Getting those benefits. What happens next.
Dave the VSO on Veterans Benefits
July 27, 2010
OK. You’ve made a start and put in your application, right? If not, read my first blog post and get up to speed with the rest of the troops!
You’ll get a letter back from the VA in about one to two months acknowledging receipt of the application. That’s IF the VA has a good address on you. And don’t say, “I told my girlfriend to call and give them my new address.” That sucks. If you want it done right, what do you do? Duh!
If you’ve been out (or off active duty) less than a year, normally the VA will get your records. (That’s your record book or 201 file.) This will include your medical AND treatment records.
When the VA can see from your current records that the injury, accident, or illness occurred in service, and the degree of severity (how bad you were hurt, dummy), it’s usually enough for the VA to make a rating decision.
Now listen up and don’t come back to me saying I didn’t mention this part:
If you are filing for compensation (that’s what it’s called) after more than a year from the date of separation, you need to send CURRENT medical records of the injury with the application. It’s OK if the MR’s (that’s medical records) come from a private doctor or even the Mexican prison doctor who treated you when you were locked up in San Luis, Mexico.
Got it? OK. We still got Act III to go. Watch for the next installment coming soon to a blog here at the NVF website.
Dave Culmer, Semper Fi
COMMENTS
+ Add Comments
silverstar S.
August 12, 2010
That same fashion-show season, Dunn was snapped en route to another runway wearing a variation on wholesale jeans for women the aforementioned technique. Rather than reaching for tan accent pieces, she paired a hot magenta mini dress (far left) with all-black accessories instead. Through this savvy styling, Dunn managed to both emphasize and subdue the shocking shade. She wisely chose a short shift dress tees wholesale (the simple design and brief hemline keep the intense color from overwhelming her lithe frame), and kept the rest of her look quite sober. Try your own version with American Apparel's Interlock Asymmetrical Dress ($42) in raspberry, or, if you prefer a spicy red, ed hardy belts for women check out the Fine Jersey Racerback Tank Dress ($32). Either option will look smashing paired with your favorite dark accessories, like Wooden Ships' Sophie Beret ($24).