STDs can be an embarrassing topic, especially if you contracted the sexually transmitted disease while you were in the service. But if that’s when you got it, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. In 2018, 4.7 million veterans, or about 25% of all veterans, received compensation due to a service-connected disability. The majority of these vets are from the post 9/11 generation. There are 833 conditions related to service that allow vets to claim disability. While it is...

VA presumes that certain disabilities were caused by military service. This is because of the unique circumstances of a specific Veteran’s military service. If a presumed condition is diagnosed in a Veteran within a certain group, they can be awarded disability compensation. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vet2vet/support

VA recognizes migraines as a service connected disability, so long as the veteran can prove a connection with military service. In other words, if the veteran can prove that the migraines began in service it is service connected.  Another way is a secondary service connection.  If the migraine relates to other service-connected conditions, then she may obtain service-connected disability for this condition. Migraines can be debilitating, affecting your ability to work or complete daily...

The VA awards disability compensation for each Genitourinary System condition that is service-connected. The DoD will also rate service-connected Genitourinary System conditions as long as they also make the service member Unfit for Duty. For Reservists, the condition must have occurred in or resulted from an injury in the Line of Duty to qualify. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vet2vet/support

VET2VET is a non-profit and non-partisan educational project dedicated to sharing information through social media. By spreading the knowledge we strive to achieve: - assisting veterans with adjustment to civilian lifestyle after serving in the military; - providing assistance in obtaining your VA and other available benefits you’ve earned; - hosting guests who are concerned about veterans; - linking veterans with fellow veterans; …among others, VET2VET covers VA claims for compensation,...

If you follow the steps discussed in todays podcast , you will have much better chances with your claim. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vet2vet/support

Disability Compensation. Disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to Veterans who are determined by VA to be disabled by an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service. These disabilities are considered to be service connected. When we talk about service-connecting a medical condition, disease, injury or illness to military service, we are talking about proving the relationship between the two. Because a Veteran need not show actual causation -...

You can appoint an attorney, claim agent, or VSO to act on your behalf in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for VA benefits (38 U.S.C. 5902, 5903, and 5904). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vet2vet/support

National area supervisor for West Cost Region. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vet2vet/support

There are numerous ways to apply for VA disability benefits depending on the type of benefit you are seeking: Online using an eBenefits account Complete and mail your claim form to your nearest VA regional office Go to a VA regional office and have a VA employee assist you. To find the VA regional office nearest you, use the Veterans Affairs National Facilities Locatoror call VA toll free at 1-800-827-1000. Work with an accredited representative or agent --- Support this podcast:...

National area supervisor for West Cost Region. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vet2vet/support

Veterans Services Officers assist local veterans or their dependents in securing all benefits to which they may be entitled. County Veterans Service Officers (CVSO), employed by their respective states, are knowledgeable individuals who know their way around the VA system. They can assist veterans and their families in a number of ways. County Services Offices can help you with compensation/pensions, medical care, military records, grave markers and veteran home loans. Some counties may also...

Benefit of the Doubt Rule When it comes to the Benefit of the Doubt doctrine, the statute is 38 USC § 5107(b). That statute says: “The [VA] shall consider all information and lay and medical evidence of record in a case before the [VA] with respect to benefits under laws administered by the [VA].  When there is anapproximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding any issue material to the determination of a matter, the [VA] shall give the benefit of the doubt to the...

A prominent condition affecting Gulf War Veterans is a cluster of medically unexplained chronic symptoms that can include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and memory problems. VA refers to these illnesses as "chronic multisymptom illness" and "undiagnosed illnesses." We prefer not to use the term “Gulf War Syndrome” when referring to medically unexplained symptoms reported by Gulf War Veterans. Why? Because symptoms vary...

For most veterans, having to deal with hearing loss and tinnitus is quite common. Nearly 933,000 veterans were being compensated for hearing loss and almost 1.3 million veterans were compensated for tinnitus.  A veteran with either of these two conditions may be wondering what is needed to establish service connection for hearing loss and/or tinnitus. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vet2vet/support

All claims for VA benefits begin with an application. Unless there are very unusual circumstances, a claimant should use the form that the VA specifies for the benefit desired. As with all VA forms, you should read the Form  instructions carefully and get help if you are unsure of what is required. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vet2vet/support

A Primary Family Caregiver stipend is monetary compensation paid to a Primary Family Caregiver for providing personal care services to an eligible Veteran enrolled in the Caregiver Support Program. The stipend benefit is not intended to replace career earnings, and receipt of the stipend payments does not create an employment relationship between VA and the Primary Family Caregiver. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vet2vet/support

There are eight distinct steps that most claims for disability compensation follow. These phases may vary in time depending on the complexity of the claim, the amount of evidence that must be gathered to support the claims, and the type of evidence. You are strongly encouraged to submit as much evidence as possible with your claim to help minimize processing time. There are eight steps of claims processing .So without further ado, let's get into it. --- Support this podcast:...

TBI has been called a “signature injury” of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). Thirty-three percent of all patients with combat-related injuries and 60% of the patients with blast-related injuries seen at Walter Reed Army Medical Center have sustained a TBI (Okie, 2005). Mild TBI or concussion is one of the most common forms of combat-related injury. Based on self-report data, approximately 15% of troops engaged in active combat in Afghanistan and Iraq may have...

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a Mental Disorder that is caused by experiencing a traumatic event. When defining PTSD, a “traumatic event” is any event where the person experiences shocking circumstances that conflict with their understanding of what is right and good. Events that cause PTSD can include actual or threatened abuse, death, physical injury, sexual abuse/violence, accidents, situations that cause extreme fear, and many more. --- Support this podcast:...

The way VA defines The word "permanent" slightly differently.  For that matter, the word total doesn't mean total when discussing a disability. These are just terms to VA. There really isn't a protected rating. Any rating can be modified by VA at any time, depending on the circumstances. How do you know if your benefit is P & T? What is IU? What is substantially gainful employment? Are there any other eligibility requirements? How is the way VA decides total disability different from...

If there are 2 medical issues that nearly every single Veteran has to deal with, it is tinnitus and knee problems: which is why questions about VA disability compensation for a knee replacement are among the most frequent questions I get in my email inbox. If you were Army or Marine, a good bit of your time was spent running in formation with improper footwear, carrying 80+ pounds of socks and MREs from Point A to Point B. If you were in the Air Force, you may have spent a good bit of time...

Diabetes affects nearly 25 percent of VA’s patient population. The disease is the leading cause of blindness, end-stage renal disease, and amputation for VA patients. Diabetes mellitus falls under The endocrine system which is a network of glands that create hormones to help regulate the body. These hormones control the growth of new cells and metabolism. Some organs, like the kidney, also help in producing hormones. The endocrine system is made up of the hypothalamus, thymus, pituitary...

Purchasing a first home is an exciting milestone in any person's life. For some, the process may also seem very intimidating. Factors to Consider When Buying a Home Purchasing Your First Home 10 Things Many Borrowers Don’t Know About VA Loans Etc. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/vet2vet/support