broncovet

"Buddies" who actually observed (an applicable issue, such as one who saw you fall out of a truck) can be good evidence, especially to support etiology. As Broken solderi said, generally they need to have servied with you. Your doctoor can not verify an "in service event" which he did not witness. Buddy letters are most effective to establish service connection. Example: You serve with 8 different people, and you all are paratroopers. Your buddies can write a letter, that they were with you on xx number of jumps. They can also state things, "on one particular jump" I saw the Veteran Wince in pain as he landed in an awkard position. This could possibly support your position that jumping out of airplanes injured your knee. Sometimes, the military does not always assign troops to their MOS. You could be a cook, and be told to jump out of airplanes. So the VA may doubt you jumped out of airplanes if you are a cook. Your commander may or may not have changed your MOS to paratrooper. But paratroopers who jumped with you can testify as to what they observed. No they are not qualified to diagnose a medial collateral tearin your left posterior ccruciate ligament, but they can obvserve that you winced in pain when you jumped. A doctor would need to diagnose a medial collateral tear, (or any other medical condition). So, you need an "in service event", A current diagnosis, and a doctors opinion that your in service event at least as likely as not caused your current medical diagnosis. This is the Caluza elements and those are generally what you need to establish service connection. Again, maybe the VA is questioning why a cook jumps out of airplanes. But we dont get to decide whether or not we actully always do what our MOS suggests. Our chain of command orders us to do it and we must comply, whether we are a cook or not. They may have had a compelling reason to ask a cook to jump out of an airplane. Maybe they needed someone to jump, and they thought you could learn it quickly and they had no choice but to ask you to do it with experienced paratroopers and learn while doing. We dont know.

Yes. Will it take longer than a single claim? Maybe. But your retro is largely based upon the "date of application". And, the sooner you apply, the earlier your effective date. (Its more complicated than that, but this is generally true, because, except special circumstances, your effective date of claim cant be earlier than the date filed, if awarded.) I would not advise people to "delay" filing claim A, until claim B finishes. Why? Because you will lose retro, if both claims are awarded, because Claim A's effective date will be later, when you filed it later. That's why I never suggest delaying filing any portion of your total claims "unless" there is a compelling reason. My opinion is I have no compelling reason to "give up" retro pay, unless I have to. You can get your check, cash it, and throw money out the window if you like. Not me. I file each claim at the earliest possible time and never delay filing because I have other claim issues in progress. I just dont have that much to throw money out the window. Some people do, so they are welcome to squander their money however they like. That's why I save money by filing at the earliest possible date.

Scammers target Veterans, especially us who get a check from VA. Dont go to their links, do your own search and use phone numbers YOU discover, not those provided by others. Its pretty easy for scammers to answer the phone "Department of Veterans Affiars" when they are in Nigeria. THE REAL Veterans banking program, on VA.gov, is here: https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp This is generally for Vets "who dont have a bank" to deposit checks to. may need this. It says, on va.gov If you are speaking about a financial planning, know this: Financial planners have 4 plans to cover their fees: 1. Fee plan. You pay the planner an agreed amount for a representive to develop a plan for you, generally its based on the number of hours needed. It may also be a percentage of AUM (Assets under management), a fixed fee, (often 5000 to 10,000), or hourly. 2. Commission plan. You pay nothing but "buy products" where the planner gets a commission. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ WORST PLAN EVER< COSTING LIFE SAVINGS>>>>>>>>>>>> 3. Con plan. You write your check out to the name of the financial planner, and never see any money ever again. They are 100 percent of any money you invest. ####NOTE. These are sometimes recommended by a trusted friend.....$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. The friend gets conned also, but did not know he was being conned until its too late. Cons are experts at gaining your trust. Its what they do for a living. < call your accountant....or banker, or insurance agent. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. END WORST EVER PLAN and all your life savings. 4. BEST plan. READ, READ, READ and learn. Educate yourself and do things like Watch utube videos such as Warren Buffet, who talks about financial planners and why we dont need them. Brokerage firms such as Fidelity have "built in software" where you can enter your numbers and develop a plan. But be careful about the advice you take online, check it with other, independent sources, such as your brokerage account. If in doubt, try asking on hadit. Lets just say I have some extensive knowledge on the matter, and will answer questions as I have time. Be patient. Waren Buffet quote:

Did you appeal via "higher level review"? This means you will need to appeal to the BVA. (If you have not already.). OR post your reasons and bases for denail and maybe we can find a cue (clear error) to help you file to make it go faster. We need more details to determine if its cue.

Interesting. While I have never been a politician, nor have I ever "written a bill" presented to congress, I can see some of the challenges faced here, and with other VA benefits, too. Part of the problem lies "with the Veterans", because we rarely publicly respond to those public requests where input is solicited when regulations are changed. And, you pointed out the problems with VSO's, who largely fail to represent our interests as well. Remember, the VSO's often get compensation "based on the number of POA's" the service organazation has FROM the VA. A VSO who serves 2000 Veterans a year, probably gets way way way less than a large organizaation which may serve a million or more Veterans per year. As it should. But that means the VSO "gets paid" xx dollars for every POA (power of attorney which allows the VSO to represent the veteran). The net effect is that VSO's "get a commission" based on the number of POA's, and they are motivated to get us to sign a POA. This is widely abused by VSO's. First, after the Vet signs the POA, its well known that its a crime for VSO's to return Veterans phone calls, since that only happens about 10 percent of the time, to my count. Get that POA signed, and forget that Vet and dont return his calls..you may have work to do for him/her. Further, VSO's often have "free rent" in VARO offices. That is, the VA provides office space, and maybe phone and utilities for the exclusive use of VSO's at VA expense. Remember the slogan "there is no such thing as free rent"? Well, there is no doubt in my mind that VA "expects" VSO's getting free rent (all of them) to "follow certain VA guidelines" when advising Vetereans. These guidelines often consist of things like: 1. Tell a Veteran who is applying for an increase that they should not do this and put fear into them that VA will reduce them instead. "Dont poke the Bear", and "let sleeping dogs lie", and a few others come to mind. THis is terrible and convinces Veterans they need to remain in poverty, and just accept whatever pittance VA offers and never appeal, dont ask for an increase, and just settle in to live in poverty with less benefits than you deserve. 2. Tell Vets to "only apply for one benefit at a time" and wait till you get that one to apply for soemthing else, then see rule 1, above, when he does. 3. Doing certain things delays our benefits. Like submitting evidence, getting an IMO, appealing condition A, when you already have applied for condition B. It assists Va by delaying the effective date as long as possible, which is their goal. Pay the lowest amount possible.

I will chime in here even tho, Broken Soldier almost certainly has a better answer than I can give. Part of my answer is "just speculation" from working in IT. Often, on the computer, you must answer a question, before the computer allows you to continue. And, sometimes, none of those answers apply, but you have to give an answer, often trying to pick the "least wrong" of the drop down box or answers from which you must select one. As one example, on a loan form Im often forced to choose between one of the following: A 1. Employed (no) 2. Unemployed (No) 3. Business owner (NO) 4. Retired (not really, Im a disabled Vet and that is different than if I retired from the military) So, I must pick one of these and notice that "disabled Vet" is not one of the choices. I could pick number 2, since I am "unemployed" but not on unemployement compensation. But that is problem matic since I do get tdiu, which is not unemployment. Number 4 sort of describes my situation, except they often ask "where am I retired from, and then send in proof". Well, I cant do that either, because Im not retired military and I cant send them proof of retirement. I could go on, because I do get a small income from a previous business I owned, but Im not actively working the business, and have not been for years, either. So, none of these describle my situation, but I have to pick one, and whichever one I pick is not compeltely truthful because it does not accurately describe my situation. Then I have to sign and attest that everything I said was true and correct. I suggest you, are a victim of some sort of software glitch, where a va employee had to check one of the boxes, and he had to pick the dbq thing, even tho it was not correct. With all of the above said, when I do fill out a loan application, I just go for it and do the best I can. (Im almost always approved). In short, I suggest you not worry about it, and focus on stuff "that will affect your outcome", and not worry so much about the process which is up to those people who work on the process.

"Protected Environment" reminds me of "Sy" on Duck Dynasty. No one in their right mind would hire him, but, he continues working (in a protected environment) because his family (aka the bosses) wont fire him because of family loyalty. If you have ever seen Duck Dynasty, you probably know what I mean. Your job is protected, not because of your skills, but because of "who you know" in the company. You become "fireproof". If that makes any sense.

Wow, Broken soldier. It sounds like their is another "resolution" device (Vera) I had not heard of until today. Thank you. I am going to check it out.

I advise timely appealing the effective date, by filing a nod. This is the procedure of correcting an error. You can also try filing a cue, BUT, once the 1 year appeal period expires you cant appeal. You can make all the phone calls in the world, but, only by filing a timely appeal do you preserve your effective date legally. Broken Soldier: I give up, what is a "VERA" call. It sounds like one of those where Veterans are not privy to this information. I have no idea what "Vera's" phone number is, nor do I know how to look it up. ITs been my experience, Veterans are not given access to internal (VA employee) phone numbers and/or tiltles 99 percent of the time.

We dont know if your ratings are "seperate and distinct" or not, a requirement for SMC S..statutory. We also dont know if you are "substantially confined to your premisis" to qualify you for SMC S (housebound in fact). If you can answer those questions, we can give a better answer. The answers to the above questions are often (but not always) found in your medical/cfile. In all cases, you can/should apply for SMC S, and, probably dispute VA's findings if you disagree. The good part of smc is that, if awarded, regardless of when you apply, you should get retro "back to the date" when you first met the criteria for smc S. Example: You apply for smc S, on June 15, 2024, and you eventually get awarded benefits back to the date your doctor says you were substantially confined to your home, in a medical exam in April 2022. Your effective date should be april, 2022.

LKF...posted: Great question, even tho I have answered it before..its hard to find sometimes. In short, This is a myth perpetuated by the VA and assisted by VSO's.. Remember, your VSO ultimately gets paid (mostly) through VA. So they owe their loyalty to the same VA that doctors owe their loyalty to VA: Since the VA signs their checks, they dont want to bite the hand that feeds them. I have thoroughly read the regulations on reductions at least 10 times. NOWHERE does it say, "When the Veteran applies for an increase, then do a reduction instead". Instead, the VA has rather strict rules they must go by to reduce your rating. While I will provide a link to the exact regulations, in summary the VA cant reduce Veterans (who are P and T, or have been rated 5 years or more) unless the Veteran has "actually improved under ordinary conditions of life". Further, to make a reductions "stick" the improvement needs to be "sustained", and not just you had a good day when you went to your daughters birthday party. So, one "good day" is not enough for the VA to reduce your benefits. Now, sometimes the VA will try to hornswaggle you. They may do a proposed reduction, as they did to me. But I simply wrote a letter and provided evidence that I did not meet criteria for reduction. Since they tried to reduce (aka take off) my spouse from my award, I simply wrote a letter explaining I was still married, and had my wife do the same. Reduction proposal was quashed easily. Here are some of the rules VA must adhere to be able to try to reduce you:

Thank you broken soldier for the update. I have never filed an 1151/FTCA so its good to know. Even tho I had to have 2 revision surgeries to my hernia, I still have not decided whether or not to file an 1151. For me, there are still unanswered questions, and VA seems to keep those answers under wrap: 1. Are 1151 benefits (aka ratings) "in addition to" an already 100 percent P and T Vet? 2. While I would expect a big fight from VA (this happens no matter what claim I flle), I can look up "win percentages" in the BVA Chairmans report, but dont know about 1151 percentages of wins by Vets. For me, Im uninterested in doing "lots and lots" of paperwork, that has little chance in netting any extra benefits. Instead, after about 20 years of fighting VA, Im pretty much "just doin" the claims with a higher chance of success, and lower risks. (Its a huge risk to me to fight VA 5 years or more and not see anything out of it.). Its my opinion, with regular claims (and smc s) you have a great chance of winning beneifits as long as you are persistent enough to see it through, AND you dont have many real bad CLAIM habits such as skipping C and P exams, or being unwilling to pay for a much needed IMO.

We had a question on 1151 claims, and I found this template. Apparently, if you file it, it goes into your cfile, not your medical file. This, unless its changed, is important to some "in case" they dont want ALL doctors working on you know you filed an 1151. Some may not like it. Here are some hadit links: Also, this FTCA win:

Who is surprised about this? Not me. And VA wonders why Vets dont trust VA? This does not earn Veterans Trust: Some time ago, VA was lying about the wait times for medical appointments, by having "secret" waiting lists. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/05/28/316712039/report-finds-evidence-of-secret-wait-lists-at-va-hospital Now, the BVA, after asking for (and getting) ADDITIONAL money from Congress "to improve Veterans wait times" this resulted in failure, and VA lied about it. https://cck-law.com/blog/cck-law-shows-actual-bva-wait-times-2024/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=June+2024+VET+ Who pays for this? Probably some of the 22 Veterans per day who take their own life. I can speak for certain, its depressing to be waiting on VA benefits while you are unable to support your family, and, for my self and others homeless Vets. I was a homeless Vet because of a VA "bogus denial" in 2004. FuLL disclosure: I was denied in 2002, and appealed to the BVA. In 2003, the BVA awarded service connection. However, the Regional office "Implemented" my appeal at a 0 percent rating. Try making back house payments with a zero percent rating. By 2004, I finally got a rating but it was too little too late. Of course, the VA also knew that I was qualified for pension, and knew I was about to be homeless but did not process an application for pension until 2004, when "an application for compensation is supposed to be an application for pension, too." By the time I actually got a check, it was too little, too late and I lost my home and became a homeless Veteran, "JUST LIKE I TOLD THEM I WAS ABOUT TO BECOME in 2002-2004". They did not care and the only action they took was denials, delays, and lowball ratings (0 percent).. Instead of rating "on the criteria" the VA made stuff up to deny me, saying that it had been "too long since military service". However, "length of time since military service" is not in the criteria for rating and, Va is required to rate on the criteria, not based on the color of our hair, the music we like or our political party.

I just had Robotic hernia surgery (community care, that is private care paid for by VA, as my VA does not offer Robotic surgery). Here is how this went: The robotic surgery was necessary because my first TWO hernia surgeries at VA failed. My wife, a retired RN, indicated that its not unusual for hernia surgeries to fail. Sometimes the repaired hernia can be re injured from lifting too much weight, for example, but that is not the only reason hernia surgeries have to be redone. Its my opinion that the VA doc actually did a good job, considering they had to rush me through it. But Veterans deserve the best, not substandard overburdened health care. I got a great result form the private care hernia surgery. VA always says "they need more money (from congress) to fix the problem." However, its been shown time after time, that more money does not fix the problem. After getting more money, VA mis management manages to squander the extra funds, with little/no, actual health care improvement. Sometimes its actaully worse, when VA gets more money because they come up with a plan to spend the money, much of which often winds up in pockets of politically well connected contractors and overbloated VA (mis management) employees. Its the same way with VA benefits, VA launches "program after program" to reduce wait times, and the wait times are worse than they were in 2002 when I first applied. They always have a fancy name for the new program, such as Pact ACT or, what was the last one that failed? Interestingly, I got to compare "VA health care (surgery)" and private surgery, because I had both. Its my opinion, while VA did a good job, it was not near as good as private care. I felt "herded into surgery like cattle" at the VA health care. Similar to non surgery, Veterans get a very limited time with the doc, its "hurry hurry, hurry, done, next" pretty much like when we were in the military. Not so with private care. They took the time to thoroughly answer questions "because they could" and were not required to rush me through it". This is my educated guess as to WHY. The VA is, frankly corrupt. Its a huge, huge organization, mostly managed by the VASEC which is a manager who rarely has serious experience managing this large of a hospital/benefits, but rather is a politically well connected appointment not based on management or medical skill Set, like in private practice. There are just too many of these job appointments in VA management that are basically jobs as "favors" for getting someone elected as opposed to hiring someone with a skill set of serious medical management, in many levels of VA managment. Case in point: I have a friend who is a psychiatrist. He applied at my local VA AND my local VA was hiring doctors. They needed him. IT took VA 3 years to decide whether or not to hire him, so he gave up. So, he is in private practice, basically because of VA mismanagement and red tape. He is working in private practice. Many/most people dont want to wait 3 years to get a job which pays "less" than private practice! VA has some very good employees often who do their very best in a very badly managed system. But, like many mismanaged companies, they dont turn out a good product. In the private world, mismanaged companies do what mismanaged companies do: They fail. However, with VA mis management is rewarded with more money from congress.

My advice is to file right away for the temp 100 percent mentioned byRattler, first: (That is, the temp convalescent 100 percent) Then, after you fully review the records for revision surgery, file the 1151 here: https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/special-claims/1151-claims-title-38/#:~:text=You can file a claim,get%2C or keep a job. You will probably need an attorney for your 1151. I doubt a VSO will be much help. SInce your knee was SC, I dont think you need to worry about whether the doc was a contractor or VA employee with the 1151. There is another class of actions I think is called a Tort, and you would need an attorney for that, too. I do agree you should "tread lightly" when suing the VA. Personally, I have never done it, BUT, I had to have TWO revision surgeries to my hernia repair done at VA, so Im considering some of the same things you are. My private practice hernia repair will be done on MONDAY, June 10. It was done in community care where the same surgeon who did my surgery at VA referred me to private practice surgeon. She said that I needed a revision surgeon who does robotic surgery, and VA does not have that. I am not sc for issues of my knee which required surgery, but am 100 percent. This is new ground for both of us (filing 1151 against va) and I have yet to decide if I will do same. As of right now, I tend toward not filing against VA in my case. My wife is a retired RN, and indicates that often hernias need revision surgery. For me, "if" I get a good outcome from the revision surgery, I will not likely file an 1151. The way I see it is this. While I did experience some pain, I know that VA does not really compensate Vets for "pain" which gets better over time, that is acute pain. But chronic pain, that lasts over a long period, is different. So if the revision surgery fixes my problem and I no longer have hernia symptoms, well, Im good. But if it does not, and Im "damaged" by this, then I will likely go after them, mostly because I dont want doctors malpracticing on other Veterans because they got away with malpracticing on me.

I agree with Rattler and should have mentioned what he did. You can get temp 100 percent while you are recovering from surgery on SC conditions. Good catch Rattler.

This from Ben Kraus: https://www.disabledveterans.org/lamont-signs-property-tax-exemption-law-for-vets/?utm_source=keap&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_37&utm_content=nl37&inf_contact_key=8df86ad0c64bbef2fde98605b9638ac3680f8914173f9191b1c0223e68310bb1

Whether or not your claim will succeed is dependent on medical experts opinions. If your private doc alleges malpractice (and it sound's like he may well do that), then you can persue an 1151 claim which is medical malpractice, if you want to go that route. Remember this, tho. The military does not pay for pain and suffering, that is, that does not last. So, lets say you had pain for a year and your knee surgery revision is successfull, an d you restore use to your knee. In this example, and, of course I dont know if it applies to you, if your knee is ultimaley restored, you are unlikley to get compensated for pain for that year. Almost all of us had some considerable pain in the militayr. We get pain for residuals of damages to our body or mind that remains long term, and its affect on employment in the future. My advice is to go ahead and apply for sc benefits for your knee if you have some good reasons how your knee problem is related to military service. As an example if you jumped out of airplanes, those jumps are well known to damage knees. So, apply for sc for knee problems from jumps from the military. Do that right away. Its never gonna hurt to get sc for that. Then, after your private doc completes a revision, you can see if it makes sense to also apply for 1151, which is medical malpractice. Service connect first, then 1151 later. There are time limits so dont delay. Now, you should endeavor to find out the name of your va doc who malpracticed on you. And, you need to find out for certain if he/whe was a va employee OR if he was a contractor for va and not employed by va. malpractice by contractors and va employees are treated differently, and you need to find that out sooner as opposed to later. One of VA's favorites is to just "play along" with a veteran who alleges malpractice with a "va doc" and say nothing about the fact that doc did not work for va...until the statue of limitations expires and its too late for you to refile against the contractor. Dont let them do that to you, by knowing and doing your homework to find out if your doc was acutally employed by va or was he contracted by va.

You should resubmit your evidence under 38 CFR 3.156 and you should get the effective date from when you first applied, if your decision was within the past year. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/3.156 Item D, suggests how you should do this.

I will add to the list above. MOST STATES also have benefits for disabled Vets. Many offer things like: 1. Reduced or even NO property taxes on your home. 2. Some offer free license plates, free hunting or fishing license, free parks pass (the National Parks pass offers disabled Vets a lifetime pass). https://news.va.gov/60590/disabled-veterans-eligible-free-national-park-service-lifetime-access-pass/ 3. Also not included above is that you may be eligible for things like wheel chairs, power chairs, Adaptive equipment, if necessary, and you may even be eligible for a service dog. (Tbird knows something about that one, I think). 4. For more information on your states benefits, try here: https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/state-veterans-benefits-directory.html 5. Many private companies offer discounts for (disabled) Veterans, such as free meals on Veterans day, and/or Veterans discountss on things like Hotels, meals and more. I found the military discount on hotels to be HUGE.

Tbird...Yes, and I recognized this, and mentioned it but it may not have been included earlier. My post (updated): Relatively happy camper: While I will admit, I frankly dont know, my answer to questions of this nature are pretty much the same: ONE reason (not the only one) is that "even if" CURRENTLY you cant get DIC with 2 different spouses, congress and VA are constantly changing the rules, and, it may well turn out that it changes in your favor, and, upon applying, you get the effective date of the date you applied. Some one said that if we had to have a clear path of success before beginning each project, many of the great projects would never have been completed because, they would never have started them. Sometimes, you have to step out and apply, and figure stuff out as you go along. The good part is that "IF" VA denies you they have to give a reasons and bases for denial, AND you have an opportunity to appeal those reasons (especially if they are bogus reasons, as VA has denied me for absolutely bogus reasons in the past. THe first time VA denied my hearing loss "because it had been too long since military service". I now know that is bogus. "TIME since military service" is NOT one of the criteria, and the VA has to use the criteria. Otherwise, they can deny me because "I listen to the wrong type of music", or "they dont like the church I go to" or "they dont like they way I voted in the last election". All of those are bogus denials. A valid denail may have been, "your hearing loss did not meet the minimum loss as defined in the criteria" or something like "there is no evidence that hearing loss was due to an in service event". Now those may have been good denials, they are based upon the criteria. But not how long its been since miiitary service, which is not one of the criteria. I appealed my hearing loss denial, and the board agreed with me that I had met the criteria for service connection for hearing loss, because I had all 3 Caluza elements.

I agree with TBIRD, above. Veterans are forced to "triage themselves" and only speak to the doctor about THE MOST URGENT ISSUE (because we are mostly only allowed to discuss with our doc the most pressing issue, not ALL our health issues. Well, for people with no medical training, to be forced to "triage themselves" is a terrible idea. How would you like to be in an emergency room, where you had to evaluate people and decide which persons problem could likely kill them, and which person can wait 2 hours, "if you had no medical training". You could easily make a mistake and not promply care for a heart attack victom, and instead treat someone for a broken arm, because you did not know the symptoms of a heart attack. Worse, what if the problem was with you? How are we supposed to know if that "spot on our back" that itches is cancer, or maybe just a non malignant mole? How are we supposed to know if that spot on our back is more important than our cold and maybe neededing a covid test without some serious medical training? As far as VA "not having enough doctors" this, too, is often a management problem. My example should suffice: I have a good friend who is a Psychiatrist. He applied for the position at VA, and it took VA at least 3 years to decide whether or not to hire him. He was a good doc, competent and qualified, and willing to work for VA. But, he could not do without income for 3 years while VA does all the red tape to make up their mind. As a rusult, he was not hired by VA...not because he was not qualified, but because he could not wait 3 years for VA to make up their mind. So, there is a "shortage" of VA doctors at VA "in no small part" due to VA mis management. A private firm hired him, and he does a good job for them, as he gave up waiting on VA's massive red tape. I guess someone at VA got confused, thought he was a Veteran and they should delay and deny him until he dies, not a doctor who many Veterans need desperately. Worse, VA saves money by not hiring enough docs. They blame a doctor shortage, when its often a VA management problem, not a doctor shortage as my example shows. ONE Veteran, some years ago, went to my VA for treatment. (mental health). So, the VA naturally says, "Ok, what are you doing in November..we have a spot open to see you then?" He did not need a doc "in November", because he was dead 3 days later, after killing himself in front of the VA when he could not promptly get the mental health treatment he so badly needed. Probably, in no small part because of mismanagement, when the VA could have hired a doctor, but instead delayed his application at least 3 years. I did not make this up, at least one Veteran killed himself basically becuse of VA health care mismanagent. Im sure it has happened other times, too: https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/staff-treated-soldier-before-killed-himself/axkF8GVcCzDqfyicECdNEL/

Uninformed widows and family members can lose Veterans benefits if they dont know key things: These apply to Veteran's family, regardless if the Veteran was a female or a male. 1. It may require an autoposy on your late husband to prove cause of death or you can miss out on DIC benefits. This is because your husbands cause of death is critical to whether or not you get a much needed $3000 or so per month in DIC. "If" your husband dies of a service connected condition and you can prove it with an autopsy, then you can get the money, but otherwise VA will assume he died of a non service connected condition and you will get zero. Its pretty much too late after he is buried without a body exhumation, and nobody wants that. 2. If your husband had a pending claim or appeal you will miss out on everything UNLESS you file a "substitution of claimant", because his claims for benefits die with him UNLESS you file this documtent within a year. If you wait, you miss out on all the VA benefits he deserved but VA delayed hoping he would die before benefits were awarded. https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21P-0847-ARE.pdf. You may well be eligible for "accued" benefits, that is, compensation benefits your husband was entitled to, but did not get, at least some of the time due to many VA benefits denial or delays. 3. Since your late husband's (or wife, if your wife was a disabled Vet) disability checks will end upon death, you need to understand the above AND that you need to file for DIC. DIC is dependents indemnity compensation, and you can find out more here: https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/. It should pay you as much as $3400 per month, depending on the number of dependents, whether or not you need aid and attendance and other factors, explained below. https://www.va.gov/disability/survivor-dic-rates/ You need to know how to do the above. One way is to have a trusted friend who knows the above to help your spouse in her time of need. At a minimum, the surviving spouse needs to know "who to talk to" for the above. A VSO who is experienced in DIC may be able to help. Not all VSO's understand DIC, unfortunately. Not knowing about the above, can cost your widow hundreds of thousands of dollars and leave her in poverty. Im probably going to print this out, and put it in a folder with my life insurance for my wife, so she can follow these instructions.

The VA has 3 departments: VA MEdical VAMC VA Beneefits VBA VA DOD&D VA's Department of delay and deny. The VA saves lots of money with its delays, and it will continue as long as it is profitable for VA to delay. VADOD&D's job is to infiltrate the other 2 departments to delay for as long as possible.