Pva Vs Legal Help For Veterans

[autumn]

looking for pros/cons opinions regarding going with "legal help for veterans" or the PVA.

lh4v gets 20% i hear. pva gets nothing. i'm just not sure pva will fight very hard.

really could use some insight into this so i can make an informed decision.

[autumn]

yes, it was filed too fast and was denied. at the time, i didn't realize a "c-file" existed and there wasn't much in it. i thought they read one's medical records. so it got denied.

when it became more and more evident from testing that MS is the issue and has been for years, and i saw an effort on the VAs part to sweep it under the carpet, so to speak, i found this forum out of frustration. i saw where veterans had used attorney's that were there to help the veteran and LH4V was mention a few times and was listed on the vawatchdog.org site.

other legal firms never returned calls or were too negative about my situation or flat just wouldn't take it. LH4V, for whatever reason, was more positive in helping me and i signed a POA with them, and they filed the NOD.

I don't know much about NOVA but LH4V has some pretty good credentials too regarding experience and knowledge. I did look up NOVA on the net, I didn't see a whole lot of difference between the two firms.

Some days my nerves are ok and others not so good and i guess they get the best of me because i just don't want to get screwed again.

I think, that LH4V has more of an incentive to help me than say other orgs.

[Testvet]

yes, it was filed too fast and was denied. at the time, i didn't realize a "c-file" existed and there wasn't much in it. i thought they read one's medical records. so it got denied.

when it became more and more evident from testing that MS is the issue and has been for years, and i saw an effort on the VAs part to sweep it under the carpet, so to speak, i found this forum out of frustration. i saw where veterans had used attorney's that were there to help the veteran and LH4V was mention a few times and was listed on the vawatchdog.org site.

other legal firms never returned calls or were too negative about my situation or flat just wouldn't take it. LH4V, for whatever reason, was more positive in helping me and i signed a POA with them, and they filed the NOD.

I don't know much about NOVA but LH4V has some pretty good credentials too regarding experience and knowledge. I did look up NOVA on the net, I didn't see a whole lot of difference between the two firms.

Some days my nerves are ok and others not so good and i guess they get the best of me because i just don't want to get screwed again.

I think, that LH4V has more of an incentive to help me than say other orgs.

as long as YOU are comfortable with them representing you then that is ALL that matters just for your info though NOVA is not a law firm it is a coalition of veterans lawyers from all over the country that have meetings every few months for education, all of them practice veterans law as a specialty, they help each other so the veteran wins their claim with the best legal advice available they know that not one lawyer can possibly know everything so some of them specialize in certain areas but then they share that specialty with other members of their group and it benefits veterans all over the nation especially with the VA constantly rewriting the rules and CFR 38 all of the time it helps for others to keep the others up to date on changes

On a side note I have never heard Larry Scott of advertising for anyone that was not on the up and up with veterans, and his web site is one of the best veterans sites on the web.....just my opinion

good luck on your claim one question did your symptoms of MS show up within 7 years of discharge?

[autumn]

thanks for the clarification of NOVA ...

i emailed him, Mr Scott, before i signed with them. his positive response was the deciding factor since i had no experience with such things back then.

>>good luck on your claim one question did your symptoms of MS show up within 7 years of discharge?

thanks. yes it did. the independent medical specialist went through my mil med records and va records and wrote that conclusion. if fact, wrote that i got it while on active duty when my csf became infected prior to back surgery. he also noted my many visits to doctors then for neuro symptoms, although the navy didn't connect the dots back then.

[john999]

As far as VA stonewalling they will do that to anyone as long as possible even a lawyer. I think claims that mean lots of retro are more attractive to lawyers than more simple claims. Even so I had a hard time getting one to take my CUE claim even though it involved about 35 years of retro. Due to my medical condition I don't think I have the ability to do the research and write legal briefs necessary for my claim, so I opted for a lawyer. I may try the housebound SMC thing for TDIU vets if anyone ever wins another one of those.

[autumn]

the lawyer said the same about the VA and stonewalling. i don't think i have the ability to write and research and etc. due to my condition either. some days on and some days/weeks off. ya just never know with this sort of thing. i had no idea i was so naive about the VA, boy, how dumb could i have been.

what is "SMC thing"?

[Testvet]

the lawyer said the same about the VA and stonewalling. i don't think i have the ability to write and research and etc. due to my condition either. some days on and some days/weeks off. ya just never know with this sort of thing. i had no idea i was so naive about the VA, boy, how dumb could i have been.

what is "SMC thing"?

sfter a veteran is rated at 100% then if they have other medical issues they get into Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) I am SMC S I have an issue rated at 60% or higher besides my 100% schedular for PTSD, they pay an extra 300 a month they can either SC the CAD and in many cases the VARO just calls it "housebound" which is easier for them to write the award letter but the pay is the same and doesn't change anything my CAD and hyperstension is SC secondary to my PTSD so if I have a stroke or another heart attack (7 already) my wife and son will still get DIC benefits and CHAMPVA insurance etc if I was just SC for PTSD then my wife would have had to try and get the CAD service connected if I had died without it being SC many vets quit filing claims once they get 100% because they are afraid the RO will retaliate and reduce their award, but if the veteran has another issue that can be SC it should be if it can cause the veterans death before they reach the 10 year mark to ensure DIC benefits for the spouse.

I continued the fight to ensure my wife would be cared for as the "PROMISE" indicates they will, no one ever told us before we enlisted or even before we were discharged that we would basically have to go to "war" with the VA to get the "PROMISE" kept.....there are many benefits available over the 100% level house grants car grants mortgage insurance but the rules and eligibility get into deep territory

focus on getting your MS SC since it developed within 7 years it is supposed to be granted SC if they are denying your claim then they are just flat wrong