Bring The Spouse

[john999]

For any of you vets with significant others or spouses I would suggest bringing them when you go to the VA for appointments. Mine helped me get an MRI on my leg which I had forgot to ask about. Also having the spouse with you backs up statements you make about not being able to drive etc. The VA notes if you got to the appointment by yourself or not. They note if you were accompanied and if you are ambulatory. All these things can be used to support a request for A&A I think at some point. My wife also told the doctor about my poor sleep. The VA uses every little detail to portray the vet as being better off than the vet may claim. I hate to say it but any help you can get to complain about side effects of drugs etc will help in the end. It helps to educate the spouse as to the system they may have to deal with one day.

[Berta]

John- when I filled out my Chap 35 app for a war school (American Military University) I told the VA I would not let them down-

I am graduating with Honors soon-VA has paid 10-12 thousand -maybe more-for it-I bet that just kills them-to send a civ to a military university-

I have already earned a Certificate in Military Studies-30 credits there-as a civilian-only 2 more courses to go-

Jackson- my last essay was on General Lee-at Chancellor's and so of course I studied Stonewall's manuvers intently-as Jackson was one of Lee's Lieutenants.

But Caesar did this too as well as Sun Szu-and other great commanders-

I knew I could apply all of this tactical warfare knowledge to a VA claim-

It helps to get a well defined plan of action- I call them war plans and my vet rep (former) was shocked to see mine-

They are full of the same symbols our commanders use to make a war plan.

But it works- make a plan- get organized,get the same intelligence the enemy has (38 CFR, M21-1 etc),

scope out the possible land mines- 1968 Vietnam vet here is doing this -

by this I mean the weakest parts of your claim and what the VA could deny on,

try to determine how you can combat the weak stuff early on, then surround them with evidence and use the best weapon we could possibly have- the internet-to get your SMRs, buddy statements, medical abstracts, and even IMOs.

If they say something wrong in a SOC do NOT let them get away with it without rebuttal.

It is a paper war but still I feel it is much like a battlefield in many ways.