Military/VA Benefits

Case Notes from Stu Steinberg
I am currently handling a case for one of my best friends. I have been handling his DVA claims since 2013. He is now rated at 90%.
Recently, due to having to work from home and being relatively isolated, his PTSD symptoms have gotten worse. I reopened his PTSD claim seeking an increase from 50% to 70%. I was able to obtain his mental health records from the past year which document the increasing severity of his symptoms. I also got a statement from his spouse that documented his worsening symptoms at home. Remember, if you’re making a claim for PTSD and you’re married, make sure you get a statement from your spouse or partner that helps document your symptoms. If I am successful with this claim, my client will be at 100% and can retire from his job if he wants to.
In another case, my client is currently rated for Type II Diabetes due to exposure to Agent Orange during his tour in South Vietnam. I got him rated at 10% for this illness because he was able to control it with watching his diet and losing weight. However, in the last year, his glucose readings increased and he was started on Metformin, a drug that helps the pancreas release insulin. I have filed a reopened claim to increase his rating to 20% because of having to take medication to help control the diabetes. This should automatically get this rating increased to 20%. Since he is retired military, part of his Combat Related Special Compensation—a percentage of his retired pay equal to the DVA rating percentage—will be tax exempt.
The Department of Veterans Affairs
Almost everything you need to know about the VA can be found on their website, https://www.va.gov.
Many people are looking for forms on their first visit to va.gov. The link for forms is in the blue section at the bottom of the page. Click on Find a VA Form and a new page opens. Type in the form number, such as VA Form 21-526EZ (the form to apply for a service-connected disability compensation), or type in a descriptive phrase, such as “claim for disability compensation.”
If you need the VA Form 21-526EZ, you might feel the 12-page form with eight pages of instructions is not EZ. Contact us to send us a message for help with your application.
The VA website also connects you with frequently used services such as renewing prescriptions and tracking them, sending a secure message to your primary care team, scheduling and renewing appointments, and viewing your VA medical records.
The white boxes on the page give you quick access links to topics. The links in the Disability box, lets you check on the status of your claim or appeal, upload evidence to support your claim, file a claim for compensation, and file for an increase in an existing service-connected disability.
Finding the link on the VA website can be frustrating. If you need help, send a message to our benefits coordinator.
Use the MyHealtheVet Online Account
You can see and manage your VA health benefits at the VA’s MyHealtheVet website. You need an online account to access your information. If you don’t have one, go to the registration page to register as a MyHealtheVet member.
After you create your MyHealtheVet account, you need to upgrade it to a Premium account for access for the highest level of access to My HealtheVet features.
My HealtheVet offers three account types: Basic, Advanced and Premium. Anyone registering on My HealtheVet starts with a Basic or Advanced account. A Basic account provides access to medical libraries and allows you to enter personal data into journals and other tools to track your health measures.
When you register and select Veteran and VA Patient on the registration form, your profile information is linked to VA/DoD records. When this happens, your account is automatically upgraded to the Advanced level.
An Advanced account offers Veterans and VA Patients a higher level of access than the Basic account to My HealtheVet features including:
For Veterans and VA patients, a Premium account includes all the features of a Basic and Advanced account, plus these services:
- Copies of key portions of your VA electronic health records
- VA Health Summary
- Secure Messaging
- VA Appointments
- VA Medical Imaging and Reports
- Department of Defense (DoD) Military Service Information (MOS codes)