been in Afghanistan. But she continued to contend that she is in the Army, saying her paperwork was lost during basic training. "I don't believe any of it, of course," Hemsworth said. In a telephone interview with Lakeland Public Television, McKenzie said she wanted to honor family members who had served in the military and then said she would be willing to accept help if anyone was willing to provide it. Her mother, who lives in Two Harbors, told the station that McKenzie had struggled with mental health problems for years, which had led to her estrangement from family members. Although she was provided gifts, it's not clear that McKenzie intended to benefit from the ruse. The idea to have the town honor her came from someone who knew her in high school and was taken in by her story, said Frank Bowstring, a Leech Lake veterans services officer. "I think she just wanted some attention," Bowstring said. The Cass County Attorney's Office is continuing to investigate. "Just how often do you question whether a soldier is a soldier? I didn't question it," Hemsworth said. "I was proud like everybody else. I got goose bumps. That pride is still there in the community. We're just going to direct that pride to the people who are actually serving. "There's plenty of soldiers from our area actually serving."

Separation pay and special separation benefits. (i) Where entitlement to disability compensation was established on or after September 15, 1981, a veteran who has received separation pay may receive disability compensation for disability incurred in or aggravated by service prior to the date of receipt of separation pay subject to recoupment of the separation pay. Where payment of separation pay was made on or before September 30, 1996, VA will recoup from disability compensation an amount equal to the total amount of separation pay. Where payment of separation pay was made after September 30, 1996, VA will recoup from disability compensation an amount equal to the total amount of separation pay less the amount of Federal income tax withheld from such pay. The Federal income tax withholding amount is the flat withholding rate for Federal income tax withholding. (ii) The receipt of separation pay does not affect the payment of disability compensation based on a subsequent period of service. Compensation payable for service-connected disability incurred or aggravated in a subsequent period of service will not be reduced for the purpose of offsetting separation pay based on a prior period of service. (iii) Where payment of special separation benefits under 10 U.S.C. 1174a was made on or after December 5, 1991, VA will recoup from disability compensation an amount equal to the total amount of special separation benefits less the amount of Federal income tax withheld from such pay. The Federal income tax withholding amount is the flat withholding rate for Federal income tax withholding. http://ecfr.gpoacces....73.219&idno=38

§ 4.114 Schedule of ratings—digestive system. Ratings under diagnostic codes 7301 to 7329, inclusive, 7331, 7342, and 7345 to 7348 inclusive will not be combined with each other. A single evaluation will be assigned under the diagnostic code which reflects the predominant disability picture, with elevation to the next higher evaluation where the severity of the overall disability warrants such elevation.

Medical Records New Program Helps Gulf War Veterans Find In-Patient Medical Records This new program will facilitate the process for our 1990-1991 Gulf War veterans to obtain copies of their in-patient hospital records from hospitals established during the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War. Although these records were located in the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MO, they were stored only by the name of the hospital and date of treatment. Working with the Offices of the Surgeons General, the Department of Veteran Affairs, and the National Personnel Record Center, we are completing an electronic data base to cross-reference patient names and SSN with the theater hospitals and admission dates. When this data base of over 17,500 1990-1991 Gulf War inpatient records is completed, we will be able to assist veterans in requesting copies of their hospitalization records. Veterans may call 1-800-497-6261 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-497-6261 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to find out if their inpatient record has been added to the data base and to obtain the paperwork necessary to request a copy. Medical Records Team Returns to St. Louis This is the third search initiated to find 1990-1991 Gulf War veterans' inpatient hospital records. Since we began this effort, we have been able to locate more than 25,000 of the approximate 27,000 records. Military Medical Record keeping During and After the 1990-1991 Gulf War DoD Information Paper - 13 August, 1999 Medical Information Where to Get Help Medical Information Medals Map of Theater The Gulf War Story Related Sites Medical Evaluation Programs Medical Records Military and Veterans Health Coordinating Board Persian Gulf War Veterans Coordinating Board Interagency Documents Gulf War Illnesses-related Medical Research & Publications

Department of Veterans Affairs Survivors' & Dependents'Educational Assistance – Chapter 35 What Is Survivors' & Dependents'Educational Assistance? Survivors' & Dependents' Educational Assistance is an education benefit for eligible spouses and children of certain veterans. Eligible persons can receive up to 45 months of full-time or equivalent benefits for: · College,Business, Technical or Vocational Courses, High School Diploma or GED,Independent Study or Distance Learning courses · Correspondence Courses (Spouses Only), Apprenticeship/On-the-Job Training · Remedial, Deficiency, and Refresher Training (in some cases) · The cost of tests for licenses or certifications needed to get, keep, or advance in a job Note: Each individual State approves schools and courses. To find out if your school or program is approved for VA educational benefits, contact your school's VA Certifying Official, or call VA at the toll-free number below. Who Is Eligible? To be an eligible for Survivors' & Dependents' Education Assistance you must be the son, daughter, or spouse of: · a veteran who died, or is permanently and totally disabled, as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces. · a veteran who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence. · a service member missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a hostile force. · a service member forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power. · a service member hospitalized or receiving outpatient care for a VA determined service-connected permanent and total disability maybe eligible for DEA benefits. (Effective December 23, 2006) How Long Is the Period During Which This Benefit May Be Used? Spouses and surviving spouses have 10 years from the date VA establishes eligibility to use thebenefit. Surviving spouses of veterans who died while on active duty have 20 years from the date of the veteran's death to use the benefit. (benefits can't be paid before December 10, 2004 for anyone whose 10 year period ended prior to that date). Children may use the benefit while they are between the ages of 18 and 26. Note: These time limits can be extended undercertain circumstances. For details, callthe toll-free number or visit the web site shown below. How Much Does VA Pay? The amount VA pays is based on the type of training program and training time (i.e. full-time,half-time, etc). Benefits are paid monthly and in arrears. For example effective October 1, 2008, VA pays $915 a month for full-time training for a full month at a college or university. If attendance is less than a month or less than full-time, payments are reduced proportionately. Different payment rates can be found on our web site or by calling the toll-free number shown below. How Can You Apply? After finding a program approved for VA training, complete VA Form 22-5490, Application for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance, and submit it to the VA regional office that serves the state where you will train. You can also apply online through our website at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp. What Are Some Related Benefits? Special Benefits for Children with Disabilities Educational Counseling Services Work-Study Employment Tutorial Assistance For More Information, Call Toll-Free 1-888-GIBILL-1(1-888-442-4551) or Visit Our Web Site at www.gibill.va.gov Education Service – December 2008

At least this VA form is saying that benefits are "supposed" to be exempt except as to claims of the United States. http://www.vba.va.go...rms/21-8764.pdf

A Richlands resident accused of impersonating a decorated Marine colonel and embezzling more than $30,000 in unmerited disability payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs appeared in court Friday in an attempt to have charges that he wore a colonel's uniform and a heavy sheaf of war medals without authorization dismissed. Full Story http://www.jdnews.com/news/colonel-90133-charges-accused.html

FRIDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News) — The cluster of symptoms experienced by some veterans of the 1991 Gulf War is a real disease, but its causes, treatment and potential cure remain unknown, concludes a new report from U.S. experts at the Institute of Medicine (IOM). However, newer medical technology, including the ability examine genetic mutations, may hold the key to finally unraveling the mystery of an illness that has plagued one-third of Gulf War veterans for two decades, the experts said. The panel "identified chronic multi-symptom illnesses, sometimes referred to as Gulf War illness, as a group of illnesses that is clearly associated with deployment," said report committee chair Dr. Stephen L. Hauser, professor and chair of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. According to the report, released April 9, service in the Gulf War has long been linked with gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, as well as substance abuse, particularly alcoholism, and psychiatric problems such as anxiety disorder. Full Article can be found on: http://healthomg.com...unclear-report/

What Is Individual Unemployability? Individual Unemployability is a part of VA's disability compensation program that allows VA to pay certain veterans compensation at the 100% rate, even though VA has not rated their service-connected disabilities at the total level. What Is the Eligibility Criteria for Individual Unemployability? A veteran must be unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his/her service-connected disabilities. Additionally, a veteran must have: One service-connected disability ratable at 60 percent or more, ORTwo or more service-connected disabilities, at least one disability ratable at 40 percent or more with a combined rating of 70 percent or more. How Do I Apply? Submit VA Form 21-8940, Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability to your nearest VA Regional Office. You can also call 1-800-827-1000 and request the form be mailed to you. Can I Work? Veterans who are in receipt of Individual Unemployability benefits may work as long as it is not considered substantially gainful employment. The employment must be considered marginal employment. Substantially gainful employment is defined as employment at which non-disabled individuals earn their livelihood with earnings comparable to the particular occupation in the community where the veteran resides.Marginal employment is generally deemed to exist when a veteran's earned income does not exceed the amount established by the U.S. Census Bureau as the poverty level for the veteran only. See the U.S. Census Bureau's poverty thresholds. What If I Don't Meet the Percentage Criteria? Special consideration will be given for veterans when the following criteria is met: The veteran is considered unemployable due to a service-connected disability(ies) but fails to meet the minimum percentage standards, ORThere is evidence of exceptional or unusual circumstances to impairment of earning capacity due to disabilities (for example, interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization) Note: Veterans may have to complete an employment questionnaire once a year in order for VA to determine continued eligibility to Individual Unemployability.

If you are separating from active duty within the next 60 to 180 days, BDD can help you receive VA disability benefits sooner. What's Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD)? The Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) Program allows a service member to apply for disability compensation benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) prior to retirement or separation from military service. How Can BDD Help Me? BDD is offered to accelerate receipt of VA disability benefits, with a goal of providing benefits within 60 days after release or discharge from active duty. BDD allows a service member with at least 60 days, but not more than 180 days, remaining on active duty to file a VA disability claim prior to separation. BDD requires a minimum of 60 days to allow sufficient time to complete the medical examination process (which may involve multiple specialty clinics) prior to separation from service. How Do I Get Started? Submit VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for Compensation and/or Pension, and submit it to the nearest VA Regional Office. You can also complete your application on-line at VA's website (www.VA.gov) using the Veterans Online Application(VONAPP). For the VA Regional Office nearest you, call the VA toll free number at 1-800-827-1000. Submit your service treatment records. Either your original records or copies are acceptable. Attend and complete all phases of your VA/DoD medical separation examination process. Where Can I Get An Application? VA Form 21-526 Can be downloaded from the VA website at www.va.gov. An on-line application can also be submitted on that website using the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP). You may also call VA toll free at 1-800-827-1000 to have a claim form mailed to you. Remember, to fully participate in the BDD Program, you must submit VA Form 21-526, along with a copy of your service treatment records (or original), and be available to attend and complete all phases of the VA/DoD medical separation examination. What Else Should I Know? BDD is a time-sensitive process. To receive your VA disability benefits within the goal of 60 days following separation, you must submit your claim 60 to 180 days prior to your release or retirement from active duty. This time is needed to complete your medical examinations before you leave your point of separation. If you are closer than 60 days to separation from service, you can submit a Quick Start claim. Call the VA today at 1-800-827-1000 to learn about this process and get started. How Can I Get More Information? If you are on a military installation, contact your local Transition Assistance Office or ACAP Center (Army only) to schedule appointments to attend VA benefits briefings and learn how to initiate your claim. You can also call the VA toll-free number, 1-800-827-1000. Be sure to visit www.TurboTAP.org and www.MilitaryOneSource.comfor 24/7 access to helpful pre-separation and transition guides; employment,education, and relocation information, benefits checklist; and more. To view the BDD brochure, click here. For More Information, Visit Our Web Site at http://www.va.gov or Call Toll-Free Disability Benefits/General Information: 1-800-827-1000 Insurance: 1-800-669-8477 Education: 1-888-442-4551 Health Benefits: 1-877-222-8387

What is "Presumptive" Service Connection? VA presumes that specific disabilities diagnosed in certain veterans were caused by their military service. VA does this because of the unique circumstances of their military service. If one of these conditions is diagnosed in a veteran in one of these groups, VA presumes that the circumstances of his/her service caused the condition, and disability compensation can be awarded. What Conditions are "Presumed" to be Caused by Military Service? Veterans in the groups identified below: Entitlement to disability compensation may be presumed under the circumstances described and for the conditions listed. Veterans within one year of release from active duty: Veterans diagnosed with chronic diseases(such as arthritis, diabetes, or hypertension) are encouraged to apply for disability compensation. Veterans with continuous service of 90 days or more: Veterans diagnosed with amyotrophic lateralsclerosis (ALS)/Lou Gehrig's disease at any time after discharge or release from qualifying active service is sufficient to establish service connection for the disease, if the veteran had active, continuous service of 90 days or more. Former Prisoners of War (1) Imprisoned for any length of time, and disability at least 10 percent disabling: · psychosis · any of the anxiety states · dysthymic disorder · organic residuals of frostbite · post-traumatic osteoarthritis · heart disease or hypertensive vascular disease and their complications · stroke and its residuals (2) Imprisoned for at least 30 days, and disability at least 10 percent disabling: · avitaminosis · beriberi · chronic dysentery · helminthiasis · malnutrition (including optic atrophy) · pellagra · any other nutritional deficiency · irritable bowel syndrome · peptic ulcer disease · peripheral neuropathy · cirrhosis of the liver Vietnam Veterans (Exposed to Agent Orange) Served in the Republic of Vietnam between 1/9/62 and 5/7/75: · chloracne or other acneform disease similar to chloracne* · porphyria cutanea tarda* · soft-tissue sarcoma (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma or mesothelioma) · Hodgkin's disease · multiple myeloma · respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx, trachea) · non-Hodgkin's lymphoma · prostate cancer · acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy* · type 2 diabetes · chronic lymphocytic leukemia *Must become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year after the last date on which the veteran was exposed to an herbicide agent during active military, naval, or air service. Atomic Veterans (Exposed to Ionizing Radiation) Participated in atmospheric nuclear testing; occupied or was a POW in Hiroshima or Nagasaki; service before 2/1/92 at a diffusion plant in Paducah, KY, Portsmouth, OH, or Oak Ridge, TN; or service before 1/1/74 at Amchitka Island, AK: · all forms of leukemia (except for chronic lymphocytic leukemia) · cancer of the thyroid, breast, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary gland, urinary tract (kidneys, renal pelves, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra), brain, bone, lung, colon, ovary · bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma · multiple myeloma · lymphomas (other than Hodgkin's disease) · primary liver cancer (except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated) Gulf War Veterans (Undiagnosed Illness) Served in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during the Gulf War with condition at least 10 percent disabling by 12/31/11. Included are medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illnesses defined by a cluster of signs or symptoms that have existed for six months or more, such as: · chronic fatigue syndrome · fibromyalgia · irritable bowel syndrome · any diagnosed or undiagnosed illness that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines warrants a presumption of service connection Signs or symptoms of an undiagnosed illness include: fatigue, skin symptoms, headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, neurological symptoms, respiratory symptoms, sleep disturbance, GI symptoms, cardiovascular symptoms, weight loss, menstrual disorders

A number of women and men suffered sexual or other personal trauma while serving in the military. These veterans may still struggle with fear, anxiety, embarrassment, or profound anger as a result of these experiences. We cannot undo the past; however, if a veteran suffers from the effects of trauma in military service, VA may be able to help them. How Does VA Define Sexual or Personal Trauma? Sexual or personal trauma are events of human design that threaten or inflict harm. Trauma is defined as any lingering physical,emotional, or psychological symptoms. Examples of trauma are: · Rape, · Physical assault, · Domestic battering, and · Stalking. Can You Receive Compensation for Your Disabilities? Yes. If it is determined that your disabilities are a result of or have been made worse by injuries or diseases incurred during military service, you may receive compensation. You must have been separated under other than dishonorable conditions to be eligible, and must currently suffer from a disabling condition to receive compensation. A common disability resulting from a sexual or personal trauma is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Secondary to Sexual or Personal Trauma PTSD is a recurrent emotional reaction to a terrifying, uncontrollable,or life-threatening event. The symptoms may develop immediately after the event or may be delayed for years. They include: · Sleep disturbances and nightmares, · Emotional instability, · Feelings of fear and anxiety, · Impaired concentration, · Flash-backs, and · Problems in intimate and other interpersonal relations. How Can You Apply? You can apply for disability compensation by filling out VA Form 21-526, Veterans Application for Compensation and/or Pension. VA counselors and Women Veterans Coordinators are available for assistance. You can also apply online through our web site at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp.

Maybe I am wrong but it seems that there is more fraud found in VA workers instead of regular veterans applying for disability. In December, a U.S. District Court judge sentenced Air Force veteran and former Veterans Affairs clerk David M. Perelman to a year in prison for fraudulently obtaining a Purple Heart medal, which he used to steal $180,000 in disability benefits. Perelman pleaded guilty in August to theft of government funds, a felony, and unlawful wearing of a service medal, a misdemeanor. It was the first known prosecution in Nevada under the federal Stolen Valor Act. During sentencing U.S. District Judge Kent Dawson allowed Perelman to retain his right to appeal the constitutionality of the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 even though he ruled the circumstances in his case differed from free-speech rights that were at issue in the California case of Xavier Alvarez, whose stolen valor conviction was overturned by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Senate Judiciary Committee took no action Friday. Full Story http://www.lvrj.com/news/lawmakers-study-stolen-valor-bill-119515619.html

http://www.socialsec.../pubs/10030.pdf

Military service members can receive expedited processing of disability claims from Social Security. Benefits available through Social Security are different than those from the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application. The expedited process is used for military service members who become disabled while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. The following questions link to answers to questions most people ask about applying for disability benefits. Knowing the answers to these questions will help you understand the process. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors/

DSM-IV-TR criteria for PTSD In 2000, the American Psychiatric Association revised the PTSD diagnostic criteria in the fourth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR)(1). The diagnostic criteria (A-F) are specified below. Diagnostic criteria for PTSD include a history of exposure to a traumatic event meeting two criteria and symptoms from each of three symptom clusters: intrusive recollections, avoidant/numbing symptoms, and hyper-arousal symptoms. A fifth criterion concerns duration of symptoms and a sixth assesses functioning. Criterion A: stressor The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following have been present: The person has experienced, witnessed, or been confronted with an event or events that involve actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of oneself or others.The person's response involved intense fear,helplessness, or horror. Note: in children, it may be expressed instead by disorganized or agitated behavior. Criterion B: intrusive recollection The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in at least one of the following ways: Recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event, including images, thoughts, or perceptions. Note: in young children, repetitive play may occur in which themes or aspects of the trauma are expressed.Recurrent distressing dreams of the event. Note: in children, there may be frightening dreams without recognizable contentActing or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring (includes a sense of reliving the experience, illusions, hallucinations, and dissociative flashback episodes,including those that occur upon awakening or when intoxicated). Note: in children, trauma-specific reenactment may occur.Intense psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.Physiologic reactivity upon exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event Criterion C: avoidant/numbing Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness (not present before the trauma), as indicated by at least three of the following: Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the traumaEfforts to avoid activities, places, or people that arouse recollections of the traumaInability to recall an important aspect of the traumaMarkedly diminished interest or participation in significant activitiesFeeling of detachment or estrangement from othersRestricted range of affect (e.g., unable to have loving feelings)Sense of foreshortened future (e.g., does not expect to have a career, marriage, children, or a normal life span) Criterion D: hyper-arousal Persistent symptoms of increasing arousal (not present before the trauma), indicated by at least two of the following: Difficulty falling or staying asleepIrritability or outbursts of angerDifficulty concentratingHyper-vigilanceExaggerated startle response Criterion E: duration Duration of the disturbance (symptoms in B, C, and D) is more than one month. Criterion F: functional significance The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Specify if: Acute: if duration of symptoms is less than three months Chronic: if duration of symptoms is three months or more Specify if: With or Without delay onset: Onset of symptoms at least six months after the stressor. http://www.ptsd.va.g...-iv-tr-ptsd.asp

http://www.medicinen...ome/article.htm Defining CFS Symptoms CFS is marked by extreme fatigue that has lasted at least six months; is not the result of ongoing effort; is not substantially relieved by rest; and causes a substantial reduction in daily activities.In addition to fatigue, CFS includes eight characteristic symptoms:postexertional malaise (relapse of symptoms after physical or mental exertion);unrefreshing sleep;substantial impairment in memory/concentration;muscle pain;pain in multiple joints;headaches of a new type, pattern or severity;sore throat;and tender neck or armpit lymph nodes.[*]Symptoms and their consequences can be severe. CFS can be as disabling as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, congestive heart failure and similar chronic conditions. Symptom severity varies from patient to patient and may vary over time for an individual patient.

http://www.medicinenet.com/diabetes_mellitus/article.htm Diabetes At A Glance Diabetes is a chronic condition associated with abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Insulin produced by the pancreas lowers blood glucose. Absence or insufficient production of insulin causes diabetes. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst and hunger as well as fatigue. Diabetes is diagnosed by blood sugar (glucose) testing. The major complications of diabetes are both acute and chronic. Acutely: dangerously elevated blood sugar, abnormally low blood sugar due to diabetes medications may occur. Chronically: disease of the blood vessels (both small and large) which can damage the eye, kidneys, nerves, and heart may occur [*]Diabetes treatment depends on the type and severity of the diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin, exercise, and a diabetic diet. Type 2 diabetes is first treated with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise. When these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugars, oral medications are used. If oral medications are still insufficient, insulin medications are considered.

http://www.medicinen...thy/article.htm Peripheral Neuropathy At A Glance There are many causes of peripheral neuropathy, including many drugs, diabetes, shingles, kidney failure, and vitamin deficiency. Many causes of peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated or prevented. The treatment for a peripheral neuropathy depends on its cause.

http://www.medicinen...der/article.htm PTSD At A Glance Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an emotional illness that was first formally diagnosed in soldiers and war veterans and is usually caused by terribly frightening, life-threatening, or otherwise highly unsafe experiences but can also be caused by devastating life events like unemployment or divorce.PTSD symptom types include re-experiencing the trauma, avoidance, and hyperarousal.PTSD has a lifetime prevalence of 7%-30%, with about 5 million people suffering from the illness in any one year. Girls, women, and ethnic minorities develop PTSD more than boys, men, and Caucasians.Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) usually results from prolonged exposure to traumatic event(s) and is characterized by long-lasting problems that affect many aspects of emotional and social functioning.Symptoms of C-PTSD include problems regulating feelings, dissociation, or depersonalization; persistent depressive feelings, seeing the perpetrator of trauma as all-powerful, preoccupation with the perpetrator, and a severe change in what gives the sufferer meaning.Untreated PTSD can have devastating, far-reaching consequences for sufferers' medical and emotional functioning and relationships, their families, and for society. Children with PTSD can experience significantly negative effects on their social and emotional development, as well as their ability to learn.Although almost any event that is life-threatening or that severely compromises the emotional well-being of an individual may cause PTSD, such events usually include experiencing or witnessing a severe accident or physical injury, getting a frightening medical diagnosis, being the victim of a crime or torture, exposure to combat, disaster or terrorist attack, enduring any form of abuse, or involvement in civil conflict.Issues that tend to put people at higher risk for developing PTSD include female gender, minority ethnicity, increased duration or severity of, as well as exposure to, the trauma experienced, having an emotional condition prior to the event, and having little social support. Risk factors for children and adolescents also include having any learning disability or experiencing violence in the home.Disaster preparedness training may be a protective factor for PTSD.Medicines that treat depression (for example, serotonergic antidepressants or SSRIs), that decrease the heart rate (for example, propranolol), or increase the action of other body chemicals (for example, hydrocortisol) are thought to be effective tools in the prevention of PTSD when given in the days immediately after an individual experiences a traumatic event.SSRIs seem to be most effective in treating persons whose PTSD is the result of non-combat related trauma.Individuals who wonder if they may be suffering from PTSD may benefit from taking a self-test as they consider meeting with a practitioner. Professionals may use a clinical interview in either adults, children, or adolescents, or one of a number of structured tests with children or adolescents to assess for the presence of this illness.Diagnosing PTSD can present a challenge for professionals since sufferers often come for evaluation of something that seems to be unrelated to that illness at first. Those symptoms tend to be physical complaints, depression, or substance abuse. Also, PTSD often co-occurs with other anxiety disorders, manic depression, or with eating disorders.Challenges for the assessment of PTSD in children and adolescents include adult caretakers' tendency to be unaware of the extent of the young person's symptoms and the tendency for children and teens to express symptoms of the illness in ways that are quite different from adults.Treatments for PTSD usually include psychological and medical treatments. Education about the illness, helping the individual talk about the trauma directly, exploration and modification of inaccurate ways of thinking about it, and teaching the person ways to manage symptoms and are the usual techniques used in psychotherapy. Family and couples' counseling, parenting classes, and education about conflict resolution are other useful psychotherapeutic interventions.Directly addressing the sleep problems that are associated with PTSD has been found to help alleviate those problems, thereby decreasing the symptoms of PTSD in general.Medications that are usually used to help PTSD sufferers include serotonergic antidepressants (SSRIs) and medicines that help decrease the physical symptoms associated with illness. Other potentially helpful medications for managing PTSD include mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. Tranquilizers have been associated with withdrawal symptoms and other problems and have not been found to be significantly effective for helping individuals with PTSD.Some ways that are often suggested for PTSD patients to cope with this illness include learning more about the illness, talking to others for support, using relaxation techniques, participating in treatment, increasing positive lifestyle practices, and minimizing negative lifestyle practices.

http://www.medicinen...nea/article.htm Sleep Apnea At A Glance Sleep apnea is defined as a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnea are central apnea, obstructive apnea, and a mixture of central and obstructive apnea. Central sleep apnea is caused by a failure of the brain to activate the muscles of breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the collapse of the airway during sleep. The complications of obstructive sleep apnea include high blood pressure, strokes, heart disease, automobile accidents, and daytime sleepiness as well as difficulty concentrating, thinking and remembering. Obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed and evaluated by history, physical examination and polysomnography. The non-surgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea include behavior therapy, medications, dental appliances, continuous positive airway pressure, bi-level positive airway pressure, and auto-titrating continuous positive airway pressure. The surgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea include nasal surgery, palate implants, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, tongue reduction surgery, genioglossus advancement, maxillo-mandibular advancement, tracheostomy, and bariatric surgery.