Helping to Serve Our American Heroes Returning Home: Research Guide

How to File and Collect on VA Claims by John D. Roche ISBN: 1597970514 Publication Date: 2006-11-01

“Claim denied!” All too often millions of veterans have received this response to their legitimate claims for federal benefits. In most cases, writes veterans’ advocate John D. Roche, the claimant didn’t understand the procedures needed to meet the myriad requirements of the Department of Veterans Affairs. With the appeals process requiring years to resolve disputes, deserving veterans and their dependents are left confused and frustrated by the agency and a system that was created to serve them. The answer is to submit a well-grounded claim initially, which The Veteran’s Survival Guide, now in a revised, second edition, analyzes in detail. This unique book, written in an accessible self-help style, will be required reading for any veteran or veteran’s dependent who wishes to obtain his or her well-earned benefits and for those officials of veterans’ service organizations who assist veterans with their claims.

• VA Title 38 Section 1151 Claims –VA official webpage describing eligibility criteria and steps to file a section 1151 claim. 38 U.S.C. 1151 — allows veterans to file claims for injuries caused or aggravated as a result of VA sponsored medical treatment or Vocational Rehabilitation.

• Presumptive Disability Factsheet Some medical conditions are presumed to be caused by a veteran’s military service. If the veteran meets the criteria for the presumption, then he or she does not have to show how the condition is connected to military service.
• Agent Orange — Agent Orange was an herbicide used during the Vietnam War. Exposure to Agent Orange has be linked to a number of diseases. VA has special programs designed to deal with victims of Agent Orange Exposure.
• Gulf War Veterans Undiagnosed Illness — Gulf War Undiagnosed Illness is a multisymptom condition associated with service in Southeast Asia beginning with the first Gulf War through the present.
• Congressional Research Service Report on Presumptive Conditions
• Congressional Research Service Report on Health Care and Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange