For many veterans getting a rating of 0% or 10% for PTSD is incredibly common. The VA hires raters who do not have proper training and abundant knowledge on most medical conditions. In fact, some veterans have been given a low rating that does not reflect the true severity of their medical condition and its effect on their life.  When they try to challenge the inaccurate rating they don’t know where to start or how to properly do it. Here are ten (10) ideas to help you deal w

It is actually 1 out 5 for 40 decibels or greater, since the article states in any of the frequencies and either 3 out of 5 at an auditory threshold greater than 26 decibels. Military equipment is loud. It’s no wonder that the most prevalent service-connected disabilities among veterans are hearing loss and tinnitus. Unfortunately, the VA has made it difficult to prove service connection for hearing loss. What is more, they have affected the ratings veterans can receive if th

If you are a Veteran that suffers from sleep apnea, but have been denied or given a low rating for your disability, then you now know that saying you have sleep apnea isn’t enough. A mistake a Veteran can make is to submit their claim to the VA without sufficient or proper evidence and then hope that whoever examines it sees their sleep apnea is service-connected. However, even if they are granted service-connection, the rating might not be what they had hoped for and the VA

If you are a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability you are eligible to fly for free with the Space-A flights, through the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act. However, before making plans you must obtain a DD Form 2765 (Department of Defense/Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card). Additionally, you are advised to have a backup plan in case of a schedule change or sudden unavailability, as you are in priority group 6. Lastly, dependents

Back in January 2019, the case of Procopio v. Wilkie was decided. The federal court reversed a 1997 VA decision that denied Blue Water Navy veterans who served on ships, disability benefits because they were not "boots on the ground" in Vietnam itself. The Procopio court found that veterans who served on ships offshore during the Vietnam War suffered the effects of being exposed to Agent Orange, regardless if they were “boots on the ground” or not. Agent Orange is an herbici

It is no easy task to prove sleep apnea is a service connected disability because it is a complex medical condition that is different with every veteran. In fact, it is very common for the BVA to deny your VA benefits as they do not have the full understanding of how sleep apnea occurs and affects each veteran. With this in mind, you must provide solid evidence supporting your claim that will make it easier for the VA to examine your claim. There is no easy way around this, i

In January 2019, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals decided the case of Procopio v. Wilkie which resulted in Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans being granted the Presumption of Service Connection for disabilities associated with exposure to Agent Orange, an herbicide and defoliant chemical used by the US military during the Vietnam War. On April 1, 2019, the Board of Veterans Appeal (BVA) Chairwoman Cheryl Mason lifted the “Procopio Stay” at the BVA. On May 10, 2019, a BVA de

Last month at the Cleveland VA Medical Center a veteran took his own life. In fact, this year alone seven veterans took their own life on VA properties, arguably places where they were supposed to receive help. This is why the VA has reiterated their commitment to suicide prevention as the VA’s top clinical priority. What is more, there has been much debate around suicides committed by veterans not receiving healthcare. The VA argues that it will reduce the suicides by accept