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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”-
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Tbird, -
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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 ratingPicked By
yellowrose, -
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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.Picked By
Lemuel, -
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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
Picked By
Lemuel, -
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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.Picked By
Lemuel, -
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Question
Scottish_Knight
Right then,
A few weeks back, I received a letter from Tricare about 'Open Season'. I went online and read about various things, one of which was finally getting a dental insurance. Finally! I enrolled, but have yet to choose a carrier as I need to read more on coverage. Mainly, in-network versus outside-network. Living in Europe and in the middle of nowhere, outside-network is most like my path.
It did get me to thinking. Don't you lot in the US get free dental? Seems I'm going to pay roughly 50 USD per month. Not a massive amount, but still 600 USD per year. That is merely the base costs to be covered. There will be additional costs depending upon what is done to my teeth. I also received a letter from Tricare this week about my health insurance for next year -> 14.33 USD per month. Very inexpensive, but still. I pay for near anything done short of surgeries and in that case I still pay a huge amount before Tricare or even the VA pick up anything.
Again, gears turning. I recall all too well the 'free' benefits I was told about when I joined the military back in the 1980s that would continue after I retired. Well, things do change and the last time I looked there are approximately 18M retired US military personnel. That's a huge cost to the American tax payer. Huge indeed!
However, it seems that you lot in the US still get some freebies and additionals that those of us outside simply do not.
1. Low interest home loans. Understandably, I cannot get a home loan here.
2. Small business loan. Aye, anything involving banks just isn't going to happen outside the USA.
3. COLA. You get this in the US. Those of us outside do not. It would be too complicated to calculate inflation rates for each and every country. A non-starter.
4. Health, dental, eye insurances. What do you pay in the USA if anything? Keep in mind there is no VA hospital here and the nearest US military medical clinic for me is a very long drive away.
5. Commissary & PX / BX. Unless things have changed, you can use these in the US, but we cannot. Well, I could use the PX but it's a paperwork nightmare that makes it terribly inconvenient, having to deal with the German customs office to pay tax on each item, plus the travel expense.
Other benefits I am unaware of?
I am very content in getting my retirement and disability and am grateful for those.
It was my choice to stay here. I was born in Scotland, but American by choice. I despise the term 'ex-pat'.... ex patriot...I am most definitely not! I have children here and no family in the US. Never did. I served the country well and with distinction and am now treated like a third class citizen due to my residence. Not complaining. It is what it is. But I do feel that the benefits offered to veterans who reside outside the US is a wee slap in the face.
So, again, what benefits do you receive in the US that I failed to list above?
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