Will VA do the leg work?

[Cobra4v]

 I'm sorting through my medical evidence from private doctors and my MSR. Will the VA pull the records from my VA hospital i've been seen at or should I pull them and add them to my claim myself? Just looking to get things right the first time. 

[brokensoldier244th]

If you go to release of information the can usually print it off or put it on CD right there. It will be faster, probably, if you do it, then scan it and upload it to Ebenefits or at least make copies and include in  your claim yourself. Then you aren't waiting on others to do things that you coould have done sooner. 

 

[yellowrose]

The VA has a duty to assist. Also to give the veteran the benefit of the doubt.  Remind them of that.  They're getting in all sorts of hot water for initial denials fired out, only to have to screw with the case again in an appeal.

[brokensoldier244th]

Why wait for them to do something that you can do on your own? Duty to assist is great and all but they have a duty to assist like, 900,000 veterans. You have a duty to assist 1. 

 

[Cobra4v]

Thanks, I was wondering before I pull the trigger. I'd like to get all the ducks in a row on this and make it a painless process. 

[brokensoldier244th]

They truly will do it for you, most of it, anyway. I used to let that happen because I didnt know how to do it when I got out in 2002. After my first few claims I figured out the nuts and bolts of it, and started using Ebenefits (for the time stamps) and bought a fax/scanner. I have the luck to live within 50 miles of my RO at the time but since my third claim or application for renewal I have not gone to the RO once, nor let them assist. Why have them do slowly what you can do faster? I have a DAV rep that I use to keep tabs on things but I compile all the evidence I can get my hands on myself, including release of records/BlueButton medical stuff, type up my contentions with foot notes to the relevant page of information (highlighted), and then summarize it all at the end. I moved from 40% to 60%, then 80, then 100 (total) over about 5 years using this method.

 

Being your own advocate also includes knowing what you can file for and actually win- if you have a legit contention file for it but if you have an issue and you know that its iffy at best or that there is no evidence then the VA can't really help  you with it, either. The evidence has to come from somewhere otherwise you get claims file that take forever on very loose grounds with no evidence followed by multiple appeals and re-submissions, ultimately then losing the claim. The VA isn't perfect but they also aren't mind readers and they certainly are not in the business to provide free money, and occasionally you'll hear of a fraudulent claimant that has been collecting for awhile. (last I hear was in Puerto Rico a few years ago, like 11 yrs P&T but was running his own construction business or roofing or something stupid) This makes it take longer for everyone else. 

Edited May 1, 2016 by brokensoldier244th

[Guest]

If you are looking to do things right you should already know to always send medical evidence with any claim. Even though VA will ask for more, send the most pertinent evidence that will warrant your service  connection or your increase.  Also keep in mind that VA duty to assist could be to deny if they can't find the evidence.

Edited May 1, 2016 by pete992