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

[sharon]

The VA doctors do not have clue as to what is necessary for a rating. They are there for medical treatement. The best way to get you claim service connected is to meet the criteria set forth in 38 CFR. Research your condition and make sure the doctor whether VA or private give a discription that matches your percentage. You must have a nexus no matter who makes the diagonsis.

[pacmanx1]

As I stated in my original post some veterans cannot afford an IMO. Using this method a veteran would have the following;

1. The veteran would have his/her diagnosis from a certified medical doctor. (VA Doctor)

2. The veteran would have his/her SMRs that prove of in-service condition.

3. The veteran statement, stating their unit, the years they were assigned to that unit and attached (specific copies of SMRs) to verify the connection. The VA would review the SMRs to make sure the documents have not been altered and they would either return the documents stating that they are duplicates or attach the documents to the C-file. Once the C-file is reviewed and sent for a C & P exam this information would be with the file. Once the C & P doctor review the C-file he/she would see this information and it should be enough for them to give a medical opinion of "is as least likely as not 50/50 probability cause by or a result of XXXX" this would include claims of aggravated conditions by military service.

Back to #1, basically the veteran is not asking his/her VA doctor about VA rating. The veteran is only asking the VA doctor to give them an exam to determine if they have a certain condition/disability and treat them. The veteran does not have to say disability just condition ex: fibromyalgia, diabetes, depression, migraines, or PTSD. It really doesn't matter. The doctor would them begin to examine the veteran and if the veteran have the symptoms the doctor would either do more test or review the veterans history (VA hospital medical records, SMRs if possible) and give a diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is in the VA hospital medical records the veteran could then file a claim providing they have some records proving they had the condition in their SMRs. I also stated in my original post for the veteran to request 20%, 30%, or 40%, this is the veteran researching CFR 38 part 4 to determine where the veteran "feels" the veteran should be rated. When the veteran writes his/her statement if he/she states "I feel I should be rated as 30% because I have the following symptoms: XXXX, XXXXX XXXXX, XXXXXX, XXXXXXXX. Once the file is rated the rating specialist would have to apply the regulation to see if the veteran actually have the particular symptoms and give reason for granting or denying the claim. Of course this is not a slam dunk, nothing with VA is, no automatic, no guaranteed wins. It's about the veteran giving VA as much information they can give that gets as close to the regulation as possible to get the rating they feel they deserve.

Edited August 13, 2009 by pacmanx1

[carlie]

As I stated in my original post some veterans cannot afford an IMO. Using this method a veteran would have the following;

1. The veteran would have his/her diagnosis from a certified medical doctor. (VA Doctor)

2. The veteran would have his/her SMRs that prove of in-service condition.

3. The veteran statement, stating their unit, the years they were assigned to that unit and attached (specific copies of SMRs) to verify the connection. The VA would review the SMRs to make sure the documents have not been altered and they would either return the documents stating that they are duplicates or attach the documents to the C-file. Once the C-file is reviewed and sent for a C & P exam this information would be with the file. Once the C & P doctor review the C-file he/she would see this information and it should be enough for them to give a medical opinion of "is as least likely as not 50/50 probability cause by or a result of XXXX" this would include claims of aggravated conditions by military service.

Back to #1, basically the veteran is not asking his/her VA doctor about VA rating. The veteran is only asking the VA doctor to give them an exam to determine if they have a certain condition/disability and treat them. The veteran does not have to say disability just condition ex: fibromyalgia, diabetes, depression, migraines, or PTSD. It really doesn't matter. The doctor would them begin to examine the veteran and if the veteran have the symptoms the doctor would either do more test or review the veterans history (VA hospital medical records, SMRs if possible) and give a diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is in the VA hospital medical records the veteran could then file a claim providing they have some records proving they had the condition in their SMRs. I also stated in my original post for the veteran to request 20%, 30%, or 40%, this is the veteran researching CFR 38 part 4 to determine where the veteran "feels" the veteran should be rated. When the veteran writes his/her statement if he/she states "I feel I should be rated as 30% because I have the following symptoms: XXXX, XXXXX XXXXX, XXXXXX, XXXXXXXX. Once the file is rated the rating specialist would have to apply the regulation to see if the veteran actually have the particular symptoms and give reason for granting or denying the claim. Of course this is not a slam dunk, nothing with VA is, no automatic, no guaranteed wins. It's about the veteran giving VA as much information they can give that gets as close to the regulation as possible to get the rating they feel they deserve.

Pete 992,

Yep, this is for sure the way the VBA process is set up to work.

Unfortunately many times VBA 101 doesn't run very smoothly.

I can only wish.....

carlie

[purple]

Sharon-

I'd have to disagree, the VA docs I was seeing at the time did a great job in writing up exactly what I needed to go along with the medical evidence I had to ensure I got my current rating the first time.

[Bonzai]

I can only add what happened in my claim for service-connected. I applied with a nexus, evidence, and statements, and was denied. I was told to appeal, and during my appeal, I was asked to provide two other pieces of insignificant evidence (which I did so), and was approved for 10% service-connected.

I know now that I was low-balled, but I did not know that then. Thanks to many HadIt members, I no longer worry about being low-balled.

When I was awarded an increase to 30%, I was low-balled, as well as when I was increased to 50%; however, I had learned about NOD by the end of my 1 year for the 50%, so I am now waiting for an appeal, as well as other conditions I have filed for.

[WHOLESALE]

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER AND HADIT PROVIDES THE KNOWLEDGE. I was submitting some paperwork yesterday at my local VAMC and there was a vet in line asking all these questions like, "do I just turn this in and wait" "how long is the process?" I immediately told him go to "HADIT.COM"

All the older VA employees gave me a shrilling look as if i just stepped on their toes. I felt like I was on verge of getting escorted out. I guess the hadit.com website is becoming popular.

frank

I can only add what happened in my claim for service-connected. I applied with a nexus, evidence, and statements, and was denied. I was told to appeal, and during my appeal, I was asked to provide two other pieces of insignificant evidence (which I did so), and was approved for 10% service-connected.

I know now that I was low-balled, but I did not know that then. Thanks to many HadIt members, I no longer worry about being low-balled.

When I was awarded an increase to 30%, I was low-balled, as well as when I was increased to 50%; however, I had learned about NOD by the end of my 1 year for the 50%, so I am now waiting for an appeal, as well as other conditions I have filed for.