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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 ratingPicked 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.Picked By
Lemuel, -
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Question
Rockhound
I know I need to file a Notice of Disagreement, but have never done this before, since like a dummy in the past, I never went any further with my claims. But now is different and I plan to appeal as long as it takes, even to the Court if I have too.
I have three issues I wish to appeal, (1) two small painful scars at 10%, (2) Chronic Sinusitis, (3) Chronic Non-Allergic Rhinitis, all secondary to a SC Nasal Fracture and Deviated Septum due to Trauma.
I do plan to seek an IME and IMO for these conditions from a private ENT specialist, in the hopes they will be able to provide the evidence I need to rebut the VA's opinion.
Must I make my intentions to NOD the decision within a time frame other than the year in which I can appeal their decision? When should I, If I decide to ask for a DRO, make my desire known to the VARO?
They gave me written notice on what I can do if I disagree with their decision, but since I have never gone this far with my claim, it's a bit of unknown territory for me and a bit daunting/scary for me as well. I don't take disappointments very well and I am a day and a half without my meds, since I stayed in town to make it to a next day appointment to see my PCP on an un-related issue that I thought I would have to wait a month or so to get. Getting the next day was a god send from from the great spirit that looks over me, so I jumped at the chance to see my PCP so soon.
It does nothing for how I feel like a heal to my cat Tom and kitten Tammi that I had to leave them to fend for themselves for this long, even though I make sure that when I do into town they have plenty of food and water for a few days, just in case of things like this coming up. This will be Tammi's first time this long without my super vision, but Tom being an indoor/outdoor cat has had this forced upon him a couple of times in the past.
Well it's time for me to check in at the VAHC for my morning appointment, so I am off probably till I get home tonight, so please make your suggestions and experiences known so I can make my plans for the next step in the Claims process.
Oh yea, should I wait until this NOD or appeal is done before submitting another claim I have been working for some time to get the evidence I needed and it appears I have it now, but I am pretty sure this claim will take some time due to the issues at hand?
Rockhound Rider
Are you a paranoid schizophrenic
if the ones you think are out to
get you, really are?
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