Best way to inform about SW Asia theatre exposure in claim?

[Valley Forge]

I am soon about to file a claim for a SC disability that should be presumed based on my SW Asia theatre exposure. Should i just write that i had exposure there, along with my qualifying disability information/diagnosis, for the presumption to be considered valid? Will the rater already know without my telling him?

Edited February 1, 2020 by ccastodik

[seminoles]

I would think having a SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE MEDAL would be enough along with a diagnosis?? NO?  I guess I am confused, do you not have both?

Edited February 2, 2020 by seminoles

[GBArmy]

Ccastodik I think El Train is right on this one. If you have a Gulf War presumptive symptom and you expect the VA is just going to hand you a disability, you may likely be disappointed. Only 20% of those claims are approved by the VA, which means 80% aren't. You need an outside source to provide a medical opinion that whatever you have fits a diagnostic code that pays out a disability at the the rate your symptoms indicate would be comp for.for any of the Gulf War symptom and Burn pit also, you need a medical diagnosis of the current disability.It isn't as straightforward as Vietnam veterans with AO and , say diabetes. It's a lot harder to diagnose an illnes that you are completely tired all the time, for instance,  and make it stick as a presumptive. Make your evidence  hard for them to disapprove.

[El Train]

22 hours ago, seminoles said:

I would think having a SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE MEDAL would be enough along with a diagnosis?? NO?  I guess I am confused, do you not have both?

Yes, your diagnosis with SWA medal should do it.  Here is a bad picture I took of my diagnosis.  It directly links my symptoms to the Gulf.  It would be hard for the VA to deny based on this solid wording and diagnosis.  For IBS, you're going to need a colonoscopy.  I waited until I was 50 to get this. 

Got denied on CFS due to PTSD/TBI symptoms overlapping with it.  Might be considered pyramiding.  Hope this helps.

new doc 2020-02-03 12.22.40-20200203122323 (1).pdf