U.S. Military (Ret.): First-time accuracy can speed VA claims process - Military Retirement - Army Times

U.S. Military (Ret.): First-time accuracy can speed VA claims process

The problems with the Veterans Affairs Department disability and benefits claims system are very real and very well-known.

Veterans are certainly not shy about criticizing VA for those problems — nor should they be.

But it’s human nature to want to make our voices heard the most when we have something to criticize; when things go right, not so much.

I have no personal stake in making VA look better than it is. But just to show that there are two sides to almost every situation, I thought I’d relate an email that recently came in from retired Army veteran Jim Litzler from Rhode Island.

Litzler is a Vietnam veteran who suffered two heart attacks in 2009. Late last year, he read an article about VA’s new policy that states ischemic heart disease is one of several conditions now presumed to be service-connected — and compensable — in Vietnam vets because of the heavy use of the toxic defoliant Agent Orange in that war.

“I went to the VA website and downloaded the appropriate forms and began the process,” he said. “I completed the required forms and had my cardiologist complete VA Form 21-0960A-1, which stated that I had ischemic heart disease.”

He then went to the VA Regional Office in Providence, R.I., and met with two VA staffers, “went over all documents I had prepared to ensure accuracy, and submitted the entire packet, including a table of contents and tabs identifying all documents, such as a complete summary of my treatment record from the hospital and the full names, addresses, phone numbers of my cardiologists in Rhode Island and Florida.”

He submitted his packet on Nov. 5 and received a 30 percent disability rating on Feb. 4.

“The VA standard is 125 days; my claim was settled in 111 days,” he said. “The service received was professional and courteous at all times. I can’t speak for those in ‘claims limbo,’ but I think that if all documents are accurately submitted the first time, there is no reason for delay of months or years.”

Of course, many VA claims are more complicated than Litzler’s. Even so, I can’t help feeling that many claims could be resolved quicker if veterans took a little time to make sure they know the proper procedures and that their packet be as detailed and accurate as possible.

It’s easy to rail against a huge, faceless bureaucracy — and again, I’m not going to claim that criticism of VA is unwarranted.

It’s still in your best interest to make sure you’ve done everything possible to help VA help you.

The place to start getting smart about the VA benefits claims system is its website. Or you can call 800-827-1000.