VVW’s FAQ’s
Below is a list of some of the questions we hear on a daily basis. If you don’t find your answer here please feel free to contact us or any of your local Veterans Service Organizations with questions.
Q: What can I do if I have an ailment that began in or was aggravated by my military service?
A: Your first step is to contact a Veterans Service Organization to begin to file your claim for benefits. You will need your DD214 to prove military service and discharge code. Veterans can file for their claim online as well. More information can be found here. http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/compensation/
Q: My spouse died of a service connected disability, what does the VA offer me? What if they died of a non service ailment?
A: If your spouse died from a Service Connected disability you can qualify for a DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) through the VA. If your spouse passed from a non service disability you can only qualify for the DIC if they were rated at 100% for longer than 10 years.
Q: How long does it take to get my VA claim done?
A: This a multi part question. If you are filing for a new claim, they are being processed in 6 months to a year. If you are filing a NOD (notice of disagreement) or an appeal they are taking much longer, a year to two years. This is due to a severely backlogged system. The simple answer is there aren’t enough raters to process the amount of claims that are in the system. The more evidence you have when you file your claim, actual printed out evidence the directly establishes the ailment to military service the faster your claim will go. The only factor that assists a claim to speed up is if the veteran is undergoing a financial hardship.
Q: What is the benefit of having my claim go “Fast Track”?
A: There is no “Guaranteed” benefit to going “Fast Track”. By going FT you forfeit some of your time to file an appeal or NOD after the decision is made. In return the VA intended to process these claims through a separate system thus allowing them to get completed quicker. Unfortunately the VA does not have any form of stipulations that ensure that they expedite the claim. Most veterans that have gone FT have had their claims pushed out again and again only to have it take the same amount of time to be processed as going the standard way.
Q: What is “Gulf War Illness”?
A: Gulf War Illness is a combination of undiagnosed illnesses reported by 170,000-210,000 Gulf War Veterans. It has been found to be caused more likely than not by a combination of exposures. Read the full report here. http://www1.va.gov/racgwvi/docs/GWIandHealthofGWVeterans_RAC-GWVIReport_2008.pdf
Q: I’m appealing the decision on my claim and want to use an attorney instead of a service officer. What’s the difference?
A: Changes in the regulations, at the VA, have allowed the use of civilian attorneys to file an appeal for veterans. The ONLY difference in using an attorney vs. a Service Officer is- THE ATTORNEY WILL TAKE 20% OF YOUR PAST OWING BENEFITS WHEN/IF IT IS GRANTED and YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REIMBURSING CERTAIN COSTS SUCH AS COURT FILING FEES AND REVIEWS PERFORMED BY MEDICAL DOCTORS WHETHER OR NOT BENEFITS ARE OBTAINED. This means if you don’t get your claim you don’t have to pay them the 20%, however you still have to pay your attorney any fees incurred by them on your behalf. Service Officers perform the EXACT duties as an attorney, but they do not charge you for anything!
Q: My private (non-VAMC) doctor said I have severe PTSD and other physical ailments. Can I use this as evidence in my claim with the VA?
A: Yes you can. It is very good supporting evidence for your claim. However understand that the VA will not make a decision based upon your private doctor’s opinion. The VA will send you to out to a Doctor, could be a VAMC Doctor at your local VAMC Hospital (C&P Exam) or a Private Doctor hired by the VA (QTC Exam) located in your community. Make sure you get a copy of your Records from your Private Doctor before you sign a release of information to the VA to obtain them. It’s amazing how records get lost in transit.
Q: If I add up all my disability ratings from the VA I total over 100%. Why am I only rated at 60%?
A: The VA’s rating system is very confusing. Disability percentages are not done as a combined rating. It is done by each percent you receive is a percentage of the remaining amount. Say your 60% for PTSD and you receive another 50% for Migraines. They are not added together. The 50% goes against the remaining 40% which gives you a 20% increase. This 20% is then added to your 60% for an 80% overall rating.
Q: My spouse is receiving counseling from the local VA Hospital. Is there anything available for me to get counseling as well?
A: Yes, you can receive couples counseling through your local VAMC. Unfortunately the VAMC does not have anything for spouse to receive individual counseling.
Q: Is the VAMC (Veterans Administration Medical Centers) the same as the VA? Are claims done at the VAMC for the VA?
A: The VA and VAMC are completely separate entities. You can go see a Service Officer at your local VAMC who can assist you with your VA claim, but they are not a part of the VAMC system.
Q: The VA sent me a “Duty to Assist” letter. Does this mean they are going to gather all of my information for me?
A: Yes and No. The VA will send away to the NRC (National Records Center) for your 201 file and medical records. You should do the same before they do, which you can do online HERE. The VA will also request your records from the VAMC you have been seeing, and any private doctors you notify them of and sign a release of information for, which you should also do before they do. The VA will not however spend countless hours trying to find specific evidence to prove your case, that is up to you! It is in your best interest to gather as much evidence as you can on your own to help prove your case. Don’t rely on the VA or the Service Officer to do it for you. Your Service Officer should do everything they can to assist you. However they are only as strong as the evidence you give to them. They can’t get your case won without verifiable evidence.
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