VA Appointments Before Military Discharge
Maximizing Your Benefits Before Leaving the Service
Jun 23, 2009
Upon exiting the military, servicemen and women have the opportunity to be seen at their nearest Veterans Affairs office to determine if they are eligible for compensation as a result of the injuries they have incurred during their service.
The mistake many veterans make is not planning far enough in advance to take advantage of these opportunities, effectively denying themselves the potential to receive thousands of dollars in compensatory earnings as well as the edge that being a disabled veteran gives when applying for government positions, such as in the US Census Bureau, or a state owned bank.
Three keys that will aid veterans in making their claims are:
- Preparing for the claims to be made.
- Making and keeping VA appointments.
- Seeking guidance from outside organizations.
Prepare for Claims and Have Them Documented
The VA sets three appointments- medical, psychological, and audiological. During the appointment for medical evaluation, veterans should prepare their claims in advance. The reason for this is because many are not always prepared to talk about all of the injuries they have incurred.
While it may seem reasonable to claim an injury that came from mortar fire overseas, it may not seem reasonable to claim knee or back pain, despite the fact that the pain is a result of carrying gear and weapons over many miles for several years.
The key to veterans receiving the compensation they deserve from the bodily wear and tear that comes with the intensive training and deployments of war is to have all injuries documented in their medical record.
For example, a veteran whose appointments are coming up that does not have documentation for knee and back pain that has been escalating since basic training must get to medical as soon as possible to have it documented that pain exists with accurate statements to the degree of pain he is caused by it, and how long it has been going on.
With no documentation, the VA doctor will likely deny the claim, granting the veteran 0% in compensation for it. With documentation from a previous appointment, the doctor can justify granting 10% or higher for the claim.
Make and Keep VA Appointments
It is crucial that veterans keep their VA appointments. Cancellations due to absence will likely result in a major delay in future appointments, especially since the window of opportunity to be seen at VA offices on military installations while in service is 60-180 days prior to discharge.
If a veteran finds that he is being deliberately held from his VA appointments by a command that is unfavorable to those who seek discharge upon the end of their contract, he should seek assistance from outside help.
Help is Available Through the DAV
The Disabled American Veterans is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping veterans get what they need and deserve. If a veteran is confused about making claims, or has doubts about the validity of some claims he wishes to make, the DAV has a nearby chapter that would be very interested in clarifying any matters of this nature.
Additionally, the DAV is manned by former servicemen and women who have paid to be a part of the organization, eliminating the possibility that a veteran will contact a branch office only to find dissidence on the other end by a government or civilian bureaucrat.
The bottom line in making claims through the VA is to be there to make them, and then honor the appointments. If no claims are made, then no compensation can be given for injuries incurred while in service. The injuries will get worse over time as cartilage in the knees, elbows, back and neck do not have strong track records for regenerating. For this reason- the guarantee that the pain experienced today will be there tomorrow- veterans should make their legitimate claims prior to leaving the service so as to maximize their rightful benefits.
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