“Blue Water” veterans, approximately 90,000 who served on Navy ships in the territorial waters off the coast of Vietnam are still waiting for legislation to be passed that will allow them the presumptive classifications of those who served on the ground for Agent Orange exposures. The reasoning is that those on Navy ships were fitted with […]
In the 1960s, the US started using herbicides with the chemical TCDD, tetrachlorodibenxo-p-dioxin, or more commonly know as Agent Orange, to kill vegetation in areas allowing troops to flush out the enemy as well as to provide less exposure to insects, dangerous wildlife, and unknown diseases. These defoliated areas also allowed troops to build camps […]
Anthrax is a bacterial disease that has been around for a long time, as far back as ancient Egypt. In fact, it was thought to have caused the fifth plague during the time of Moses, killing horses, cattle, sheep, and oxen. Scholars even think that Homer described anthrax in his telling of the Iliad around […]
Every veteran who is not rated as permanent and totally disabled is subject to C&P re-examinations in the future. Many are prescheduled, but some can be triggered by changes in symptoms noted in medical records. However, the VA has specific protocols in place to determine if those exams are needed. Unless already scheduled as a […]
There are very certain circumstances that the VA will consider expediting a claim, and they are often confusing as each regional office can sometimes offer expedition for a claim that may fall outside of the parameters based on special circumstances. However, the basic rules for expediting a claim are laid out in the VA regulations […]
In the summer of 2017, President Trump signed into law the Appeals Modernization Act establishing a new process for the VA in the way they handle benefit processing. The Act is designed to improve timeliness, provide more transparency, and be fairer in an effort to improve benefits for veterans. The Act is expected to go […]
Perfluorooctane sulfonate or perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOS and PFOA, are man-made chemicals used to make items heat or water resistant and found in a range of everyday items such as take-out food wrappers, no-stick cookware, and clothing. The military also uses the chemicals in highly concentrated foam to put out petroleum-based fires. In […]
Over 250,000 veterans are receiving disability compensation for eye or vision conditions; over 80,000 alone from the Gulf War. Also, 75% of veterans with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have vision problems, often without even realizing the problems are related to their TBI or getting compensation for the vision condition as secondary to the TBI. Eye […]
Veterans who have certain health issues such as diabetes or hypertension often are prescribed Viagra for erectile dysfunction secondary to their medical issues. Viagra, generic sildenafil citrate, dilates blood vessels to increase blood flow. It is in a class of medications called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which have been found in numerous studies to […]
In 2015, over 1.3 million veterans were receiving disability compensation for a mental related condition such as PTSD, general anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, etc. These conditions, either directly service connected or secondary to another service connected condition represented almost 7% of the total of all disability compensation claims paid out by the VA at […]
Video Blog – Buddy Statements for Service ConnectionJuly 27, 2018 - 4:15 pm
Video Blog – How to Make Buddy StatementsJuly 13, 2018 - 4:07 pm
Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization ActJune 19, 2018 - 2:35 pm
VA Disability Benefits – Back to BasicsApril 19, 2018 - 4:57 pm
How Can I Get VA Disability Benefits If My Discharge Is Not Honorable?April 5, 2018 - 12:31 pm