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VA Disability Claims: 5 Game-Changing Precedential Decisions You Need to Know
Tbird posted a record in VA Claims and Benefits Information,
These decisions have made a big impact on how VA disability claims are handled, giving veterans more chances to get benefits and clearing up important issues.
Service Connection
Frost v. Shulkin (2017)
This case established that for secondary service connection claims, the primary service-connected disability does not need to be service-connected or diagnosed at the time the secondary condition is incurred 1. This allows veterans to potentially receive secondary service connection for conditions that developed before their primary condition was officially service-connected.
Saunders v. Wilkie (2018)
The Federal Circuit ruled that pain alone, without an accompanying diagnosed condition, can constitute a disability for VA compensation purposes if it results in functional impairment 1. This overturned previous precedent that required an underlying pathology for pain to be considered a disability.
Effective Dates
Martinez v. McDonough (2023)
This case dealt with the denial of an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) 2. It addressed issues around the validity of appeal withdrawals and the consideration of cognitive impairment in such decisions.
Rating Issues
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Tbird, -
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Are all military medical records on file at the VA?
RichardZ posted a topic in How to's on filing a Claim,
I met with a VSO today at my VA Hospital who was very knowledgeable and very helpful. We decided I should submit a few new claims which we did. He told me that he didn't need copies of my military records that showed my sick call notations related to any of the claims. He said that the VA now has entire military medical record on file and would find the record(s) in their own file. It seemed odd to me as my service dates back to 1981 and spans 34 years through my retirement in 2015. It sure seemed to make more sense for me to give him copies of my military medical record pages that document the injuries as I'd already had them with me. He didn't want my copies. Anyone have any information on this. Much thanks in advance.-
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RichardZ, -
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Caluza Triangle defines what is necessary for service connection
Tbird posted a record in VA Claims and Benefits Information,
Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL
This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:
Current Diagnosis. (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)
In-Service Event or Aggravation.
Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”-
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Tbird, -
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Post in ICD Codes and SCT CODES?WHAT THEY MEAN?
Timothy cawthorn posted an answer to a question,
Do the sct codes help or hurt my disability rating
Picked By
yellowrose, -
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Post in Chevron Deference overruled by Supreme Court
broncovet posted a post in a topic,
VA has gotten away with (mis) interpreting their ambigious, , vague regulations, then enforcing them willy nilly never in Veterans favor.
They justify all this to congress by calling themselves a "pro claimant Veteran friendly organization" who grants the benefit of the doubt to Veterans.
This is not true,
Proof:
About 80-90 percent of Veterans are initially denied by VA, pushing us into a massive backlog of appeals, or worse, sending impoverished Veterans "to the homeless streets" because when they cant work, they can not keep their home. I was one of those Veterans who they denied for a bogus reason: "Its been too long since military service". This is bogus because its not one of the criteria for service connection, but simply made up by VA. And, I was a homeless Vet, albeit a short time, mostly due to the kindness of strangers and friends.
Hadit would not be necessary if, indeed, VA gave Veterans the benefit of the doubt, and processed our claims efficiently and paid us promptly. The VA is broken.
A huge percentage (nearly 100 percent) of Veterans who do get 100 percent, do so only after lengthy appeals. I have answered questions for thousands of Veterans, and can only name ONE person who got their benefits correct on the first Regional Office decision. All of the rest of us pretty much had lengthy frustrating appeals, mostly having to appeal multiple multiple times like I did.
I wish I know how VA gets away with lying to congress about how "VA is a claimant friendly system, where the Veteran is given the benefit of the doubt". Then how come so many Veterans are homeless, and how come 22 Veterans take their life each day? Va likes to blame the Veterans, not their system.
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Lemuel, -
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Question
Jayg
C&P exams heretofore, for me at least, have always been from a regular VA facility. The bad thing about our local one is that no matter how nice or how vile the examiner, the report goes through one other person. Let me just say that where I am, this is not such a good thing.
Since this exam was conducted in my home town, or near enough to call it so, (I don't live in town) I may hope it bypasses this rabid individual altogether.
Since the exam was scheduled through a central office that others may encounter, I'll name names. The central firm was "MES SOLUTIONS- VETERANS EVALUATION SERVICES." Their web page describes them as a "veteran owned company" for whatever that may be worth.
That was not the name on the office I went to. This was a very small affair with something (I literally do not recall the first part) "??? occupational medicine." There was only a secretary, nurse and the one doctor and the office was clearly not set up for treatment so obviously exams were all they were about. It's clear then that they should very well know what they were about so no fooling around.
The Dr. was an older man and claimed to be a veteran himself. Easy to talk to so watch what you say I figured. He was to examine one ankle but the other was swollen too and I have it claimed as a secondary. He said "wow! that looks bad! I'll go ahead an examine it for you too. Since it hadn't been checked in some years and that last exam was not doing me any favors, I told him to go right ahead. He once commented "you're a wreck from the waist down" and later "Basically, you can't do anything from the waist down." (concentrating on the bones and joints here, - a-hem!) Hopefully that's what his report will say. Unfortunately, when he asked about X-rays, I had to tell him those were scheduled for next week. I called the main office about that, seemed backwards, but they said go it like that.
Over all, the impression was very positive. They tell me I can call for copies in about 2 weeks. That makes them quicker than VA anyway. That's when I'll be able to report how it really went down.
Until then, we wait. and wait.. and wait... and....
Edited by JaygLink to comment
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