VA disability

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I finally recieved the letter from the VA (Veter Affairs) detailing my case about disabiity. Now that I have that, what happens now? Will they be sending information to me? Or do I have to end up researching everything myself. Just wondering what happens from this point.

 

[Luthien]

You should call your local VA and ask around for who to goto for help in answering your questions.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Local DAV chapter may be of some help

 

[BoomerD]

You MAY have a veteran services worker at your local state employment office who can answer some of your questions. My neighbor has that job at our local EDD office. VERY helpful in answering those questions...when my son got out of the Corps. he offered him LOTS of help on how to navigate the VA system, and how to meke it work for him...give yours a call...

 

[dainthomas]

Contact one of the several service organizations. The PVA (Paralyzed Veterans of America) helped with my claim and even got my percentage bumped up. That would be the best route.

Link

The DAV and PVA are big ones, but you can pick whoever you want. Their only purpose is to help YOU (unlike the VA).

PM me if you have any questions.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Did they give you a disability determination (i.e., percentage)? I know DAV always encouraged me to appeal the first determination, but since I have only a very minor disability (10%), and felt it was clearly a correct determination under the law, I didn't appeal. They started sending the checks within a month or two if memory serves (though I am now set up for Direct Deposit).

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: DonVito
Did they give you a disability determination (i.e., percentage)? I know DAV always encouraged me to appeal the first determination, but since I have only a very minor disability (10%), and felt it was clearly a correct determination under the law, I didn't appeal. They started sending the checks within a month or two if memory serves (though I am now set up for Direct Deposit).

Yes, I received a perctage number. I have no wish to challenge their ruling--I'm just not sure what happens from here, or atleast what happens next.

 

[AAman]

You sign up for direct deposit for your compensation payment?

VA computers at the hospital should also show you are service connected for that disability (assuming you got your award letter, and not just the notification that they are processing your claim).

Main benefits page

This is the main benefits page- VBA handles your benefits, VHA handles your health care, and there are special offices for loan guarantee, vocational rehabilitation, etc., which may be local or regional in nature. The quick links on the left of the page should get you started and a quick summary document is listed on the main part.

The toll free # is 1-800-827-1000 : note, I believe it will connect you to the local office for the area code you call from, so if you live outside the area where your claim was processed, they can't always check on things as accurately for you.

 

[huberm]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
I finally recieved the letter from the VA (Veter Affairs) detailing my case about disabiity. Now that I have that, what happens now? Will they be sending information to me? Or do I have to end up researching everything myself. Just wondering what happens from this point.

based upon my prior dealings with the VA, and hearing about other vet's horror stories w/ the VA, I would say that you will probably have to research everything yourself.

 

[BoomerD]

Just be aware that they almost ALWAYS lowball you when they first set your disability percentage. Just takes a bit of "manipulation of the system" to get your percentage increases to much better numbers. Nothing wrong or fraudulent, just have to work them a bit...