Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire VA benefits

Anyone on here besides me get turned down for VA benefits? In an effort to sidestep Zerocare, I thought I would check this option, but I guess I make too much money. Lucky for me. Cause I know there are lots with more deserving problems.

I got a letter several years ago from the VA to apply. I got a second letter later turning me down due to my income. I don't have any "provable" health issues related to my service. For some reason there are many troops in the C-130 community that have had prostate cancer.

Get with your local VFW, and ask about their rep that helps veterans file for benefits and appeals. Right now VA is giving 10% normally, kicking the file out and then hoping you do not file an appeal. You have two appeals process: the regular and DRO (which is a single experienced rep that handles the appeal). If you lose that one you appeal to a board of judges that are normally veterans.

The appeal takes about a year at each step.

the VA medical has certain income elements based on level of disability. The key is get the disability levels bumped up.

I'm in the same boat as you.
I signed up on line and got notified of to much income.
I then went to the local VA hospital and still with no service related issues I make to much. This is even with me being retired!

I know a 60% service related retired guy who makes to much money.

That's just NOT RIGHT!!

Hmmm. Guess no sense in applying then, even after I retire this summer.
Dave in WV. What say you about C130's and prostate cancer???

I would check out a VA service rep. before giving up. VFW. AL, and DAV officer are where to start. It does not cost anything to apply. I put it off for years when I could have been covered.

VA disability benefits, both financial and medical can be very difficult to obtain. It took me almost 10 years to be awarded a disability rating and another two years to get medical. My medical benefits are related to the reasons for my disability rating. I only get meds necessary to alleviate the symptoms for which my rating applies.

I have a 70% rating relating to exposure to Agent Orange while in Viet Nam. Diabetes type II, neuropathy in both legs, and sexual organ and rectum. Also related are high blood pressure and cholesterol issues. I get meds to treat them only.

Dealing with the VA can be very difficult and challenging.

That is why a good service rep is so important.

Several friends have worked for the VA. I spoke with a few briefly, after reading this thread earlier. Here is what they suggest -

Get involved with one of the veteran service organizations - they are pros at knowing their way in, around and through the VA system and are advocates for you. They have a huge workload but they are on your side.

Take the time to write down the ailments, when they started and why they might be tied to your military service.

If you got treatment for the ailment in the military write down as much as you can remember about the incident and treatment.

The more fact you have the better.

The more precise you are in nailing down a specific time period of a treatment or incident the better.

If you were hurt in an accident - list all of the names of witnesses you think of - their statements may be critical to establishing the legitimacy of your claim.

Check online for the assorted guides that detail the various percentage ratings given for each disability so you know what the thresholds are for each rating. I think this is in Title 37 but there are plenty of online resources that will help.

It is possible to have ratings that individually total greater than 100% but based on a formula will be reduced to less than that.

Most important of all is assembling your information on paper before starting - the more information you have upfront - the better.

This will be a time consuming process - do not expect it to be easy or fast.

I hope this helps - thank you veterans for your service.

Do they provide any kind of guidance WRT maximum income that benefits might be available or is it just "take a stab at it"?

EdM, not certain of your question, but when you fill our an application form they ask for your income and assets. Form says you don't have to answer that question, but you will be denied if you don't. so its the perfect .gov catch 22. This is the first time I have tried to use VA since using the GI bill in 1971/72 to finish school. I figure I earned at least a physical:).

What I find funny about all this is I got my VA card a year before I got my disability. I walked into the Seattle VA Hospital with copies of both my DD214s, filled out a one page form and walked out with a VA card. I was covered by the VA at that point. Now I did have a copay for visits and medications. The copay went away for the service related meds but stayed for the others until I went on SS. Then my taxable income went below 16,000 a year and I have no copay.

A vet with a DD214 should be able top get into the VA system and the VA counts as insurance under Omabacare.