need help applying online

[steven13081]

Finally got the nerve to go out to a DAV and get help filing a claim. I was praying i would get someone that cared about my situation and willing to help. Unfortunately this guy could not seem more bothered by my mere presence. I felt the rage coming and kindly told him to fck off and told him i will apply online with the help of my fellow hadit members.

Now the main thing im looking to file for is chronic fatigue syndrome. I was diagnosed back in 2006 while in service.  As most of you know, you need multiple symptoms for this diagnosis which i also have records for like, sleep disturbance, asthma, memory issues ect.

Should i file for this just as CFS and let them group everything together and let them figure it out or..

file under (Gulf War veteran with unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness) -   not sure if afghanistan falls under this, and add all associated disibilities.

 guess im just trying to avoid pyramiding errors, i dunno.

apologies if i made this seem confusing. thank you all.

-steve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ShrekTheTank]

Don't worry about pyramiding at this point.  let the VA figure that out!  I am an IOF/OEF vet and I finally decided to take on this fight back in 2012.  This is a long hard fight and the advice given above is priceless!!! 

I would look through the presumptives and I almost bet you have more than you realize.  Yes this does fall under the gulf war!  

Make sure you start your claim before the end of the month.  You have a year to finish it.  

Also did you get the anthrax vaccine?  I know there were some bad batches of this given out and some of us got the short straw with that crap.

Also not all VSO are this way and I found a good one after 3 years into this fight at the VFW.  

Edited January 24, 2020 by shrekthetank1

[Miken2c74]

My advice is for every claim you file make sure that you write a letter from your point of view.  No one knows what happened to you or what you are feeling  better than you.  Most of us our medical records are silent but in the absence of records your statement could be the tipping point to you winning your claim. It took me a long time to figure that out. That's a little nugget for everyone. 

[GBArmy]

Good advise from Miken2c74 Using a VA form Statement in support of a claim, gives your inside view of some of the details that won't show up elsewhere. Like how the disability and its symptoms effect you in your daily life. It is the same form as what you would use for a "Buddy Letter." VA Form 21-4138. Like Mike said, it can make a significant impact to your claim decision. You show the VA rater a personal glimpse that they can "picture." Example: "My migraines come on so suddenly, that I recently had to leave my grand daughter's b'day party and go lie down in a dark place."  You make your point, but it is on a personal level the rater can picture and relate to.

[Vync]

12 hours ago, blahsaysme2u said:

is this also in the C-File? or should you request both?

Based on the link I provided, it should be in the c-file. I sent separate requests for my claims file and my STRs. It never hurts to cover all the bases.