Which Organization Should I Join?

[PE1]

Which Organization should I join? The American Legion, The VFW, DAV or AmVets? I retire in 246 days. I was going to join which ever organization that helps me with my claim before I retire.

[purple]

Be sure before you retire that you get a complete copy of your active duty medical and any mental health records for both you and any dependants!!! Because once those records hit the archives somehow they "change".....if you know what I mean. Also get a copy of your personnel file.

As far as joining an organization or getting a lawyer....neither are necessary. You can file a claim on your own. I did mine on my own...it's not hard, just takes alot of work and time. My thinking is that it's your claim and you are the only one who knows it the best....so you will have the most interest in it. Just my 2 cents worth.

[Ron II]

I've heard good and bad about all the major service organizations. I think that it depends on who is working where.

Personally, I think my DAV is poor and unresponsive, but I know that it is only a few people and the DAV in general, does good work.

Any of the major service organizations will do the job for you. Just be prepared to do much of the work yourself--as others have said, no one cares as much about your claim as you do. Hadit can provide guidance on most of your issues.

I have never considered hiring a lawyer. I think they are necessary only in extreme cases.

Good luck,

Ron

[john999]

A person who represents themselves has a fool for a client. Unless you know the regs by heart you are going to make mistakes that could cost you many thousands of dollars. Even with Hadit you will step in it because the claims are unique to each vet. I believe that every vet needs a strong advocate that is dispassionate and is not emotionally invested in their claim. Any lawyer who represents vets anywhere in the USA can represent you. Mine flew all the way from New Jersey to Florida on his own dime to represent me. It was not charity. It was because he believed, and I believed that there was big money at stake. I believe he got it as right as it could be, and that I would have lost before I began because it was a CUE. We finally have access to lawyers, so why not hire an expert to do your claim? If they screw it up you can sue them.

[Ron II]

Other than the first sentence, you make a good point.

[purple]

John999-

So I was a "fool"? I got myself 100% IU P&T the very first time....all by myself! Foolish? No. I was good, I knew what I was doing...had all the i's dotted and t's crossed and left no holes in my claim!!

[danang_1969]

John999-

So I was a "fool"? I got myself 100% IU P&T the very first time....all by myself! Foolish? No. I was good, I knew what I was doing...had all the i's dotted and t's crossed and left no holes in my claim!!

Another piece of information that I have been told but I have not verified this info so maybe someone else can shed some light here. I was once going to replace my SO with a different SO from a different organization. The normal way to do this is to give power of attorney to whichever organization you want and this action voids or fires the former SO. If this vet has a form 9 appeal pending, then you can't change SO's in the middle of the stream until a decision is reached on the form 9. At least this is what I was told by the organization that I was attempting give POA and change to.

danang_1969