Vbm - Veterans Benefits Manual - Do You Keep Your Old Copies? - Why? Why Not?

[tssnave]

For those of you who use the VBM, do you keep your previous years of the VBM? If so, if not - why?

What do you see as the pros/cons of keeping back issues?

I started buying the VBM a couple years ago. I have a copy for the year before my claim was decided (but not the year I submitted my claim because I didn't know what the VBM was until I found hadit a year after submitting my original claim), the year my claim was decided and a couple since my claim was decided. I have the current 2009 copy of the VBM.

I am trying to figure out which one(s) should continue to take up shelf space in my bookcase. I figure I need to keep the one for the year my claim was decided since those regs sbould have been followed to adjudicate my claim but I am uncertain the merit of keeping the VBM for the years AFTER my claim was decided. It is an expensive book/CD combo and even though my claim is over I am reluctant to stop getting the current issue.

So, what say ye? Keep or toss the previous years VBM? I've thought about putting them up for sale on ebay but am concerned that someone might use them for a reference for a current claim that has had a material change to how it should be rated that wouldn't be covered in an older copy of the VBM.

Input, opinions, please.

Thanks,

TS Snave

[Philip Rogers]

I have given a few away and sold a couple. In 2007 I gifted 2 new copies to a couple of vets that were having trouble w/their claims. You can also donate them to your local library. jmo

pr

[halos2]

I bought my first copy on ebay...I was glad to find it there at a great price too. $8.95 included shipping.(no CD). Many people cannot afford them, and can learn by reading the old copies too. I believe an elder here advised us there were over 200 more pages/or topic changes noted in the latest copy. Not everything changes, but these can educate people to the many avenues used to help with claims.

I have only one copy, but if I got another I would keep both too.

For those of you who use the VBM, do you keep your previous years of the VBM? If so, if not - why?

What do you see as the pros/cons of keeping back issues?

I started buying the VBM a couple years ago. I have a copy for the year before my claim was decided (but not the year I submitted my claim because I didn't know what the VBM was until I found hadit a year after submitting my original claim), the year my claim was decided and a couple since my claim was decided. I have the current 2009 copy of the VBM.

I am trying to figure out which one(s) should continue to take up shelf space in my bookcase. I figure I need to keep the one for the year my claim was decided since those regs sbould have been followed to adjudicate my claim but I am uncertain the merit of keeping the VBM for the years AFTER my claim was decided. It is an expensive book/CD combo and even though my claim is over I am reluctant to stop getting the current issue.

So, what say ye? Keep or toss the previous years VBM? I've thought about putting them up for sale on ebay but am concerned that someone might use them for a reference for a current claim that has had a material change to how it should be rated that wouldn't be covered in an older copy of the VBM.

Input, opinions, please.

Thanks,

TS Snave