Category: Disability Compensation

The VA established the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program to help eligible veterans receive their VA disability compensation benefits as soon as possible after they are released from active duty. In short, the BDD program allows a service member to apply for their VA benefits while they are still on active duty so that […]

Whether you’re retiring, filing a claim for VA benefits, or requesting a discharge upgrade, you will want a copy of your military medical and personnel records. Download and Print the SF-180 Form In order to request a copy of your military records, you need to complete a SF-180 form and mail it to the appropriate […]

Agent Orange was a tactical herbicide the U.S. military primarily used to clear vegetation and leaves for military operations during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange was also used at Thailand military bases during the Vietnam War and in the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ). The herbicides were also tested and stored elsewhere, including some military bases […]

One of the most important factors in winning a claim or appeal for VA disability compensation benefits is developing medical evidence in support of your case. There is virtually no way to get your disability claim approved without sufficient medical evidence to support your claim. In this post, I put together some tips about developing […]

The VA has a duty to assist claimants in generating or gathering the evidence they need to substantiate their claims for disability compensation benefits. One part of that duty is for the VA to obtain medical examinations, which the VA calls Compensation and Pension Examinations (C&P exams). The VA claims and appeals process can be […]

Although VA disability compensation benefits and VA pension benefits are both a type of monthly payment, that is where the similarities end. In short, VA disability compensation benefits are monthly payments for medical disability’s that are related to active duty, while VA pension benefits are monthly payments made to a veteran when they are unable […]

In my opinion, a VA representative’s job is two-fold. First, help the veteran win their appeal for disability compensation benefits by obtaining the evidence needed to win the claim and putting forth persuasive legal arguments. Almost as equally important is to review a veteran’s entire VA claims file to determine if any additional past-due benefits […]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is among the most significant injuries former combat veterans suffer. According to health officials, there has been an uptick in TBI in military service members who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. This is because of the enemy’s use of roadside improvised explosive devices (IEDs). However, not all TBIs  are caused by […]

In order to win a claim for service connection for a disability, you must have a diagnosis of a current disability. Without a current diagnosis, the VA may deny your claim without even examining you. The process of obtaining a diagnosis for a disability is similar, whether it resulted from an auto accident, a fall, […]

The VA, unfortunately, often makes errors when adjudicating disability claims. The mistakes in judgment may lead to a low rating or a total denial of disability compensation. If you’ve received a low rating or have been denied disability compensation benefits by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, you should check to see if the VA made […]