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VA Disability Claims: 5 Game-Changing Precedential Decisions You Need to Know
Tbird posted a record in VA Claims and Benefits Information,
These decisions have made a big impact on how VA disability claims are handled, giving veterans more chances to get benefits and clearing up important issues.
Service Connection
Frost v. Shulkin (2017)
This case established that for secondary service connection claims, the primary service-connected disability does not need to be service-connected or diagnosed at the time the secondary condition is incurred 1. This allows veterans to potentially receive secondary service connection for conditions that developed before their primary condition was officially service-connected.
Saunders v. Wilkie (2018)
The Federal Circuit ruled that pain alone, without an accompanying diagnosed condition, can constitute a disability for VA compensation purposes if it results in functional impairment 1. This overturned previous precedent that required an underlying pathology for pain to be considered a disability.
Effective Dates
Martinez v. McDonough (2023)
This case dealt with the denial of an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) 2. It addressed issues around the validity of appeal withdrawals and the consideration of cognitive impairment in such decisions.
Rating Issues
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Tbird, -
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Are all military medical records on file at the VA?
RichardZ posted a topic in How to's on filing a Claim,
I met with a VSO today at my VA Hospital who was very knowledgeable and very helpful. We decided I should submit a few new claims which we did. He told me that he didn't need copies of my military records that showed my sick call notations related to any of the claims. He said that the VA now has entire military medical record on file and would find the record(s) in their own file. It seemed odd to me as my service dates back to 1981 and spans 34 years through my retirement in 2015. It sure seemed to make more sense for me to give him copies of my military medical record pages that document the injuries as I'd already had them with me. He didn't want my copies. Anyone have any information on this. Much thanks in advance.-
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RichardZ, -
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Caluza Triangle defines what is necessary for service connection
Tbird posted a record in VA Claims and Benefits Information,
Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL
This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:
Current Diagnosis. (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)
In-Service Event or Aggravation.
Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”-
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Tbird, -
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Post in ICD Codes and SCT CODES?WHAT THEY MEAN?
Timothy cawthorn posted an answer to a question,
Do the sct codes help or hurt my disability ratingPicked By
yellowrose, -
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Post in Chevron Deference overruled by Supreme Court
broncovet posted a post in a topic,
VA has gotten away with (mis) interpreting their ambigious, , vague regulations, then enforcing them willy nilly never in Veterans favor.
They justify all this to congress by calling themselves a "pro claimant Veteran friendly organization" who grants the benefit of the doubt to Veterans.
This is not true,
Proof:
About 80-90 percent of Veterans are initially denied by VA, pushing us into a massive backlog of appeals, or worse, sending impoverished Veterans "to the homeless streets" because when they cant work, they can not keep their home. I was one of those Veterans who they denied for a bogus reason: "Its been too long since military service". This is bogus because its not one of the criteria for service connection, but simply made up by VA. And, I was a homeless Vet, albeit a short time, mostly due to the kindness of strangers and friends.
Hadit would not be necessary if, indeed, VA gave Veterans the benefit of the doubt, and processed our claims efficiently and paid us promptly. The VA is broken.
A huge percentage (nearly 100 percent) of Veterans who do get 100 percent, do so only after lengthy appeals. I have answered questions for thousands of Veterans, and can only name ONE person who got their benefits correct on the first Regional Office decision. All of the rest of us pretty much had lengthy frustrating appeals, mostly having to appeal multiple multiple times like I did.
I wish I know how VA gets away with lying to congress about how "VA is a claimant friendly system, where the Veteran is given the benefit of the doubt". Then how come so many Veterans are homeless, and how come 22 Veterans take their life each day? Va likes to blame the Veterans, not their system.Picked By
Lemuel, -
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Question
Guest rickb54
On 26 June 2006 I received service connection for COPD secondary to Asthma. I was awarded 30% with an effective date of 3 May 2005.
I would not have been awarded COPD if I did not have a copy of my medical retirement board procedings which stated asthma with copd secondary.
When I was medically retired on 9 June 1986 I completed a VA Form 21-526E, titled "Veterans application for compensation or pension at seperation from service
" Under nature of sickness #6, diseases, or injuries for which claim is made, and date each began- I left blank
Under Nature of sickness #7 I entered SEE health Record.
I have reviewed this form over and over, the only typed information on the whole form is entered into #6
( the point is not what is there but that it was typed). #6 I had left blank and the va typed in the information.
This form was filled out under the supervision of some damn DAV guy. This guy told me not to put anything except see health record, I did what he said.
It seems to me if the va had read my health record, and reviewed my medical retirement paperwork, I would have been awarded COPD at the time of my retirement.
I want to know what the experts think, based on this information.
Should I file a NOD requesting an earlier effective date for the COPD, based on the fact that all I ever told the va in 1986 on the 21-526e was to see medical records. Wasn't it the va's responsibility to review my records and award me the COPD at the same time I was awarded the asthma, COPD is listed as a secondary condition right after the word asthma on the medical retirement paperwork, and in the medical records. Was it necessary for me to be specific, for COPD since I was not specific with at that time with any of my medical conditions.
Actually, the asthma was awarded on a CUE in 1988 , and the rating decision cites the physical evaluation board's report as evidence for the asthma, in fact it is the first think the va listed in the narrative as evidence. It stands to reason if the rater saw asthma (on the board's paperwork) then he had to see COPD.
What do you think? Do I have a case for NOD?
Or do I claim CUE and go all the way back to 1986, when the asthma was awarded?
Edited by rickb54Link to comment
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