Tips for ensuring your VA Claims Success

- Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here are some of our hints on how to ensure your VA Benefit Claim success. You must be actively involved with your claim. Remember that no one else has an interest in the outcome of your claim as much as you do. You are dealing with the Government, even though recent changes in law favoring the veteran have been enacted (VCAA), it is still up to you to provide supportive evidence for your claim and become familiar with the rules and regulations the VA plays by.

Get competent representation, don’t go it alone. Be picky, interview several Veterans Service Officers until you locate one that you feel confident with.
Send the required SF-180 form to request COMPLETE copies of military service files (including medical & personnel), a 2nd SF-180 form to request updating of Awards & Decorations, and a 3rd SF-180 form requesting a DD-214 if needed.
Make a list and request copies of all Medical files from private physicians and hospitals ( available to you under the Freedom of Information Act)
Request a copy of your Units History & lineage from the appropriate archive.
Keep a file of all correspondence (make sure to staple the envelope to the letter for postmark date) with the VA; note received date in your logbook with a brief description.
Keep copies of everything you send to the VA, do not send originals unless required.
Never send documentation or requests directly to the VA. Always route through your Veterans Service Officer as he/she should be keeping a log of information received and sent to VA dates. ( this is a back up source when the VA says they lost or did not receive a document from you) Also, your rep should be going over everything you submit checking for, and eliminating, items that would be detrimental to your claim.
Do use the sources of information and links from this website, they are here to help you. Become active on the discussion forum ~ your fellow veterans are willing to help