Preparing for VA disability even if you feel like Captain America right now. The better prepared always wins.

Many things can, and probably will, occur later down the road for you. Whether it is more aggressive migraines, knee pain, or paranoia. One of the points of this article is that things you believe will go away and are minor, like a mucussy throat, may not be what you think. That can be early GERD. I say “early” because it can get bad and really sucky for family, social, and professional life.

I fell into the “report versus be a good professional in a combat role” idiocracy. Like many of you, it was just what we did back then. Also, like many of you, I did not think that far ahead. And, also, like many of you, I believed things would iron themselves out when I got to the point of VA disability. VA disability was not on my radar until I was hit with a VBIED. By then, my five years was up anyway, and I left with nothing ready.

You paid the price for VA disability in all its benefits. It is your right. Now, after all is said and done, you should be ready to simply drive by and pick them up from your local VA office.

Not so fast.

When it comes to VA disability compensation, they need a few things:

1. A diagnosis for the condition (send a physical copy with your claim)
2. Date of condition (not the diagnosing date)
3. How the condition was caused by or aggravated by activities within the scope of the event
4. Symptoms [current and past] and longevity
5. The impact of this condition on your whole life, listed specifically
6. A Nexus letter

For each condition you have

What This Is

This is called a full claim.

Some of the items need to be filled in on the VA DBQ forms. DBQs are Disability Benefits Questionnaires. These are for doctors and examiners to fill out.

And it is best you have the DBQ, your statement, and the Nexus letter for that one condition for that appointment.

Statement

A statement is the first five items of that previous list written in a personal statement essay.

You can submit a statement from you and from firsthand witnesses along with your claim. Print your personal statement out to have with you. This is to review as you are with your examiner.

Condition Examination

Many times examiners will have a line of people behind you in the office and skip pages. For me, one examiner came to one of the local offices (an hour and 45-minute drive) and was looking to get done. It was a rainy and miserable day as I sat there in the lobby. The lobby had a leak in the ceiling above the door. The office was odd; it had a clerk and one office person. The doctor came, shook off the rain from his jacket, and closed his umbrella. He joked about what a bad day it is and how long the drive was. Immediately, he took me back to the exam room with no adjustment period for him and jumped right into it.

Also, good to note, this appointment was not the one I thought I was attending. Meaning, the VA email and reminder do not state the condition that is being examined, but they give the doctor’s expertise. My doctor’s expertise was TBI, so I was ready for TBI. But that day he informed me he was looking at my shoulders, hips, and knees. That’s an IED.

Many examiners also want to see you broken to pieces and depressed while in the office or they will think nothing is bothering you. So, key advice is to show up to all VA disability examinations as if you got zero hours of sleep — but you must be respectful and kind.

I know, it should not matter if you are the devil. The doctor should not take anything other than their job into consideration. That is not the case. It is probably illegal for them to need that affirmation of godliness, but just give it to them.

Nexus Letter

This letter is from a medical professional. It explains the connection between your current diagnosis and condition and the service-connected event.

Elements of the Nexus Letter

• Physician’s qualifications
• A review of your medical history
• A professional statement linking your disability to military service (in medical field lingo)
• Medical knowledge support
• Physician’s signature and date

VA Rating

That will get you a rating. A rating, maybe high, maybe not.

How to get high ratings is more times than not exaggerating the condition and you will not get any encouragement here to do that. That is fraud. If you have all six of these ready for the VA, you will get the highest rating in that category that fits the bill.

But, if you happen to think the rating should be higher based on their stated requirements, then you can appeal.

But, if your statement is missing anything, oooohhhh buddy, strap in. It’s going to be a long ride on a rusty roller coaster for you.

Conclusion

Get everything on that list ASAP to CYA. Like it says, anyone who can diagnose you can go. While you are explaining to the MD that you would like to diagnose a condition from the symptoms you are experiencing, also state you would LOVE a nexus letter to link, if there is a link, between the diagnosis and military service or a military service event. Easy peasy, pee-break squeezy.

PS

If you do not know what all you could have, that is where I come in. And I know for a fact there are things you may miss.

Also, if you are unsure how to approach the military with these, that is where I come in. If you say to a doctor at your treatment center that you have depression, you may not know how to formulate or articulate it.
Example: if you say, “I have depression,” and the doctor asks, “Does this come in episodes, do you lose interest in things you love, like Call of Duty, and can others see it?” And you say, “No, I am just always depressed and it is my normal life.” On paper, this looks like you have the wrong career and zero actual depressive episodes.

Head over here to get started: 

https://restore-the-family-military-transitions.ueniweb.com/services

Or click "Programs" tab at the top of the page.