What's The Best Way To Get Service Connection

[pacmanx1]

Just my opinion but most veterans are treated at VA hospitals; I think the best way to get service connected is having your VA doctor diagnose you with the condition. By having it diagnosed by VA most C & P doctors will follow the reports from your doctor, may even talk with your doctor about your condition. If it is in your SMRs and VA diagnose you with a current condition it would be hard for VA to deny you. Also if you read the regulation prior to applying for service connection and claim that you feel you should be rated at 20%, 30%, or 40% the rating specialist would have to review the regulation and apply that particular rating to your claim request and give a reason for granting or denying your claim. If you have done your homework it will again be hard for VA to deny and if they deny, you have a good chance on appeal. I know that some will say get an IMO but this works. Some veterans can’t afford to get an IMO so the best thing is to get it diagnosed by VA then file the claim.

Hope this make sense

[carlie]

Just my opinion but most veterans are treated at VA hospitals; I think the best way to get service connected is having your VA doctor diagnose you with the condition. By having it diagnosed by VA most C & P doctors will follow the reports from your doctor, may even talk with your doctor about your condition. If it is in your SMRs and VA diagnose you with a current condition it would be hard for VA to deny you. Also if you read the regulation prior to applying for service connection and claim that you feel you should be rated at 20%, 30%, or 40% the rating specialist would have to review the regulation and apply that particular rating to your claim request and give a reason for granting or denying your claim. If you have done your homework it will again be hard for VA to deny and if they deny, you have a good chance on appeal. I know that some will say get an IMO but this works. Some veterans can't afford to get an IMO so the best thing is to get it diagnosed by VA then file the claim.

Hope this make sense

Pete992,

In my opinion the VBA denies claims such as these on a daily basis.

I think some of the reason for these denials is because VBA negates

following the rules and regs set up for the claims process.

I think many decision makers look first for a way to deny the claim,

thus putting the claimant into the NOD and appeals process basically

from the get-go.

It would be nice if VBA decision makers would work claims

as smoothly as laid out in your post.

I feel this does not happen as often as it should,

even when there is clear cut medical evidence in the claimant's SMR's.

jmho,

carlie

Edited August 12, 2009 by carlie
sp

[pacmanx1]

Carlie,

As I stated, I know in some cases the claim would be denied but I also stated that the claim should be award on appeal. The thing is to try to get the rating you think you are entitled to without being low balled. As we all know that nothing is automatic or guaranteed with VA. I think that (just my opinion) the more issues you claim the more VA will try to deny. It seams if a veteran claim(s) one or two issues s/he has a good chance of getting service connected but if a veteran claim six or seven issues VA would try to do anything to deny all or most of the claims. It is faster to deny a claim then to approve one. I agree they go through the process looking for ways to deny the claim but this is how I got my last ratings. It is just my opinion of the best way and it keeps the effective date in tact.

Edited August 12, 2009 by pacmanx1

[jbasser]

Pete, I can follow your reasoning but I want add that the VA will most liklly deny a claim no matter how strong it is because that is what they do. It saves them time and makes you wait.

if you know what is wrong with you ( Detail to the meical extent) have a nexus to service and have patience and persistance you will win.

Then you can prove it with regs. It becomes a matter of legal precedent after it leaves the RO and gets to the BVA. Until then, the Ro can play badmitten with your claim by contunuously tossing it back and forth from one area to another for what ever reason they want.

Quick approvals are few and far between. But some folks do get lucky.

J

[pacmanx1]

I started this post not for myself but asking "what's the best way to get service connection" this is just my opinion. I know and agree that patience and persistence will win out and there is no perfect way of getting service connected, just wanted to get others opinion on what they think is the best way or at least how they got their service connection that others may learn.

[WHOLESALE]

yep yep, the VA has regulations they are supposed to follow but they interpret these regulations to their best interest, not the best interest of the Veteran. This mindset has been set in stone and will require change from the TOP before we see a different way of interpretation of the regs.

I can just see a rater going to the boss and saying "hey boss, I just found another way to get this claim denied." Boss then says, "Great job! Keep up the good work."

frank

Pete992,

In my opinion the VBA denies claims such as these on a daily basis.

I think some of the reason for these denials is because VBA negates

following the rules and regs set up for the claims process.

I think many decision makers look first for a way to deny the claim,

thus putting the claimant into the NOD and appeals process basically

from the get-go.

It would be nice if VBA decision makers would work claims

as smoothly as laid out in your post.

I feel this does not happen as often as it should,

even when there is clear cut medical evidence in the claimant's SMR's.

jmho,

carlie

Edited August 12, 2009 by WHOLESALE

[pacmanx1]

Still not going the way I thought. It doesn't matter if my opinion is right or wrong just give yours on the best way or how you got your service connection.