Jump to content

Ask Your VA Claims Questions | Read Current Posts 
Read VA Disability Claims Articles
Search | View All Forums | Donate | Blogs | New Users | Rules 

Top 10 VA Disability Claims Articles

  • tbirds-va-claims-struggle (1).png

  • 01-2024-stay-online-donate-banner.png

     

  • 0

How to pick a VSO rep?

Rate this question

armorer

Asked by armorer,

 Share

Question

armorer Enthusiast

armorer

Posted
Posted (edited)

My first few years were stumbling around wasting time, because VSO's I have tried seemed good only at first: and then they left, turned against me for some unknown reason, or just did nothing due to being overwhelmed. And NONE did a complete package with nexus, expert opinions, and a proper claim package (not one!) One supervisor did give me 3 claim requirements, but I interpreted a nexus as a survey from the Vet, which I guess is good. But it is not as important an MD nexus officially, or in root cause analysis (from an experienced military-VA M.D.)

I now have an extremely military experienced VSO at the VA, but he cannot represent me properly due to working at the VA. Is this as at is good as it gets? Did I get lucky with the VA VSO I got? I would sure like a competent VSO who could represent me, but many seem like they have a difficult time with daily living activities (I wish I were kidding, but maybe I've just been unlucky too.)

Any guidance would be appreciated. The extra nice thing would be if the competent VSO were also free as they are supposed to be. But since most are not competent, it seems unrealistic that you could find one who is free too. I would just like a good one, paid or not, that is effective and not just throwing darts. Everyone says I should have a good VSO, but no one knows where to find one either. I'll ask my experienced military VA VSO, but I can almost hear him saying it would be a conflict of interest if he told me where to find one at.

Edited by armorer
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Answers 8
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters For This Question

Popular Days

Top Posters For This Question

Popular Days

Popular Posts

saxman
saxman

I agree with brocovet that an appointment with the VSO that has the longest wait time is usually the best one.  I was using my DAV rep, but was let down when I made an appointment with him 2 months ou

8 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0
  • Moderator
broncovet Grand Master

broncovet

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted

I agree with Berta, but, when you give a POA to one person, it cancels the previous one(s).  Some Vets play musical VSO's or Attorney's.  The VA does not like that.  In my case, I started with the VFW.  They wrote me a letter and dropped me.  Interestingly, my VSO back then was certified with DAV and VFW (county service officer), so I kept the same VSO, and changed to DAV.  MY VSO liked that, he got 2 attaboys for me.  

Currently, I have an attorney, Julie Glover of Glover Luck in Dallas.  She got me a JMR.  While I dont know how productive the JMR is yet, I have had good luck with Glover Luck.  Dont count on them to babysit you tho.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
saxman Rising Star

saxman

Posted
Posted

I agree with brocovet that an appointment with the VSO that has the longest wait time is usually the best one.  I was using my DAV rep, but was let down when I made an appointment with him 2 months out and when I showed up for the appointment I was told that he wasn't taking any appointment that day.  I walked pass his office to see another rep and he was just sitting in his office at his desk.  So, now I represent myself!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to question listing


  • Tell a friend

    Love HadIt.com’s VA Disability Community Vets helping Vets since 1997? Tell a friend!

  • Recent Achievements

  • Our picks

    • Caluza Triangle defines what is necessary for service connection

      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”
      • 0 replies
      Tbird

      Picked By

      Tbird,

    • 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 rating 
      yellowrose

      Picked By

      yellowrose,

    • 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.   
      Lemuel

      Picked By

      Lemuel,

    • Post in Re-embursement for non VA Medical care.

      broncovet posted an answer to a question,

      Welcome to hadit!  

          There are certain rules about community care reimbursement, and I have no idea if you met them or not.  Try reading this:

      https://www.va.gov/resources/getting-emergency-care-at-non-va-facilities/

         However, (and I have no idea of knowing whether or not you would likely succeed) Im unsure of why you seem to be so adamant against getting an increase in disability compensation.  

         When I buy stuff, say at Kroger, or pay bills, I have never had anyone say, "Wait!  Is this money from disability compensation, or did you earn it working at a regular job?"  Not once.  Thus, if you did get an increase, likely you would have no trouble paying this with the increase compensation.  

          However, there are many false rumors out there that suggest if you apply for an increase, the VA will reduce your benefits instead.  

      That rumor is false but I do hear people tell Veterans that a lot.  There are strict rules VA has to reduce you and, NOT ONE of those rules have anything to do with applying for an increase.  

      Yes, the VA can reduce your benefits, but generally only when your condition has "actually improved" under ordinary conditions of life.  

          Unless you contacted the VA within 72 hours of your medical treatment, you may not be eligible for reimbursement, or at least that is how I read the link, I posted above. Here are SOME of the rules the VA must comply with in order to reduce your compensation benefits:

      https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/3.344

       
      Lemuel

      Picked By

      Lemuel,

    • Post in What is the DIC timeline?

      broncovet posted an answer to a question,

      Good question.   

          Maybe I can clear it up.  

          The spouse is eligible for DIC if you die of a SC condition OR any condition if you are P and T for 10 years or more.  (my paraphrase).  

      More here:

      Source:

      https://www.va.gov/disability/dependency-indemnity-compensation/

      NOTE:   TO PROVE CAUSE OF DEATH WILL LIKELY REQUIRE AN AUTOPSY.  This means if you die of a SC condtion, your spouse would need to do an autopsy to prove cause of death to be from a SC condtiond.    If you were P and T for 10 full years, then the cause of death may not matter so much. 
      Lemuel

      Picked By

      Lemuel,
    View All
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines and Terms of Use

  I accept