The VA
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From: Maine, Virginia
The VA
For those who are struggling with the VA or who haven't started the claims process yet, I suggest you get on it if you intend to file.
Some of the things that the VA is changing is:
Tinnitis as a stand alone rating. This may turn into a secondary condition only as the VA is making it more difficult to get a rating on this condition.
Sleep apnea is becoming increasingly difficult to claim on it's own.
Mental health issues are getting difficult.
The key here is be able to directly connect a service related event or trend or file these items secondarily and connect them to an existing service connected claim.
Pay attention to the language in the 38 CFR. That's the primary reference material the VA uses to approve or deny our claims. They tell you why the denial happened and if you read the citation, you'll quickly learn how to turn a no into a yes.
When you report for a C&P exam and the questions start coming, always remember to keep your cool, be respectful and describe your condition the way it affects you on your worst day be it pain, mobility, sleeplessness, depression, etc.
Make sure you have your DD-214's!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These will prove where you've been when claiming the PACT ACT for presumptive conditions. In addition to your DD-214's, get ahold of your military medical records somehow some way.
Download an AI app on your phone and ask all the questions you can think of. They do a nice job of telling you about secondary conditions, citations and anything else you ask. The info isn't always 100% perfect so double check but it serves as a great reference.
Lastly, unless you're just up against it and can't get the free help you need and deserve, try not to pay for claims service. The country is loaded with vultures that are willing to take your money while you take all the risk. I recommend the VFW or the American Legion. My state VA office is a piece of crap but they are supposed to be your best resource.
If I've mispoken or just missed anything, feel free to chime in and make it right.
Some of the things that the VA is changing is:
Tinnitis as a stand alone rating. This may turn into a secondary condition only as the VA is making it more difficult to get a rating on this condition.
Sleep apnea is becoming increasingly difficult to claim on it's own.
Mental health issues are getting difficult.
The key here is be able to directly connect a service related event or trend or file these items secondarily and connect them to an existing service connected claim.
Pay attention to the language in the 38 CFR. That's the primary reference material the VA uses to approve or deny our claims. They tell you why the denial happened and if you read the citation, you'll quickly learn how to turn a no into a yes.
When you report for a C&P exam and the questions start coming, always remember to keep your cool, be respectful and describe your condition the way it affects you on your worst day be it pain, mobility, sleeplessness, depression, etc.
Make sure you have your DD-214's!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These will prove where you've been when claiming the PACT ACT for presumptive conditions. In addition to your DD-214's, get ahold of your military medical records somehow some way.
Download an AI app on your phone and ask all the questions you can think of. They do a nice job of telling you about secondary conditions, citations and anything else you ask. The info isn't always 100% perfect so double check but it serves as a great reference.
Lastly, unless you're just up against it and can't get the free help you need and deserve, try not to pay for claims service. The country is loaded with vultures that are willing to take your money while you take all the risk. I recommend the VFW or the American Legion. My state VA office is a piece of crap but they are supposed to be your best resource.
If I've mispoken or just missed anything, feel free to chime in and make it right.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 18,324
Likes: 9,092
From: Sheridan / Gilchrist
Only things I could add or reiterate is:
Having copies of orders is a great thing. Keep them safe. Cruise Books, pictures, cancelled checks, anything that can support your duty stations. Especially for us older guys whose records date back to the fire at the NRPRC, pre microfilm, microfilm, pre-computer era.
Fortunately, I'm a pack rack souvenir hound. My USN DD214 shows Sea Duty and Shore Duty, but not where. Lists a bunch of schools, but not which bases those schools were at. At least 3 bases I was at are now listed as superfund cleanup sites with related "presumptive" conditions. So, if you haven't done so, get to the VA, a VSO, DAV, Legion etc. and file requests for all of your records. Check and double check to see if they are complete, file for records corrections if necessary and put them in a safe or safety deposit box.
My records, after I finally got some of them out of the Naval Reserve Personnel Records Center, were not complete. At one point, (1980's) I had received a bunch of records from my Navy Personnel file in the mail. A letter explained that they were converting them to Microfilm and I may be receiving more as they complete the transition. I got two more manila envelopes full of records. They were lacking. Unfortunately, one of those that had a bunch of TAD and Det orders were destroyed in a flood in 1983. It took almost a year to get a request for my records through. 5 or 6 of the requests were denied saying the "Records are checked out and unavailable, file a new request in 90 days". Keep in mind this was in the 80' and 90's. Everything was snail mail. When I finally got them, there were about 10 pages. Mostly AFEES, Boot Camp and A school. Zero medical records. Zero records denoting any service outside of CONUS.
Assignments. No duty stations beyond the schools, no medical records, no TAD or Det orders or assignments. In fact, no orders at all. So, safeguard what you have.
Request Your Military Service Records (including DD214) | Veterans Affairs
If you were Air National Guard or Army National Guard, this link will have instructions on how to get ahold of those records. Service Records
Long story short, NOT having these records has caused problems with claims and, believe it or not with a job I had.
As Tim indicated, VSO's from State or County offices is a craps shoot. The first one I went to refused to file anything saying it wasn't worth the effort as they would just turn it down. After a year of arguing I filed myself. They denied some and approved some.
Three years ago, it was recommended that I go to a neighboring county VSO, which I did. He was fantastic, even though overworked and overwhelmed. Takes up to 6 weeks to get an appointment with him. I think we've gone as far as we can and I will probably go to the DAV for additional help.
Trying to keep this short, being a Pack Rat, is at times, advantageous. It was copies of the orders I did have along with some pictures, a couple of cruise books, canceled checks from American Express that I had made out to the Staff NCO club at an Airbase in Thailand, Navy Exchange in Diego Garcia, tailer shops in Thailand, a couple of shops in Iran and Pakistan that suddenly made someone in the bureaucracy sit up and take notice. Keep your records and proof of service safe!
Medical Examiners are also craps shoots and how they write up your report. How the claims review people read and evaluate them. They tried reducing my percentage 2 years ago. They listed several reasons. None of which were accurate to the medical conditions. One was blood pressure. During my exam, it was high and the reduction of benefits letter did not reflect that. In fact, it indicated it was below the consideration threshold for the related conditions. Probably the craziest, (under different circumstance could be funny), they said the reduction was warranted because I had had no recent surgeries for the one condition. Excuse me? Six days before the date on the letter, I had been in surgery - under the knife - for that very condition at a VAMC. 2 weeks before the surgery I had had a phone interview with a Medical Doctor reviewing my file. He was fully aware of the surgery, my conditions and well informed. He even told me that my percentage was under rated and he would file a report that afternoon reflecting that. The VSO I have been working with filed for a "Higher Level of Review". It took 4 months, another review with the same Doctor as I had before the surgery, (he was miffed and upset saying they must not have even read his report) but they did reinstate my percentage saying the claims review that concluded with the reduction was 'flawed in several areas' and failed to take things into consideration that they should have. They did not increase it though as the Review Doc thought they should.
Having copies of orders is a great thing. Keep them safe. Cruise Books, pictures, cancelled checks, anything that can support your duty stations. Especially for us older guys whose records date back to the fire at the NRPRC, pre microfilm, microfilm, pre-computer era.
Fortunately, I'm a pack rack souvenir hound. My USN DD214 shows Sea Duty and Shore Duty, but not where. Lists a bunch of schools, but not which bases those schools were at. At least 3 bases I was at are now listed as superfund cleanup sites with related "presumptive" conditions. So, if you haven't done so, get to the VA, a VSO, DAV, Legion etc. and file requests for all of your records. Check and double check to see if they are complete, file for records corrections if necessary and put them in a safe or safety deposit box.
My records, after I finally got some of them out of the Naval Reserve Personnel Records Center, were not complete. At one point, (1980's) I had received a bunch of records from my Navy Personnel file in the mail. A letter explained that they were converting them to Microfilm and I may be receiving more as they complete the transition. I got two more manila envelopes full of records. They were lacking. Unfortunately, one of those that had a bunch of TAD and Det orders were destroyed in a flood in 1983. It took almost a year to get a request for my records through. 5 or 6 of the requests were denied saying the "Records are checked out and unavailable, file a new request in 90 days". Keep in mind this was in the 80' and 90's. Everything was snail mail. When I finally got them, there were about 10 pages. Mostly AFEES, Boot Camp and A school. Zero medical records. Zero records denoting any service outside of CONUS.
Assignments. No duty stations beyond the schools, no medical records, no TAD or Det orders or assignments. In fact, no orders at all. So, safeguard what you have.
Request Your Military Service Records (including DD214) | Veterans Affairs
If you were Air National Guard or Army National Guard, this link will have instructions on how to get ahold of those records. Service Records
Long story short, NOT having these records has caused problems with claims and, believe it or not with a job I had.
As Tim indicated, VSO's from State or County offices is a craps shoot. The first one I went to refused to file anything saying it wasn't worth the effort as they would just turn it down. After a year of arguing I filed myself. They denied some and approved some.
Three years ago, it was recommended that I go to a neighboring county VSO, which I did. He was fantastic, even though overworked and overwhelmed. Takes up to 6 weeks to get an appointment with him. I think we've gone as far as we can and I will probably go to the DAV for additional help.
Trying to keep this short, being a Pack Rat, is at times, advantageous. It was copies of the orders I did have along with some pictures, a couple of cruise books, canceled checks from American Express that I had made out to the Staff NCO club at an Airbase in Thailand, Navy Exchange in Diego Garcia, tailer shops in Thailand, a couple of shops in Iran and Pakistan that suddenly made someone in the bureaucracy sit up and take notice. Keep your records and proof of service safe!
Medical Examiners are also craps shoots and how they write up your report. How the claims review people read and evaluate them. They tried reducing my percentage 2 years ago. They listed several reasons. None of which were accurate to the medical conditions. One was blood pressure. During my exam, it was high and the reduction of benefits letter did not reflect that. In fact, it indicated it was below the consideration threshold for the related conditions. Probably the craziest, (under different circumstance could be funny), they said the reduction was warranted because I had had no recent surgeries for the one condition. Excuse me? Six days before the date on the letter, I had been in surgery - under the knife - for that very condition at a VAMC. 2 weeks before the surgery I had had a phone interview with a Medical Doctor reviewing my file. He was fully aware of the surgery, my conditions and well informed. He even told me that my percentage was under rated and he would file a report that afternoon reflecting that. The VSO I have been working with filed for a "Higher Level of Review". It took 4 months, another review with the same Doctor as I had before the surgery, (he was miffed and upset saying they must not have even read his report) but they did reinstate my percentage saying the claims review that concluded with the reduction was 'flawed in several areas' and failed to take things into consideration that they should have. They did not increase it though as the Review Doc thought they should.
Last edited by Seabiscuit-P3; Jan 21, 2026 at 12:58 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 145
From: San Diego, CA
x3 on the VSO being useless. I avoid them unless I have to go through them for something administrative. They are like the DMV, they are there to process you and move on to the next person in line...at least that's my experience.
Be kind to the doctor(s) doing your exam(s), you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. As Tim said, make sure you are discussing your ailment at its worst so they can understand how you are affected. One of my doctors pushed further and added things I did not consider (some things you live with for so long you forget that it's not normal) and I feel that was from being forthcoming but not overly dramatic about my issues.
Everything seems to be dropping in percentages, like sleep apnea - now 35% max (from 50%). As long as it's listed as service-connected you are covered, but it's harder to get percentages to reach benefit levels.
I would say get your VA claim in before you separate/retire so there is no question about service-related, but most of us have long since moved on from active service. Benefits backdate to the day you submitted your claim so the sooner the better.
I agree with vultures circling to "help", but there are some good outfits to pay for services if you are stuck (or sure you are being lowballed). Find someone who has used a service successfully or possibly get a recommendation from the DAV.
Just my .02
Be kind to the doctor(s) doing your exam(s), you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. As Tim said, make sure you are discussing your ailment at its worst so they can understand how you are affected. One of my doctors pushed further and added things I did not consider (some things you live with for so long you forget that it's not normal) and I feel that was from being forthcoming but not overly dramatic about my issues.
Everything seems to be dropping in percentages, like sleep apnea - now 35% max (from 50%). As long as it's listed as service-connected you are covered, but it's harder to get percentages to reach benefit levels.
I would say get your VA claim in before you separate/retire so there is no question about service-related, but most of us have long since moved on from active service. Benefits backdate to the day you submitted your claim so the sooner the better.
I agree with vultures circling to "help", but there are some good outfits to pay for services if you are stuck (or sure you are being lowballed). Find someone who has used a service successfully or possibly get a recommendation from the DAV.
Just my .02
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 9
From: SoCal
For those who are struggling with the VA or who haven't started the claims process yet, I suggest you get on it if you intend to file.
Some of the things that the VA is changing is:
Tinnitis as a stand alone rating. This may turn into a secondary condition only as the VA is making it more difficult to get a rating on this condition.
Sleep apnea is becoming increasingly difficult to claim on it's own.
Mental health issues are getting difficult.
The key here is be able to directly connect a service related event or trend or file these items secondarily and connect them to an existing service connected claim.
Pay attention to the language in the 38 CFR. That's the primary reference material the VA uses to approve or deny our claims. They tell you why the denial happened and if you read the citation, you'll quickly learn how to turn a no into a yes.
When you report for a C&P exam and the questions start coming, always remember to keep your cool, be respectful and describe your condition the way it affects you on your worst day be it pain, mobility, sleeplessness, depression, etc.
Make sure you have your DD-214's!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These will prove where you've been when claiming the PACT ACT for presumptive conditions. In addition to your DD-214's, get ahold of your military medical records somehow some way.
Download an AI app on your phone and ask all the questions you can think of. They do a nice job of telling you about secondary conditions, citations and anything else you ask. The info isn't always 100% perfect so double check but it serves as a great reference.
Lastly, unless you're just up against it and can't get the free help you need and deserve, try not to pay for claims service. The country is loaded with vultures that are willing to take your money while you take all the risk. I recommend the VFW or the American Legion. My state VA office is a piece of crap but they are supposed to be your best resource.
If I've mispoken or just missed anything, feel free to chime in and make it right.
Some of the things that the VA is changing is:
Tinnitis as a stand alone rating. This may turn into a secondary condition only as the VA is making it more difficult to get a rating on this condition.
Sleep apnea is becoming increasingly difficult to claim on it's own.
Mental health issues are getting difficult.
The key here is be able to directly connect a service related event or trend or file these items secondarily and connect them to an existing service connected claim.
Pay attention to the language in the 38 CFR. That's the primary reference material the VA uses to approve or deny our claims. They tell you why the denial happened and if you read the citation, you'll quickly learn how to turn a no into a yes.
When you report for a C&P exam and the questions start coming, always remember to keep your cool, be respectful and describe your condition the way it affects you on your worst day be it pain, mobility, sleeplessness, depression, etc.
Make sure you have your DD-214's!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These will prove where you've been when claiming the PACT ACT for presumptive conditions. In addition to your DD-214's, get ahold of your military medical records somehow some way.
Download an AI app on your phone and ask all the questions you can think of. They do a nice job of telling you about secondary conditions, citations and anything else you ask. The info isn't always 100% perfect so double check but it serves as a great reference.
Lastly, unless you're just up against it and can't get the free help you need and deserve, try not to pay for claims service. The country is loaded with vultures that are willing to take your money while you take all the risk. I recommend the VFW or the American Legion. My state VA office is a piece of crap but they are supposed to be your best resource.
If I've mispoken or just missed anything, feel free to chime in and make it right.
Thread Starter
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Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,024
Likes: 1,519
From: Maine, Virginia
So now the next thing the VA's agenda is to rate a service connected disability based on how you or it responds under medication.
Fortunately this has stalled for a couple months as the VA has come under heavy fire from lots of veteran based sources. The VA states that this has always been the case and if so, it's news to me. The rule of thumb when attending a C&P exam is to demonstrate or state your condition based on your very worst day.
If this goes forward, this will have severe ramifications for veterans who need varying degrees of mental health assistance. All I can say is, please don't stop taking your meds just to secure a rating. Your health and comfort are more important.
Fortunately this has stalled for a couple months as the VA has come under heavy fire from lots of veteran based sources. The VA states that this has always been the case and if so, it's news to me. The rule of thumb when attending a C&P exam is to demonstrate or state your condition based on your very worst day.
If this goes forward, this will have severe ramifications for veterans who need varying degrees of mental health assistance. All I can say is, please don't stop taking your meds just to secure a rating. Your health and comfort are more important.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 18,324
Likes: 9,092
From: Sheridan / Gilchrist
They have been doing at least some of this. They say my blood pressure and a couple of other problems are most likely related to agent orange but because some lab numbers and BP readings are below certain numbers, they rate zero compensation. They consider them a part of the disability but not for compensation. If I come off the meds, they would both be well over the numbers required. The good side, if there is one, is that they pay for all the meds.
Thread Starter
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Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,024
Likes: 1,519
From: Maine, Virginia
They have been doing at least some of this. They say my blood pressure and a couple of other problems are most likely related to agent orange but because some lab numbers and BP readings are below certain numbers, they rate zero compensation. They consider them a part of the disability but not for compensation. If I come off the meds, they would both be well over the numbers required. The good side, if there is one, is that they pay for all the meds.
The good thing is, since my past post, Secretary Collins has officially backed the VA away from that piece of action due to all the backlash that his agency got from the veterans and veteran agencies.
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