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

[pacmanx1]

Just too add, 99% of the time when VA send a veteran his/her rating decision, it is not a complete packet. VA will send the decision and how to appeal but they don't send the diagnostic codes of how they rated the veteran. I had to ask for my diagnostic codes and I used my doctor diagnosis to look up the compensation codes to find out what level I should be rated. I tried not to leave anything in the hands of the rating specialist or the VSO. I agree that VA tries to deny any claim they think they can get away with and some of the VSOs have lunch, coffee and play golf with these DROs, so it could be hard for a veteran to win his claim. I have had good VSOs and bad VSOs but I decided if I was going to get my claim rated correctly I better start working on how to understand what was going on. I also think the best way for a veteran to win his/her claim is if he/she files for themselves or a family member helps them. No one really knows what is going on with you but you and your family.

[carlie]

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

Usually when I go to the RO I wear either a Hadit baseball cap or

a Hadit pin on my shirt.

Recently I got 2 Hadit tee-shirts and they will become my uniform

when I go to the RO.

carlie

[Bonzai]

... VA will send the decision and how to appeal but they don't send the diagnostic codes of how they rated the veteran...

Where would you look for the diagnostic codes of how they rated you? I am looking at my decision, but I am not seeing anything that resembles (####).

[carlie]

Where would you look for the diagnostic codes of how they rated you? I am looking at my decision, but I am not seeing anything that resembles (####).

Bonzai,

One of the few times the 800 # can ususally provide a true and correct answer

is when you call and ask them your DC numbers.

Other than that - they are listed in your c-file on the blue sheet, which VA doesn't

usually send out with our copies of our c-file.

There is also usually an internal VA form in our c-file called something like

Current Awards and Future Examinations - the DC's are listed on that also.

I suggest trying the 800 # or an Iris email inquiry.

jmho,

carlie

[pacmanx1]

Bonzai,

You will have to contact VA and ask them to send you a complete copy of your rating decision including the diagnostic/compensation codes. I think I called them and told them my local Service rep. wanted to see it and I got three copies of it. It would also tell you the effective dates that you were awarded.

Carlie we are talking about the same thing, I have mine in front of me and mine states no future exams. A veteran has to ask for this part of the rating decision because VA don't include it with the rest.

Edited August 14, 2009 by pacmanx1