The Veteran's Survival Guide: How to File and Collect on VA Claims

Additional The Veteran's Survival Guide: How to File and Collect on VA Claims Information

The most comprehensive "do it yourself" handbook for veterans who wish to obtain federal benefits

Provides an insider’s perspective on the VA’s claims adjudication and appeal processes

"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 analyzes in detail. Written in an accessible self-help style, Roche’s book should be required reading for any veteran or veteran’s dependent who wishes to obtain their well-earned benefits and for those officials of veterans service organizations whose job it is to assist veterans with their claims.

What Customers Say About The Veteran's Survival Guide: How to File and Collect on VA Claims:

However, I put it aside and went back to it later. I am sick and tired of hearing able bodied veterans at work complaining about how the system prevents them from getting what they want. In fact, you need to read this section over and over, to get a feel for the process and the system.I give this book 5 stars and recommend you study it. I have read the entire book now and I have started re-reading various chapters. These guys at work are in better health than I am, are receiving disability and want more. I am sure glad I didn't.I started reading the Preface and the Introduction, and then started in on Chapter 1. Also Chapter 13, "Doctrine of Reasonable Doubt", has case law in it, which you may think is a bunch of boring legal nonsense, but there is a lot of meat here to chew on. I recommend you go through the table of contents and see what each chapter covers and just read the chapter that interests you the most.

The beginning of this book turned me off because it seemed to me to be just like the guys I work with; just a bunch of whining and complaining. I almost threw away this book. In fact, skip the Preface, Introduction and the first two chapters and start with Chapter 3, "No Evidence, No Benefits". This gets you to the heart of the matter right away. I then skipped around in the book, reading different chapters.

For example, I started with Chapter 7, "Claims Based on Secondary Disabilities". Lots of good information. Not read it; Study it. These give you a list of Abbreviations, Glossary of Definitions, and Survival Rules. I decided to skim through a couple of the other chapters before I made the final decision as to whether I should keep it or throw it away. After you have read the rest of the book, then you can go back and read Chapter 2.Pay close attention to Appendix A thru D in the back of the book. I was very disappointed and almost threw away this book.

Think of this book as a resource guide. There is a lot of good information in here, but you will have to dig it out, just like you will have to research and dig out the information you will need to submit your claim. What they want is 100% disability and not having to work anymore. That was when I discovered the good that is hidden in this book.

It's indispensabale. This book is extremely detailed, very readable, easy to comprehend and is an absolute must for anyone applying for, or on the behalf of, any veteran. It shows the reader where the 'hang-ups' & 'gotchas' are in the application process and how to prevent them.

This book was very useful in understanding the VA and their process. Very good information.

I highly recommend it. This book is worth it's weight in gold and then some. It is written in plain language, so it is easy to understand, and it addresses all of the areas we (veterans) need to negotiate the maze of government bureaucracy.

I wish this book was available when I put in my claim about 8 years ago.It goes and gives input and resources that I never knew existed.The author explains how the VA goes about denying claims and how a veteran can avoid some of the pitfalls so the veteran has at least a fighting chance of winning their claim. This book is very helpful for Veterans that are filing claims with the VA.