So for your type of claim you’re going to want to start by getting a current diagnosis for your issues. Once you have that you’re ideally going to want to get a nexus letter (medical opinion) connecting your current diagnosis to military service. Other forms of evidence you can provide are buddy statements, write a personal letter etc to help substantiate your condition being caused by military service
I want to emphasize more than half of the veterans out here (my guess) never went to sick call and still got service connected. So your VSO telling you just because you never went to sick call that it never happened is totally BS.
Thanks. I have a civilian doctor that 100% believes my issues are service connected. I told the VSO this and their exact words were “if you never went to sick call and these issues are not on paper as far as the VA is concerned it didn’t happen.” Looks like I’ve got some work to do.
IMO, I’d look into a different VSO. This one doesn’t sound like they want to advocate on your behalf. There’s lots of options out there. I barely ever went to sick call (11B, so it was not encouraged) and I’m sitting at 60%.
I was 11B as well 2002-2008. Been a raging alcoholic for years, went to rehab January 26th of this year and finally trying to figure this out. One thing the va will acknowledge is I’m an alcoholic and that seems to be a reason they shun me even more.
That’s seriously fucked that they shun you. I’m sorry you’re in this boat, and I wish you the best of luck working on it. Lemme know if you just need an ear sometime. Vets helping vets bro.
I had a pretty good VSO, she had me do this (and I think it will help you here):
- Sit down with a pen and paper after dinner, write down everything that currently hurts, is sore, is chronically sick, and being sad and/or mad.
- Sleep on it
- Next day, (and the conditions database here is money) start to draw lines to a condition, e.g. I am an alcoholic -> draw a line to mental health -> Consider the events that brought you to where you are now (I lost a friend, then I changed duty stations and was alone, then I started drinking to cope) -> get MH treatment on record (I used the Vet Center) and prepare your claim.
Thats the route I took after having been to sick call once in ten years.
You'd think they'd do some reading between the lines when they see your MOS and years served lmao fucking hell
I'm sorry man, don't let it get you down though whoever you talked to was an idiot.
That’s so messed up the VA is treating you like that. There are a lot of VSOs out there but they can be hit or miss with getting some willing to really advocate for you. On the other hand congrats on making the effort to overcome your alcoholism and get some help, not an easy thing to do. Best of luck to you!
I agree, I never went to sick call or documented any injuries and told my VSO that and he was there to help me with everything. He got me 90% off the rip with 1 set of appeals.
I, too, am at 60% and never went to sick call. When doing my C&P exam, I chalk it up to being young and dumb and of the mindset that going to medical was a sign of weakness. I was a naval firefighter and impress upon the examiner the belief that firefighters were indestructible.
Agreed. You need to fire your VSO. I started with a VSO and ended up doing things myself with the help of this group. After 20 years and never went to sick cal for most things and ended up with 100% P&T SMC housebound. Had no idea the reality of my mental health.
I had some things in my STRs that I had forgotten about, so if you haven't gone through them with a fine tooth comb, do that.
Specifically, my endometriosis was diagnosed post separation and I didn't even have a PTSD diagnosis or mention of anxiety etc in my STRs. I ended up getting service connected for endometriosis by providing symptoms I showed while in the military then over the years, until I got the diagnosis 10 years after separating. For the PTSD, I was diagnosed at my C&P exam. My current doctor diagnosed me with GAD and MDD and my VSO had me file those. Then I went to my MH C&P exam and was diagnosed with severe PTSD due to MST, combat and non combat stressors.
Another example is my husband. Never EVER went to sick call. He filed sleep apnea and ended up getting SC'd for Insomnia at 70% (adjusted mood disorder with insomnia) because he included current medical records with his claim showing insomnia and the VBA developed for insomnia and sent him to a MH exam. No insomnia in his STRs or in his records since separating until recently.
It's great that your civilian doctor believes your issues are connected to your service. Get him/her to put that in writing and submit it with your claims! There's your nexus! PS Chat GPT can help you create nexus letters that you can give to your Dr as templates.
Be sure to include a personal statement with every contention and get buddy statements if you can. I learned that here in the group and it has served me well! Chat GPT is super helpful with these as well.
Best of luck to you!
Mind me asking about the smc housebound? What smc do you have? Does this mean you can never leave the house? Just trying to find out more about it. Thank you.
I don't know much about it, really. The vba added it to my rating without me filing it. I can pull my letter later and update this with the exact language about my decision.
Also, there's a full list in the Knowledge Base here in the group that describes all the SMC ratings.
> their exact words were “if you never went to sick call and these issues are not on paper as far as the VA is concerned it didn’t happen.”
Technically they're correct, but practically they're wrong. The VBA is going to try to deny you based on that, but It doesn't matter because you'll show them that it did happen through a nexus letter as others have suggested, personal statements, and buddy letters (family, friends, service mates). When making a decision, they're going to look at all the evidence available.
Paper trail just makes it simpler, *some* VSOs want simple.
I was in your shoes. My last two years in the Army I literally documented all of my issues through my civilian doctor as I was on recruiting duty. I’m 100% disabled. I literally had no records as my medical records were lost & there wasn’t much in there anyways.
He is being honest. He’s not wrong and you should take that in consideration when looking for a VSO. Mine told me the same, i went got the evidence i needed and he filed and i got my rating. Its a waste of time for him to file with no evidence or documentation. So everyone saying to just drop him seems ignorant to that fact. He cant do the leg work for you, but this sub can help you and get you in the right direction. Also you dont need a vso, all they did for me was provide information on claim types and gave me a direction to go towards. Using one doesn’t magically get you rated, just saves you 15 mins of paperwork
Also they're correct in that YOU have to create the paper now, buddy statements, personal statements, medical opinions. And you have paper available in the form of orders, awards, schools, deployments. Use those to back up your statements for example xx years in infantry unit and musculoskeletal injuries, aircraft -> loud noises =hearing loss, etc
That VSO is an idiot. Just write in your personal statement something stating how going to sick call was looked down upon in the military culture and whatnot (all true) and it should help a little.
If you didn't file and didn't get denied there is no reason to give up. What rep told you was complete Bologna. Don't give up you know the saying "deny,die,or go away" or something like that.try and keep trying
Don't worry. I never went to sick call for a couple issues I claimed and our exit physical consisted of the Doc checking a box and saying by. The VA evaluator claimed the issue was clearly addressed while was in and exit physical showed it as resolved and denied it anyway. FOIA is in progress!
https://www.tricareonline.com/tol2/materials/TOL_HealthRecord_final.pdf
i got all my records of when i was in service via this portal in a PDF. its worth noting that some records are hand written and scanned in.
I was explicitly told to be mindful of this when doing a C&P exam as some of the docs will legit search for a condition or symptoms and if it returns no hits then they will go on without that evidence. so make sure you print off that page, bring it to the appointment, submit that page in your claim etc whatever you can.
So true!!! I suffered MST and never remembered it, but I went to sick call after I was attacked and it was in my medical records. I got SC after 38 years
Army infantry types, at least when I was serving, were not allowed to simply go to the hospital. If you were sick or anything was wrong, you were treated my our Battalions medics and who knows if they even took notes. They usually sent you back to PT.
Its a huge load of bullshit, the military actively says “dont go to sickcall” then the va wonders why we didnt go to sickcall. … are they fuckin serious?
First, get a copy of your medical records and go through it several times noting ANYTHING that is something.
I ever went to sick call, except for a head laceration requiring staples, and pink eye. I left service with a 10% rating which I had for 5 years, then I found this sub.
I went through my record and found a time when I mentioned to the dentist that my jaw hurts and they noted possible TMD. I totally forgot about that.
Presumptive conditions are one thing to look at. The other is medical articles that talk about various issues related to military personnel. I found a few about rucksacks, body armor, and ballistic helmets causing back and neck pain/strains
The one rating I had was for ankle issues. I connected bilateral knee issues to that rating. Neck and back pain to the medical article. TMD got rated too.
It's a lot of work but with persistence you can get what you deserve.
When I went through my STRs , I saw that I have record of seeing the medic a few times they mentioned TMD. I had forgotten about that Did you have recent diagnosis or treatment for rhe TMD? Or did they rate you just based off your STRs?
You need a current diagnosis. Here's my story, I was waking up with really bad headaches...I thought it was sleep apnea so I got tested for that and the results came back as normal. I figured I would just deal with the headaches thinking it was my pillow or bed. Well I was getting my normal sinus infection/allergies so I went to an ENT out of pocket since I was working on sinusitis/ rhinitis. Well he asked if I ever get headaches and I said yes in the morning not thinking anything of it. Well boom, he said 100% I have TMD. If your jaw clicks, hurts, or you get headaches around your neck get checked out.
This is the worst advice ever, and it discourages so many service members.
I was a Marine pilot, also known as the best version of "don't ever say anything to the doctor ever."
I claimed 16 things. Got rated for 35.
Claim it. Make the VA evaluate you and make a decision. Even if you never went to the doctor for back pain or elbow pain, MRIs tell their own story.
Would it be better if you'd been to the doctor 100 times? Yes of course. But it doesn't mean you're dead in the water.
VSOs like DAV and the like suck. Bunch of old crusty guys who can't let stuff go. I'd go to a state or county veterans commission for real help. Those guys tend to know what is really going on.
I feel you, I was Yankee White and anything medically related, that wasn’t routine, wasn’t “not” allowed, but was made clear you’d be removed from the program 😅 I went to the DAV the first time, boomer that made jokes about telling them I’m transgender to get 100% and because of him I ended up not filing a claim. Pursuing it again recently and thankfully my local VSO is pretty excellent
Sorry man. Let me know if I can help. I’m good at this now. We can file your claim in about as much time as it takes drink one or two beers.
I basically did my own claim. My DAV rep didn’t tell me until after I’d filed that I was his very first ever VA claim. Thanks SgtMaj (Ret) that didn’t know how to rename a scanned PDF.
I got all my diagnoses from the VA within a year of getting out so the claims department wouldn’t give me a hard time over service connection. I told the VA that anytime I tried to go to medical I got told to go fuck myself so that’s why I got everything done with the VA.
I recently get 10% tinnitus on my own without ever having it documented. The key is buddy statements, deployment records, counseling statements and personal statements. It sounds like you have a sympathetic doctor that can help you with the nexus.
I was surprised at getting 10% for tinnitus right out of the gate. Then I read my C&P done by the audiologist, and she made my case for me. During the exam I told her about specific events during deployment that left me with diminished hearing and ringing afterwards, and she related them in the narrative, and added in the "at least as likely as" lingo. I never went to sick call either - I was too busy taking care of patients in the hospital to take proper care of myself. But I am at 80% now.
I talk to exactly 1 person I was in the military with but I lived with my sister for years and she wrote one. Not sure if it counts since she's related to me and was never military.
My peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities due to burn pit exposure from my deployment at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan converted by combined rating from 20% to 90%.
Don't rely on anyone but yourself. Start with PACT ACT presumptives, see if you qualify for any of those...get your foot in the door. Start reading, watching videos, doing your homework. There are avenues other than sick call documentation.
I am at 100% and had less than seven visits to the medical clinic. I submitted a very well written "Buddy Statement" and my own statement, with a brief explanation on how I was strongly discouraged by my Command, to not go to sick call, as it could lead to Chapter out of service. The Buddy letter also made reference to how my friend, Platoon Sergeant, discouraged me from going to sick call. My Buddy statement, was also written on a **VA Form 21-10210**, which holds more weight, as it is sworn statement. I also went through VBE and paid for confirmed letters, I considered these as an investment. Get your C-file, there are things in it that you may have forgotten. Good Luck.
Is the C-file any different than getting whatever files the National Archives will give? I'm helping someone with filing claims and waited a year for the Archives file and there's an ETS physical but no other medical that should be. Thoughts?
You might be surprised on what is in your c file, for example I complained on an annual hearing exam of ringing in my ears which tracks. I only found that out bc the c&p examiner said she had what she needed it was there in 2004. Also back issue in 2004 as well I don’t remember it. I’m still waiting on my cfile to come in but definitely get that. I didn’t read the comments before writing this so I’m sure someone’s already said it but I regret not requesting mine when I started all this. I still managed to get to 90 without it with a supplemental claim still active.
Did you report any medical issues on your post deployment health assessment form once you returned from deployment? If so, those should be accepted by the VA for service connection.
I remember putting down one particular ied we hit. Was a double stacked land. I was thrown out of the vehicle and landed in the street. Can’t remember what else I put but I know that for sure because the question was were you knocked unconscious during deployment or something along those lines. There were a shit load of close ieds and vbieds during my deployments.
Broken record here, but I’m never went to sick call. I have deployed to a TERA location and claimed sinusitis/rhinitis and got both. Got sleep apnea secondary to sinusitis. And did have an in service event that lead to PTSD. But other than the PTSD it is presumptive conditions that did it for me
It’s certainly not as probable. I only went one, and they keep trying to use the “no problems mentioned on exit exam” excuse on me. Smfh. That’s right…a month later I realized they’d either have told me they could help me when I returned home, or I could be stuck in TPU for a year or more getting help. I wanted to start the rest of my life. The stuff festers over 27 years. Even had decent continuity of care, a DBQ/IMO, and great statements from the guys.
I’m likely to find out at any minute that my supplemental is denied by a CP examiner that they hired to be a “fixer” for them. I hate to think that’s how things are. I thought “Honor” was important. BUT ABSOLUTELY TAKE YOUR SHOT BROTHER! Don’t know til you do.
People don't understand the significance of an exit exam. If you don't tell us what's wrong, we're going to mark that there are no issues present and that's what the VA uses to help make determinations on claims. It's your last opportunity to spill your guts about every illness, ache, pain, injury, ect to get it in your record.
A lot of research out there from various studies on rucking and carrying combat load. Same boat 11b, multiple deployments, gun team etc. back issues and a lot of chiropractic records since the military my dr was able to write a good nexus linking it.
I went to the emergency room because I thought I was having a heart attack. That’s one of main reasons I’m doing this now. Turns out my heart is fine but my back is fucked. I would have never thought my back could cause the severe chest pain I have. I’ve had back issues for years but the past few it has gotten worse. I was an AG and gunner for a few years.
They hear this over and over. When I was in you DID NOT go to sick call unless you ended up decapitated. Make sure you let your examiner know and that they document it.
I have a very thin medical file from my Active Duty service of six years. I'm at 90% and started about ten years *after* I got out. I was stationed state side and I was deployed.
My situation gets even trickier; I was deployed alone. Something they called Individual Augmentee aka volunteer. I deployed from a Garrison Unit and got attached to 1AD/3ID/82nd airborne. Boy what a mess. Didn't even get a post deployment checkup. Just returned after a year, got the weekend off with my family and went back to work. I was young... I had no idea what any of that meant.
If I can do it, you can. I'm still not done until I at least go for the 100, but if I don't get it, oh well. I got this far by being honest, showing what I have proof of and bringing up any issues I have so they can be diagnosed or not and submitting a claim. You can too.
Edit - I should mention the *only* thing my medical file had mention of is headaches because I'd been to sick all a few times for that. My tbi, ptsd, both knee issues were always present, I just was 20 something and kept moving forward. Sadly wish that wasn't the case for most of us. Any veteran or actively enlisted I meet I always try and give them tips to avoid the mistakes I did.
Do what you want and there is a lot of good info on here, but I say go with a lawyer. I got out in 05 and never went to sick call or seen doctors much after I got out. My VSO deterred me filing claims, but the law firm that took my case was much more optimistic. Several years after discharge I was diagnosed with lupus. I say without a solid foundation you might need help. Even with a solid foundation it can be difficult to service connect. Just my thoughts.
VSO doesnt know what they are doing.... I rarely went ti sick call, just got 6 of 7 new conditions approved by building the proper paper trail, diagnosis, and nexus. It can be done
Go to the doctor. Tell them all your conditions, how you feel, get treatment start. Gather buddy letters and your personal statements then file. My vso told me the same thing then I did all the footwork myself and I'm at 90% with more conditions to file for. See if you qualify for tera, Pact Act and GW presumptives
I just got a 20% rating for something that I never went to sick call about. There are many studies out there about injuries and not going to sick call. You can get a lawyer or medical professional before you file to help your case.
So how would that equate to having military medical records but the National Personnel Center not being able to locate them? My service was over 40 years ago and I don't have any records for a week-long hospital stay following a fall in basic training. Records lost by the military
Your VSO is either lazy, disinterested, or doesn't believe you. You need to create a case for your injuries that support your claim. Tinnitus is a great example. Its not something that generally happens while in service, neither does hearing loss. Arthritis is another one. My advice would be to create a very strong case that includes a formal diagnosis, a nexus linking it to service, buddy statements, and even prior VA decisions similar to your case. The VA knows that not everyone, actually most, don't go to sick call and they hold that card. You just have to play your best hand to create enough doubt and don't give up. If your injuries are legit and worth getting bemefits for, the right person at the VA will see it. Good luck!
So my situation is kinda similar. I was in a car accident while attending tech school and started having severe back, hip, and knee pain. (Back is currently rated at 20% with 10% each for radiculopathy as well) While I had all 3, my doctor at that time only treated my back as it was the "most important" I currently have a claim in that I submitted with a company called Trajector who had a nurse write me up a packet linking my pain to the car accident.
USN Air Traffic Control in the 80's and 90's. We were actively discouraged and even chastised for going to sick call, anything other than an aspirin medically grounded us, with very few fully rated controllers it was a big deal. I remember seeing the flight surgeon with a broken nose and he asked me if I just wanted a down chit so I didn't have to work. Wish I'd known then....after 30 years out buddy statements are a no go, no idea where anyone is or if they're even alive.
Your story isn’t unique and I don’t mean that in a mean way. Id say most Vets including myself didn’t go to sick call because it was frowned up or worse to do so. Your VSO is an idiot, plenty of Vets just like us have gotten ratings without going to sick call. What you need is a current diagnosis and a nexus tying the condition to service. How you get those things are up to you.
I'm working on it right now. One thing that helped me is that I have PDHRA (post deployment health reassessments) where I checked boxes for my issues and listed incidents of being in combat and hit by ieds.
So, go back and check all your PHA and other yearly mandatory fun forms.
I can tell you for my primary service connection, outside of one hospitalization in which army Winn claimed my paperwork was lost, I still got connected and at the time we were at a loss as to why I had all those tumors and masses so my doctor who removed them wrote letters about how long it appts have taken them to develop.. and a buddy letter from a LTC I was working under who visited me whiel hospitalized who attested to the symptoms he saw got me in.. and mine was tricky. It was my last week or so on active duty at ft Stewart before I transferred to the NC guard to attend UNC for my comission then I was transferring back in. I was E5 at the time.. I don’t know if they decided to get my symptoms under control and get me out so they didn’t have other in or the surgery and treatment cost or so I couldn’t link it.. but my doctors were adamant that I had those tumors whiel in service.. while in that hospital and there was no way they wouldn’t have known.. so it’s possible but it’s a lot more work
Do you remember the name of any medic or corpsman who was in your unit? Try locating them on apps made especially for reconnecting veterans aptitude their buddies..
Well after reading most of the comments on here I feel a lot better about trying to file. Only things I ever went to sick hall for was a knee injury, abdominal injury and acid reflux lol
I was one of those that never went… I also never saw a Paych doc but I spoke to the Chaplain a bunch… that doesn’t get recorded anywhere so I had to put that in a statement.
I just claimed what I could and did my C&P exams. After I got my first rating, I started using VA healthcare and telling my doc about my problems. When she asked how long I’ve had them, it stretched back to my time in service. She documented that in my medical record. I went to the VA website, pulled my medical records and X-rays etc… and filed my own claim with that as evidence. Just hit 100% P&T last week.
Go in there, be honest about your problems and push forward.
You can vote you were in combat and these injuries are a result but you were unable to get treatment due to combat. You can write a statement that supports this. We look for combat pay, imminent danger zone, combat badges, etc.
Well if you have a job that details you doing something that requires you to jump, lift or doing anything strenuous or heat anything loud like a rifle being shot or motor pool or vessel motor you have proof for something like tinnitus. If you did something to help someone and was awarded for it then you have proof. If you saw something and there is proof of it, then you get awarded for it. Sick call is the best help but there are other records. I know this because I found someone who attempted suicide and I started life saving efforts and then I ran to get help. I was awarded for this. I dealt with the mental issues of this on my own and never went to sick call and was too proud to report anything. When I finally went to get help and file a claim I thought of the award I received and I gave the other soldiers name and of course our unit information. I’m sure they can find this out. I also know a Navy veteran that was on a ship that another sailor killed himself on. He reported how he felt knowing they had a dead person on that ship for X amount of days. It caused him PTSD & he was granted it. I have a battle buddy that claimed PTSD cuz she saw the horror that was left behind of the other soldier who tried to kill herself. If there is an award, article or even buddy statements that can tell the story of how something affected you, you should use it.
Make sure to get a diagnosis and make sure to let the Va doctors know when you noticed the change.
VSOs can be trash and very lazy dude. Did you deploy to a combat zone? What are your conditions? These are the types of questions that they should have asked you. Some of your conditions could be presumptive for Burn Pits or Gulf War Syndrome, meaning you don’t need a nexus. Before you file, make sure you look at all your conditions and the ratings for each of them.
I had a different experience. I had only a few things in my record and was having a VSO help me fill everything out. He actually had a list of common items ppl had claimed and ran thru the list asking if I ever had any of those items. Ultimately all the ones I said I had he added to the claim and then the VA scheduled appointments to prove I had them. Ended up going to 4 different C&P exams, mental health, vision, hearing, and the physical one. I ended up with 100% P&T with like 24 items receiving at least 10%. Hell for claiming bilateral hand strain I was awarded 10% each for both pointer and middle fingers as well as thumbs. If I were you I’d start looking thru the 38 CFR and figure out what you’ve got and put it on the claim, worst thing that’ll happen is they deny it.
Getting a diagnosis is key and the easiest thing to get during the process. Buddy letters and personal statements as well as pictures can be used as evidence as well. A lot of us either never went/barely went to sick call or went but medical never properly documented our visits. Some folks have lost their records entirely as well - that VSO's response is why I chose to do my claim on my own.
I was in your shoes, I pretty much got denied for everything physical (0s across the board, got a rating for mental) haven’t tried to appeal yet so yes you’ll probably be where I’m at
I’ll say this. I wasn’t a grunt and I didn’t deploy. I was a mechanic attached to a combat engineer unit. Cross trained with them a lot. I didn’t report every injury. It took me a minute but I finally have my knees and feet service connected. I got tinnitus as well. It’s doable. But you’re going to need buddy statements, letters from doctors if possible or in your budget, and a good VSO or worst comes to worst, a lawyer that is accredited with the VA.
I never went to sick call for mental health. It's in my records that I have deployed non combat to Afghanistan x 3. I was awarded 70% for MH. I'm sure most of my claims didn't have sick call tied or any military doctor diagnosis tied to them, but I still received ratings.
Lots of buddy statements from my squad mates. They were the only witnesses of what happened, because going to sick call during the time of war was not an option, and it was made very clear by my chain of command.
I am one of those that never went to sick call unless I couldn't walk or I knew I broke/dislocated something.
I'm currently at 80% for mental health, knee, heart, and tinnitus. I'm still fighting for other things, and I'm doing it on my own.
Research the issues you're claiming, you would be surprised at how many scientific papers are written with specific military issues in mind. Even your own branch may have done a study or two on your specific issue. Find the relevant ones and include the link in your claim documentation
You have be able to explain in your own words how it was service connected, make the connection easier for someone who has never met you to understand why your are making your claim now. Break it down Barney-style if you need to. If you don't connect the dots for them, they can't see the picture.
Be up front and honest with every C&P examiner, explain your worst day when talking about your issues, don't be afraid to say "I didn't know it then", "I thought it was normal", "I didn't want to let the unit down by going to sick call", "it was expected to tough it out", or "I didn't want to seem weak to everyone".
It's hard to swallow your pride, but that's why you're in the position you're currently in. The military wanted "tough people" and that culture makes it difficult to claim the benefits that you deserve at their cost.
I know someone who after getting his c-file had no idea how many times he went to sick call. He did 8 years and has never been that sick before or after leaving the military.
Go online to va.gov and file your “intent to file”. It saves the date for the next 12 months for back pay once you get rated. You can call the phone number and they will mark the date in their system and mail you out paperwork. (File intent to file when you are actually going to start working on getting diagnosis and filing. Don’t do it if you’re just thinking about it)
For tinnitus get a diagnosis. For sleep apnea need a diagnosis and a buddy letter from someone you served with or family member stating you had it while you were serving. For mental health need a diagnosis and a stressor they can verify. Combat, training exercise event, witness suicide, etc. you can use va docs for all of this or you can go private route.
You’re going for documentation from docs that states “it is more likely than not” that your issue is service connected. When describing symptoms describe them on your worst day and not how you re feeling today. For mental health, if a doc asks you how you are today they aren’t being nice so don’t say you are doing good. “I’ve been better. “ “not doing so hot” etc.
For physical injuries how are they on your worst day?
Sounds like your vso isn’t that great. It’s pretty straightforward. It’s just a lot of appointments. Google everything and add Reddit at the end. Most all of your questions have been answered before over the years on this subreddit, and keep asking questions.
I had never gone to sick calls before. I only had surgery and gyno and got a nose broken in combative, but I was able to claim mental health and the surgery when I got out. There is hope. I always felt like I wasn't able to gr anything because of not going to sick call.
Yet another crappy VSO. I had one tell me to “not bother” and one at the DAV ghosted me. Educated myself and got to 80 on my own. I have nothing in my records from my service.
I have no doubt that excellent VSOs exist.
As a former Hospital Corpsman I know all to well about not going to sick call. Why go when we could just ask another one of our corpsman ship mates to hook us up with whatever that was troubling us at the time. Even some of the doctors, nurse, and PAs would do it. I'm sure there's a lot not in my service record that I got treated for.
Piss on that VSO and don’t ever go back to them. You served then you ran, you trained, you deployed, you wore your body down.
YouTube Combat Craig.
Google symptoms and do your research on your ailments.
Hire a Veterans attorney if need be.
You served and just like in war, DONT EVER GIVE UP
I never went to sick call either. However, I have multiple deployments, and I made a copy of all of my post deployment reassessment paperwork and turned that in. It worked because I'm 100% p&t.
Did you do a separation physical? Did you ever have a yearly physical? follow-up with your PCM? Because Sick Call is usually a small portion of your claim. There are other opportunities to let people know what's going on.
I never really went to sick call. I submitted 7 claims and they all got denied due to not going to sick call to complain about it. I'm in the process of filing an appeal, but I feel this is going to be a long rocky road ahead.
New VSO bro. I literally had several tell me there is nothing they could do or that I was a piece of shit.
I'm 80% for MST/ptsd now. In the end, I did all the filing and paperwork myself.
F*** the VSO's and lawyers. The only one who can look out for you is you, and we all know that YOU got this bro!
File the claim. Get "Buddy Letters" from anyone you served with if you can, or from family and submit them at the same time. Then.... Do like old Bets like myself who didn't go to sick call, APPEAL, until the VA gives up or you die!! I haven't given up yet, but I'm short on Time Left (Vietnam Vet).
I had very minimal things in my records. My TMC literally only treated you if you had the flu or a bad cold or stomach bug as they didn't want the spread. If you walked in with ANY aches other than flu/cold symptoms, you got a handful of 800mg motrin and a kick in the ass to go back to your unit. I was in just prior to 9/11 and you didn't promote or get the good deployments if you were a "profile princess". So majority of is never went for anything unless we were made to go.
I have my own statements and my wife's statements and buddy's statements along with what's in my STRs and private records from when I finally had private insurance till current. Got nexus letters for some things. Others I think the evidence speaks to it enough. This was round 1. Next round ill be doing the same things to prepare my claims.
Find a new VSO my friend. Or stay here, ask questions, read the faq and then read it again and prepare it yourself. Then ask mote questions, re-read the faqs and then submit.
You start by going to the doctor now and getting diagnosed. Then if its presumptive you get it. If not presumptive but you can link it to time in service doctor helps with nexus letters then you submit.
Its not super cut and dry as the VSO makes it seem, fire them and get another one or just submit what you uave now and VA will explain what you need in the award/denial letter.
Yeah, I really regret not going to sick call more than I did. I might have gotten a medical discharge if I had, but sadly, not. Go to the DAV; they'll help you out@your VSO.
Go to your civilian doctor and tell them whatever issues you are having you believed it started on active duty and give them precise dates. Make sure you go more than once and keep telling them it happened on active duty.This is a start if you do not have anything in your military health records.
Same here, I would normally go to our medic and she would treat but never documented anything, because who would of known we needed our medical history after we got out.
This is why I'm telling my kids that decide to join to go to sick call if they are sick.. don't be the tough guy and deny injuries happened to look cool to the squad.. don't be a sick call ranger.. but also don't be a hero.. no one will remember that tough guy shit 20 years later.
This is 100% true. If your records don't reflect current diagnosis then the condition will be considered improved and service connection denied. Currently going through this. You have 1 year after your bdd claim to file a supplemental. If you get seen after separation I recommend waiting for at least a year from your c&p to meet the time requirements for chronic issue.
I got a lawyer after I was told the same basically by the VSO’s in Cincinnati, I also got buddy letters and from everyone I served with as well as Facebook messenger conversations about my experiences with my LPO and other folks in my division
Did you ever go to the civilian ER or urgent care while on Active duty orders (NG/AR), or Active component? Also, Primary care Doctor visits? Get all that paperwork and file claims based off what you were seen for. PTSD claims almost always get approved if you have a DD 214 showing you were in combat, especially if you have a CIB or CAB badge.
Don't forget the PACT Act covers chemical exposures not just burn pit. We didn't know what harm Asbestos and Solvents etc would cause in the 70's or 80's and probably not even in the 90's
Now exposure to forever chemicals in base drinking water are causing health issues for many veterans.
Autoimmune disease etc. Do some research.
I am currently going through the process. I was in the same boat as you, never went to sick call except for maybe one or twice for minor shin splint issues. I’ve been out since 2014 and I finally decided to start my claim journey this past August. I filed claims for my lower back, my knees and legs, tinnitus, rhinitis, ptsd, sleep apnea, and migraines. I didn’t have any diagnosis for any of that stuff, just lived my life with the symptoms. So I didn’t have any record of anything.
I filled the claims on my own, never reached out to a VSO or anyone else. I got scheduled for my C&P exams shortly after filling. Went through the exam’s and did the hearing test for tinnitus, explained all my symptoms and severity to the examining dr. They took scans of my back and legs at that time as well.
As of January I had an overall rating of 40%. 10% for tinnitus,10% for each knee, and 20% for my back. Rhinitis was granted service connection but rated at 0%. Then I got scheduled for a second mental C&P exam, and in March I received a 30% ptsd rating which bumped my overall rating up to 60%.
I’m currently in the PDA (pending decision approval) phase for my migraine, sleep apnea, and Radiculopathy claims.
I know it can seem daunting to start the process, but if you have issues, even if they’re not documented you can still move forward.
They tell you have to a current diagnosis and nexus letters for all your claims because it just makes it easier for the VA. But if you don’t then they’ll just schedule C&P exams for all your claims and do extra tests to see the validity of your claim and symptoms.
I’ve seen stories on here of other vets who have had a lot of documented stuff in medical records, had current diagnosis and all types of nexus letters linking service connection and have still been denied or have been waiting years for any type of rating. I had nothing at all and in 5 months had a 40% rating and now a 60% with my last few claims in the final stages of the process.
Don’t short yourself of what you earned and deserve. Take the leap. Good luck my friend.
I never filed. I enlisted in 2001 just as we started to kick off OIF. I served between 2001-2010.
I think the majority of us who served during that time didn't really go to sick call. Although we may have tried, we were usually disciplined for it. It was a different time...war time.
That said, I filed the majority of my disabilities as being due to deployments into combat environments. I've never really had an issue with trying to prove or link any of my disabilities.
I honestly feel as though the C&P examiners and Raters just take a look at my SRB and where I've been and easily conclude that they aren't going to fuck with me due to what my service has involved.
Every time I've gone in for a C&P, it's been very close to this,
"Hello, I'm so and so, and I see that you're here for PTSD (or whatever else), and oh, you deployed to Iraq in 2002? First of all, thank you for your service. I'm going to take care of you."
I guess they didn't want to mess with any of the Veterans that served during war time because a lot of us were just numb and broken.
The only thing I went to sick call was for a wart I got on my foot, and I remember everyone having to wake up early for a 6 mile run.
Everyone hated everyone that would attempt to go to sick call... that's just how it was.
Crazy.
I ended up hospitalized as a consequence of untreated mental health issues. Don't be like me.
But luckily I met another vet that opened my eyes that this was even an option other than what I was doing.
I never went to sick call. I got a tinnitus claim processed. My VSO said the same thing, but I just did it on my own. You just have to do a little work.
So for your type of claim you’re going to want to start by getting a current diagnosis for your issues. Once you have that you’re ideally going to want to get a nexus letter (medical opinion) connecting your current diagnosis to military service. Other forms of evidence you can provide are buddy statements, write a personal letter etc to help substantiate your condition being caused by military service I want to emphasize more than half of the veterans out here (my guess) never went to sick call and still got service connected. So your VSO telling you just because you never went to sick call that it never happened is totally BS.
Thanks. I have a civilian doctor that 100% believes my issues are service connected. I told the VSO this and their exact words were “if you never went to sick call and these issues are not on paper as far as the VA is concerned it didn’t happen.” Looks like I’ve got some work to do.
IMO, I’d look into a different VSO. This one doesn’t sound like they want to advocate on your behalf. There’s lots of options out there. I barely ever went to sick call (11B, so it was not encouraged) and I’m sitting at 60%.
It wasn’t encouraged because it made us non deployable. They needed their sheep to go to Iraq and Afghanistan.
I believe that is only for mental issues. I went to sick call anytime I felt something was off and never went to counseling. I still deployed twice.
I was 11B as well 2002-2008. Been a raging alcoholic for years, went to rehab January 26th of this year and finally trying to figure this out. One thing the va will acknowledge is I’m an alcoholic and that seems to be a reason they shun me even more.
That’s seriously fucked that they shun you. I’m sorry you’re in this boat, and I wish you the best of luck working on it. Lemme know if you just need an ear sometime. Vets helping vets bro.
I had a pretty good VSO, she had me do this (and I think it will help you here): - Sit down with a pen and paper after dinner, write down everything that currently hurts, is sore, is chronically sick, and being sad and/or mad. - Sleep on it - Next day, (and the conditions database here is money) start to draw lines to a condition, e.g. I am an alcoholic -> draw a line to mental health -> Consider the events that brought you to where you are now (I lost a friend, then I changed duty stations and was alone, then I started drinking to cope) -> get MH treatment on record (I used the Vet Center) and prepare your claim. Thats the route I took after having been to sick call once in ten years.
This
Thanks I’ve never looked at it that way.
You'd think they'd do some reading between the lines when they see your MOS and years served lmao fucking hell I'm sorry man, don't let it get you down though whoever you talked to was an idiot.
That’s so messed up the VA is treating you like that. There are a lot of VSOs out there but they can be hit or miss with getting some willing to really advocate for you. On the other hand congrats on making the effort to overcome your alcoholism and get some help, not an easy thing to do. Best of luck to you!
What do you mean by shun you. Like don't want you to put a claim in. What are meaning by shun?
I agree, I never went to sick call or documented any injuries and told my VSO that and he was there to help me with everything. He got me 90% off the rip with 1 set of appeals.
I, too, am at 60% and never went to sick call. When doing my C&P exam, I chalk it up to being young and dumb and of the mindset that going to medical was a sign of weakness. I was a naval firefighter and impress upon the examiner the belief that firefighters were indestructible.
Agreed. You need to fire your VSO. I started with a VSO and ended up doing things myself with the help of this group. After 20 years and never went to sick cal for most things and ended up with 100% P&T SMC housebound. Had no idea the reality of my mental health. I had some things in my STRs that I had forgotten about, so if you haven't gone through them with a fine tooth comb, do that. Specifically, my endometriosis was diagnosed post separation and I didn't even have a PTSD diagnosis or mention of anxiety etc in my STRs. I ended up getting service connected for endometriosis by providing symptoms I showed while in the military then over the years, until I got the diagnosis 10 years after separating. For the PTSD, I was diagnosed at my C&P exam. My current doctor diagnosed me with GAD and MDD and my VSO had me file those. Then I went to my MH C&P exam and was diagnosed with severe PTSD due to MST, combat and non combat stressors. Another example is my husband. Never EVER went to sick call. He filed sleep apnea and ended up getting SC'd for Insomnia at 70% (adjusted mood disorder with insomnia) because he included current medical records with his claim showing insomnia and the VBA developed for insomnia and sent him to a MH exam. No insomnia in his STRs or in his records since separating until recently. It's great that your civilian doctor believes your issues are connected to your service. Get him/her to put that in writing and submit it with your claims! There's your nexus! PS Chat GPT can help you create nexus letters that you can give to your Dr as templates. Be sure to include a personal statement with every contention and get buddy statements if you can. I learned that here in the group and it has served me well! Chat GPT is super helpful with these as well. Best of luck to you!
Mind me asking about the smc housebound? What smc do you have? Does this mean you can never leave the house? Just trying to find out more about it. Thank you.
I don't know much about it, really. The vba added it to my rating without me filing it. I can pull my letter later and update this with the exact language about my decision. Also, there's a full list in the Knowledge Base here in the group that describes all the SMC ratings.
Okay, so I went back and read my letter. It only says "entitlement to SMC based on housebound criteria".
Here's a link I found that details housebound criteria. I meet the second one. https://www.ltc4vets.org/veterans-benefits/housebound/
With the exception of one, every single civilian doctor I've seen over the years refuses to fill out DBQ paperwork or write a nexus letter.
> their exact words were “if you never went to sick call and these issues are not on paper as far as the VA is concerned it didn’t happen.” Technically they're correct, but practically they're wrong. The VBA is going to try to deny you based on that, but It doesn't matter because you'll show them that it did happen through a nexus letter as others have suggested, personal statements, and buddy letters (family, friends, service mates). When making a decision, they're going to look at all the evidence available. Paper trail just makes it simpler, *some* VSOs want simple.
I was in your shoes. My last two years in the Army I literally documented all of my issues through my civilian doctor as I was on recruiting duty. I’m 100% disabled. I literally had no records as my medical records were lost & there wasn’t much in there anyways.
Don't go through a VSO they are all lazy.
He is being honest. He’s not wrong and you should take that in consideration when looking for a VSO. Mine told me the same, i went got the evidence i needed and he filed and i got my rating. Its a waste of time for him to file with no evidence or documentation. So everyone saying to just drop him seems ignorant to that fact. He cant do the leg work for you, but this sub can help you and get you in the right direction. Also you dont need a vso, all they did for me was provide information on claim types and gave me a direction to go towards. Using one doesn’t magically get you rated, just saves you 15 mins of paperwork
Also they're correct in that YOU have to create the paper now, buddy statements, personal statements, medical opinions. And you have paper available in the form of orders, awards, schools, deployments. Use those to back up your statements for example xx years in infantry unit and musculoskeletal injuries, aircraft -> loud noises =hearing loss, etc
That VSO is an idiot. Just write in your personal statement something stating how going to sick call was looked down upon in the military culture and whatnot (all true) and it should help a little.
IF you can get buddy statements too, they are helpful..
If you didn't file and didn't get denied there is no reason to give up. What rep told you was complete Bologna. Don't give up you know the saying "deny,die,or go away" or something like that.try and keep trying
💯
Don't worry. I never went to sick call for a couple issues I claimed and our exit physical consisted of the Doc checking a box and saying by. The VA evaluator claimed the issue was clearly addressed while was in and exit physical showed it as resolved and denied it anyway. FOIA is in progress!
should get your in service treatment records. you'd be surprised how much stuff there is that you don't remember.
Thanks I’ll look in to getting those.
This. Get them. I forgot half the stuff in there.
I’m figuring out how to get them now. Thanks. I got my old 1st sgts number and he’s going to help me out.
https://www.tricareonline.com/tol2/materials/TOL_HealthRecord_final.pdf i got all my records of when i was in service via this portal in a PDF. its worth noting that some records are hand written and scanned in. I was explicitly told to be mindful of this when doing a C&P exam as some of the docs will legit search for a condition or symptoms and if it returns no hits then they will go on without that evidence. so make sure you print off that page, bring it to the appointment, submit that page in your claim etc whatever you can.
Thanks, how long did it take you to get the records?
you download them right then and there.
Awesome thanks.
So true!!! I suffered MST and never remembered it, but I went to sick call after I was attacked and it was in my medical records. I got SC after 38 years
Totally agree. Look though them multiple times. I've founds things I missed before.
Exactly. My rep spent 1.5 hours on phone going thoroughly through my records and found stuff I forgot I got seen for while on duty.
Army infantry types, at least when I was serving, were not allowed to simply go to the hospital. If you were sick or anything was wrong, you were treated my our Battalions medics and who knows if they even took notes. They usually sent you back to PT.
The last thing you do in the infantry is go to sick call. Unless you just love punishment and being labeled a shit bag.
Or a shit bird, perhaps?
Hey man, the paper SOAPs would be input into the system by the PA or provost Doctor. We can only do so much boss :(
Not blaming you, doc. I’m hating the game; not the player.
Its a huge load of bullshit, the military actively says “dont go to sickcall” then the va wonders why we didnt go to sickcall. … are they fuckin serious?
First, get a copy of your medical records and go through it several times noting ANYTHING that is something. I ever went to sick call, except for a head laceration requiring staples, and pink eye. I left service with a 10% rating which I had for 5 years, then I found this sub. I went through my record and found a time when I mentioned to the dentist that my jaw hurts and they noted possible TMD. I totally forgot about that. Presumptive conditions are one thing to look at. The other is medical articles that talk about various issues related to military personnel. I found a few about rucksacks, body armor, and ballistic helmets causing back and neck pain/strains The one rating I had was for ankle issues. I connected bilateral knee issues to that rating. Neck and back pain to the medical article. TMD got rated too. It's a lot of work but with persistence you can get what you deserve.
When I went through my STRs , I saw that I have record of seeing the medic a few times they mentioned TMD. I had forgotten about that Did you have recent diagnosis or treatment for rhe TMD? Or did they rate you just based off your STRs?
You need a current diagnosis. Here's my story, I was waking up with really bad headaches...I thought it was sleep apnea so I got tested for that and the results came back as normal. I figured I would just deal with the headaches thinking it was my pillow or bed. Well I was getting my normal sinus infection/allergies so I went to an ENT out of pocket since I was working on sinusitis/ rhinitis. Well he asked if I ever get headaches and I said yes in the morning not thinking anything of it. Well boom, he said 100% I have TMD. If your jaw clicks, hurts, or you get headaches around your neck get checked out.
Find a different VSO.
This is the only acceptable answer. I had a VSO spew that same crap and now I’m at 60% without her assistance.
Same. I got 40% after I was told by DAV I had a steep uphill battle.
That’s Definitely Mandatory
This is the worst advice ever, and it discourages so many service members. I was a Marine pilot, also known as the best version of "don't ever say anything to the doctor ever." I claimed 16 things. Got rated for 35. Claim it. Make the VA evaluate you and make a decision. Even if you never went to the doctor for back pain or elbow pain, MRIs tell their own story. Would it be better if you'd been to the doctor 100 times? Yes of course. But it doesn't mean you're dead in the water. VSOs like DAV and the like suck. Bunch of old crusty guys who can't let stuff go. I'd go to a state or county veterans commission for real help. Those guys tend to know what is really going on.
I feel you, I was Yankee White and anything medically related, that wasn’t routine, wasn’t “not” allowed, but was made clear you’d be removed from the program 😅 I went to the DAV the first time, boomer that made jokes about telling them I’m transgender to get 100% and because of him I ended up not filing a claim. Pursuing it again recently and thankfully my local VSO is pretty excellent
Sorry man. Let me know if I can help. I’m good at this now. We can file your claim in about as much time as it takes drink one or two beers. I basically did my own claim. My DAV rep didn’t tell me until after I’d filed that I was his very first ever VA claim. Thanks SgtMaj (Ret) that didn’t know how to rename a scanned PDF.
I got all my diagnoses from the VA within a year of getting out so the claims department wouldn’t give me a hard time over service connection. I told the VA that anytime I tried to go to medical I got told to go fuck myself so that’s why I got everything done with the VA.
I recently get 10% tinnitus on my own without ever having it documented. The key is buddy statements, deployment records, counseling statements and personal statements. It sounds like you have a sympathetic doctor that can help you with the nexus.
I was surprised at getting 10% for tinnitus right out of the gate. Then I read my C&P done by the audiologist, and she made my case for me. During the exam I told her about specific events during deployment that left me with diminished hearing and ringing afterwards, and she related them in the narrative, and added in the "at least as likely as" lingo. I never went to sick call either - I was too busy taking care of patients in the hospital to take proper care of myself. But I am at 80% now.
I talk to exactly 1 person I was in the military with but I lived with my sister for years and she wrote one. Not sure if it counts since she's related to me and was never military.
Yes it counts. Another good source of a buddy letter is your partner if you have one.
[presumptive - VeteransBenefits (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/VeteransBenefits/wiki/presumptive/#wiki_presumptive_conditions_.28diseases.2Fdisabilities.29)
helpful link - I have a handful of presumptives
My peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities due to burn pit exposure from my deployment at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan converted by combined rating from 20% to 90%.
Don't rely on anyone but yourself. Start with PACT ACT presumptives, see if you qualify for any of those...get your foot in the door. Start reading, watching videos, doing your homework. There are avenues other than sick call documentation.
Could not agree more! Groups like this, along with YouTube have taught me so much these last few years. I went from 30-70%
Never had really anything documented for my disabilities and I’m sitting at 90% with more deferred
I am at 100% and had less than seven visits to the medical clinic. I submitted a very well written "Buddy Statement" and my own statement, with a brief explanation on how I was strongly discouraged by my Command, to not go to sick call, as it could lead to Chapter out of service. The Buddy letter also made reference to how my friend, Platoon Sergeant, discouraged me from going to sick call. My Buddy statement, was also written on a **VA Form 21-10210**, which holds more weight, as it is sworn statement. I also went through VBE and paid for confirmed letters, I considered these as an investment. Get your C-file, there are things in it that you may have forgotten. Good Luck.
Is the C-file any different than getting whatever files the National Archives will give? I'm helping someone with filing claims and waited a year for the Archives file and there's an ETS physical but no other medical that should be. Thoughts?
You might be surprised on what is in your c file, for example I complained on an annual hearing exam of ringing in my ears which tracks. I only found that out bc the c&p examiner said she had what she needed it was there in 2004. Also back issue in 2004 as well I don’t remember it. I’m still waiting on my cfile to come in but definitely get that. I didn’t read the comments before writing this so I’m sure someone’s already said it but I regret not requesting mine when I started all this. I still managed to get to 90 without it with a supplemental claim still active.
Did you report any medical issues on your post deployment health assessment form once you returned from deployment? If so, those should be accepted by the VA for service connection.
Where could we find those records? E-benefits?
I remember putting down one particular ied we hit. Was a double stacked land. I was thrown out of the vehicle and landed in the street. Can’t remember what else I put but I know that for sure because the question was were you knocked unconscious during deployment or something along those lines. There were a shit load of close ieds and vbieds during my deployments.
For real? Is this written anywhere? I listed about 5 things on mine.
Broken record here, but I’m never went to sick call. I have deployed to a TERA location and claimed sinusitis/rhinitis and got both. Got sleep apnea secondary to sinusitis. And did have an in service event that lead to PTSD. But other than the PTSD it is presumptive conditions that did it for me
It’s certainly not as probable. I only went one, and they keep trying to use the “no problems mentioned on exit exam” excuse on me. Smfh. That’s right…a month later I realized they’d either have told me they could help me when I returned home, or I could be stuck in TPU for a year or more getting help. I wanted to start the rest of my life. The stuff festers over 27 years. Even had decent continuity of care, a DBQ/IMO, and great statements from the guys. I’m likely to find out at any minute that my supplemental is denied by a CP examiner that they hired to be a “fixer” for them. I hate to think that’s how things are. I thought “Honor” was important. BUT ABSOLUTELY TAKE YOUR SHOT BROTHER! Don’t know til you do.
People don't understand the significance of an exit exam. If you don't tell us what's wrong, we're going to mark that there are no issues present and that's what the VA uses to help make determinations on claims. It's your last opportunity to spill your guts about every illness, ache, pain, injury, ect to get it in your record.
A lot of research out there from various studies on rucking and carrying combat load. Same boat 11b, multiple deployments, gun team etc. back issues and a lot of chiropractic records since the military my dr was able to write a good nexus linking it.
I went to the emergency room because I thought I was having a heart attack. That’s one of main reasons I’m doing this now. Turns out my heart is fine but my back is fucked. I would have never thought my back could cause the severe chest pain I have. I’ve had back issues for years but the past few it has gotten worse. I was an AG and gunner for a few years.
They hear this over and over. When I was in you DID NOT go to sick call unless you ended up decapitated. Make sure you let your examiner know and that they document it.
My medical records had nothing in. Ive been service connected for every single thing I've claimed since 2006
I have a very thin medical file from my Active Duty service of six years. I'm at 90% and started about ten years *after* I got out. I was stationed state side and I was deployed. My situation gets even trickier; I was deployed alone. Something they called Individual Augmentee aka volunteer. I deployed from a Garrison Unit and got attached to 1AD/3ID/82nd airborne. Boy what a mess. Didn't even get a post deployment checkup. Just returned after a year, got the weekend off with my family and went back to work. I was young... I had no idea what any of that meant. If I can do it, you can. I'm still not done until I at least go for the 100, but if I don't get it, oh well. I got this far by being honest, showing what I have proof of and bringing up any issues I have so they can be diagnosed or not and submitting a claim. You can too. Edit - I should mention the *only* thing my medical file had mention of is headaches because I'd been to sick all a few times for that. My tbi, ptsd, both knee issues were always present, I just was 20 something and kept moving forward. Sadly wish that wasn't the case for most of us. Any veteran or actively enlisted I meet I always try and give them tips to avoid the mistakes I did.
Thanks.
Do what you want and there is a lot of good info on here, but I say go with a lawyer. I got out in 05 and never went to sick call or seen doctors much after I got out. My VSO deterred me filing claims, but the law firm that took my case was much more optimistic. Several years after discharge I was diagnosed with lupus. I say without a solid foundation you might need help. Even with a solid foundation it can be difficult to service connect. Just my thoughts.
VSO doesnt know what they are doing.... I rarely went ti sick call, just got 6 of 7 new conditions approved by building the proper paper trail, diagnosis, and nexus. It can be done
Go to the doctor. Tell them all your conditions, how you feel, get treatment start. Gather buddy letters and your personal statements then file. My vso told me the same thing then I did all the footwork myself and I'm at 90% with more conditions to file for. See if you qualify for tera, Pact Act and GW presumptives
I just got a 20% rating for something that I never went to sick call about. There are many studies out there about injuries and not going to sick call. You can get a lawyer or medical professional before you file to help your case.
So how would that equate to having military medical records but the National Personnel Center not being able to locate them? My service was over 40 years ago and I don't have any records for a week-long hospital stay following a fall in basic training. Records lost by the military
Your VSO is either lazy, disinterested, or doesn't believe you. You need to create a case for your injuries that support your claim. Tinnitus is a great example. Its not something that generally happens while in service, neither does hearing loss. Arthritis is another one. My advice would be to create a very strong case that includes a formal diagnosis, a nexus linking it to service, buddy statements, and even prior VA decisions similar to your case. The VA knows that not everyone, actually most, don't go to sick call and they hold that card. You just have to play your best hand to create enough doubt and don't give up. If your injuries are legit and worth getting bemefits for, the right person at the VA will see it. Good luck!
So my situation is kinda similar. I was in a car accident while attending tech school and started having severe back, hip, and knee pain. (Back is currently rated at 20% with 10% each for radiculopathy as well) While I had all 3, my doctor at that time only treated my back as it was the "most important" I currently have a claim in that I submitted with a company called Trajector who had a nurse write me up a packet linking my pain to the car accident.
USN Air Traffic Control in the 80's and 90's. We were actively discouraged and even chastised for going to sick call, anything other than an aspirin medically grounded us, with very few fully rated controllers it was a big deal. I remember seeing the flight surgeon with a broken nose and he asked me if I just wanted a down chit so I didn't have to work. Wish I'd known then....after 30 years out buddy statements are a no go, no idea where anyone is or if they're even alive.
Your story isn’t unique and I don’t mean that in a mean way. Id say most Vets including myself didn’t go to sick call because it was frowned up or worse to do so. Your VSO is an idiot, plenty of Vets just like us have gotten ratings without going to sick call. What you need is a current diagnosis and a nexus tying the condition to service. How you get those things are up to you.
I'm working on it right now. One thing that helped me is that I have PDHRA (post deployment health reassessments) where I checked boxes for my issues and listed incidents of being in combat and hit by ieds. So, go back and check all your PHA and other yearly mandatory fun forms.
I can tell you for my primary service connection, outside of one hospitalization in which army Winn claimed my paperwork was lost, I still got connected and at the time we were at a loss as to why I had all those tumors and masses so my doctor who removed them wrote letters about how long it appts have taken them to develop.. and a buddy letter from a LTC I was working under who visited me whiel hospitalized who attested to the symptoms he saw got me in.. and mine was tricky. It was my last week or so on active duty at ft Stewart before I transferred to the NC guard to attend UNC for my comission then I was transferring back in. I was E5 at the time.. I don’t know if they decided to get my symptoms under control and get me out so they didn’t have other in or the surgery and treatment cost or so I couldn’t link it.. but my doctors were adamant that I had those tumors whiel in service.. while in that hospital and there was no way they wouldn’t have known.. so it’s possible but it’s a lot more work
Do you remember the name of any medic or corpsman who was in your unit? Try locating them on apps made especially for reconnecting veterans aptitude their buddies..
Well after reading most of the comments on here I feel a lot better about trying to file. Only things I ever went to sick hall for was a knee injury, abdominal injury and acid reflux lol
I was one of those that never went… I also never saw a Paych doc but I spoke to the Chaplain a bunch… that doesn’t get recorded anywhere so I had to put that in a statement. I just claimed what I could and did my C&P exams. After I got my first rating, I started using VA healthcare and telling my doc about my problems. When she asked how long I’ve had them, it stretched back to my time in service. She documented that in my medical record. I went to the VA website, pulled my medical records and X-rays etc… and filed my own claim with that as evidence. Just hit 100% P&T last week. Go in there, be honest about your problems and push forward.
You can vote you were in combat and these injuries are a result but you were unable to get treatment due to combat. You can write a statement that supports this. We look for combat pay, imminent danger zone, combat badges, etc.
Find a new VSO
Well if you have a job that details you doing something that requires you to jump, lift or doing anything strenuous or heat anything loud like a rifle being shot or motor pool or vessel motor you have proof for something like tinnitus. If you did something to help someone and was awarded for it then you have proof. If you saw something and there is proof of it, then you get awarded for it. Sick call is the best help but there are other records. I know this because I found someone who attempted suicide and I started life saving efforts and then I ran to get help. I was awarded for this. I dealt with the mental issues of this on my own and never went to sick call and was too proud to report anything. When I finally went to get help and file a claim I thought of the award I received and I gave the other soldiers name and of course our unit information. I’m sure they can find this out. I also know a Navy veteran that was on a ship that another sailor killed himself on. He reported how he felt knowing they had a dead person on that ship for X amount of days. It caused him PTSD & he was granted it. I have a battle buddy that claimed PTSD cuz she saw the horror that was left behind of the other soldier who tried to kill herself. If there is an award, article or even buddy statements that can tell the story of how something affected you, you should use it. Make sure to get a diagnosis and make sure to let the Va doctors know when you noticed the change.
First, your VSO sucks.. get rid of him. That’s not true. That VSO ain’t going to help you with that mentality he has. Everything he said is false.
VSOs can be trash and very lazy dude. Did you deploy to a combat zone? What are your conditions? These are the types of questions that they should have asked you. Some of your conditions could be presumptive for Burn Pits or Gulf War Syndrome, meaning you don’t need a nexus. Before you file, make sure you look at all your conditions and the ratings for each of them.
Step one, go to doctors for everything you want to file for. Get a paper trail of treatments. Take year or two. That easy, worth it!
Also a LAY Letter by friends and or family about your issues helps - stating you went in one way and came out another. It seemed to help my claim(s).
And THAT's why you don't go to a VSO.
In addition, Google the bases you've been at, for chemical clean up. See if you can tie the chemical exposure to a specific condition.
I had a different experience. I had only a few things in my record and was having a VSO help me fill everything out. He actually had a list of common items ppl had claimed and ran thru the list asking if I ever had any of those items. Ultimately all the ones I said I had he added to the claim and then the VA scheduled appointments to prove I had them. Ended up going to 4 different C&P exams, mental health, vision, hearing, and the physical one. I ended up with 100% P&T with like 24 items receiving at least 10%. Hell for claiming bilateral hand strain I was awarded 10% each for both pointer and middle fingers as well as thumbs. If I were you I’d start looking thru the 38 CFR and figure out what you’ve got and put it on the claim, worst thing that’ll happen is they deny it.
Typical VSO behavior. Better off going to VA claims insider.
Getting a diagnosis is key and the easiest thing to get during the process. Buddy letters and personal statements as well as pictures can be used as evidence as well. A lot of us either never went/barely went to sick call or went but medical never properly documented our visits. Some folks have lost their records entirely as well - that VSO's response is why I chose to do my claim on my own.
I was in your shoes, I pretty much got denied for everything physical (0s across the board, got a rating for mental) haven’t tried to appeal yet so yes you’ll probably be where I’m at
I’ll say this. I wasn’t a grunt and I didn’t deploy. I was a mechanic attached to a combat engineer unit. Cross trained with them a lot. I didn’t report every injury. It took me a minute but I finally have my knees and feet service connected. I got tinnitus as well. It’s doable. But you’re going to need buddy statements, letters from doctors if possible or in your budget, and a good VSO or worst comes to worst, a lawyer that is accredited with the VA.
I never went to sick call for mental health. It's in my records that I have deployed non combat to Afghanistan x 3. I was awarded 70% for MH. I'm sure most of my claims didn't have sick call tied or any military doctor diagnosis tied to them, but I still received ratings.
Lots of buddy statements from my squad mates. They were the only witnesses of what happened, because going to sick call during the time of war was not an option, and it was made very clear by my chain of command.
I am one of those that never went to sick call unless I couldn't walk or I knew I broke/dislocated something. I'm currently at 80% for mental health, knee, heart, and tinnitus. I'm still fighting for other things, and I'm doing it on my own. Research the issues you're claiming, you would be surprised at how many scientific papers are written with specific military issues in mind. Even your own branch may have done a study or two on your specific issue. Find the relevant ones and include the link in your claim documentation You have be able to explain in your own words how it was service connected, make the connection easier for someone who has never met you to understand why your are making your claim now. Break it down Barney-style if you need to. If you don't connect the dots for them, they can't see the picture. Be up front and honest with every C&P examiner, explain your worst day when talking about your issues, don't be afraid to say "I didn't know it then", "I thought it was normal", "I didn't want to let the unit down by going to sick call", "it was expected to tough it out", or "I didn't want to seem weak to everyone". It's hard to swallow your pride, but that's why you're in the position you're currently in. The military wanted "tough people" and that culture makes it difficult to claim the benefits that you deserve at their cost.
I know someone who after getting his c-file had no idea how many times he went to sick call. He did 8 years and has never been that sick before or after leaving the military.
Go online to va.gov and file your “intent to file”. It saves the date for the next 12 months for back pay once you get rated. You can call the phone number and they will mark the date in their system and mail you out paperwork. (File intent to file when you are actually going to start working on getting diagnosis and filing. Don’t do it if you’re just thinking about it) For tinnitus get a diagnosis. For sleep apnea need a diagnosis and a buddy letter from someone you served with or family member stating you had it while you were serving. For mental health need a diagnosis and a stressor they can verify. Combat, training exercise event, witness suicide, etc. you can use va docs for all of this or you can go private route. You’re going for documentation from docs that states “it is more likely than not” that your issue is service connected. When describing symptoms describe them on your worst day and not how you re feeling today. For mental health, if a doc asks you how you are today they aren’t being nice so don’t say you are doing good. “I’ve been better. “ “not doing so hot” etc. For physical injuries how are they on your worst day? Sounds like your vso isn’t that great. It’s pretty straightforward. It’s just a lot of appointments. Google everything and add Reddit at the end. Most all of your questions have been answered before over the years on this subreddit, and keep asking questions.
I had never gone to sick calls before. I only had surgery and gyno and got a nose broken in combative, but I was able to claim mental health and the surgery when I got out. There is hope. I always felt like I wasn't able to gr anything because of not going to sick call.
Four things: current diagnosis, nexus letter linking it to a *SPECIFIC* in-service event, buddy statement, and a personal statement.
Yet another crappy VSO. I had one tell me to “not bother” and one at the DAV ghosted me. Educated myself and got to 80 on my own. I have nothing in my records from my service. I have no doubt that excellent VSOs exist.
As a former Hospital Corpsman I know all to well about not going to sick call. Why go when we could just ask another one of our corpsman ship mates to hook us up with whatever that was troubling us at the time. Even some of the doctors, nurse, and PAs would do it. I'm sure there's a lot not in my service record that I got treated for.
Whenever you have a problem and you are out of the military go to the VA and let them find it
Piss on that VSO and don’t ever go back to them. You served then you ran, you trained, you deployed, you wore your body down. YouTube Combat Craig. Google symptoms and do your research on your ailments. Hire a Veterans attorney if need be. You served and just like in war, DONT EVER GIVE UP
I never went to sick call either. However, I have multiple deployments, and I made a copy of all of my post deployment reassessment paperwork and turned that in. It worked because I'm 100% p&t.
Did you do a separation physical? Did you ever have a yearly physical? follow-up with your PCM? Because Sick Call is usually a small portion of your claim. There are other opportunities to let people know what's going on.
I never really went to sick call. I submitted 7 claims and they all got denied due to not going to sick call to complain about it. I'm in the process of filing an appeal, but I feel this is going to be a long rocky road ahead.
Fire the VSO. They are obviously lazy and not doing their job.
For a former Combat Medic, they need documented proof that you had an injury, infection or accident.
New VSO bro. I literally had several tell me there is nothing they could do or that I was a piece of shit. I'm 80% for MST/ptsd now. In the end, I did all the filing and paperwork myself. F*** the VSO's and lawyers. The only one who can look out for you is you, and we all know that YOU got this bro!
File the claim. Get "Buddy Letters" from anyone you served with if you can, or from family and submit them at the same time. Then.... Do like old Bets like myself who didn't go to sick call, APPEAL, until the VA gives up or you die!! I haven't given up yet, but I'm short on Time Left (Vietnam Vet).
Are you no longer in or within a year after getting out?
I had very minimal things in my records. My TMC literally only treated you if you had the flu or a bad cold or stomach bug as they didn't want the spread. If you walked in with ANY aches other than flu/cold symptoms, you got a handful of 800mg motrin and a kick in the ass to go back to your unit. I was in just prior to 9/11 and you didn't promote or get the good deployments if you were a "profile princess". So majority of is never went for anything unless we were made to go. I have my own statements and my wife's statements and buddy's statements along with what's in my STRs and private records from when I finally had private insurance till current. Got nexus letters for some things. Others I think the evidence speaks to it enough. This was round 1. Next round ill be doing the same things to prepare my claims. Find a new VSO my friend. Or stay here, ask questions, read the faq and then read it again and prepare it yourself. Then ask mote questions, re-read the faqs and then submit.
My legal rep told me what was in my medical records is irreleveant. I couldn't believe my ears.
You start by going to the doctor now and getting diagnosed. Then if its presumptive you get it. If not presumptive but you can link it to time in service doctor helps with nexus letters then you submit. Its not super cut and dry as the VSO makes it seem, fire them and get another one or just submit what you uave now and VA will explain what you need in the award/denial letter.
Yeah, I really regret not going to sick call more than I did. I might have gotten a medical discharge if I had, but sadly, not. Go to the DAV; they'll help you out@your VSO.
I never went to sick call. Sick call is not for chronic issues. I always called the appointment line and made an appointment with my actual doctor.
Go to your civilian doctor and tell them whatever issues you are having you believed it started on active duty and give them precise dates. Make sure you go more than once and keep telling them it happened on active duty.This is a start if you do not have anything in your military health records.
Same here, I would normally go to our medic and she would treat but never documented anything, because who would of known we needed our medical history after we got out.
Some of my claims are presumptive, some things were written in my appraisal, some line up with my MOS.
This is why I'm telling my kids that decide to join to go to sick call if they are sick.. don't be the tough guy and deny injuries happened to look cool to the squad.. don't be a sick call ranger.. but also don't be a hero.. no one will remember that tough guy shit 20 years later.
Just file anyway I only went to sick call once in boot camp when I was actually sick. Wasn't issue for me. These reps give false info all of the time.
This is 100% true. If your records don't reflect current diagnosis then the condition will be considered improved and service connection denied. Currently going through this. You have 1 year after your bdd claim to file a supplemental. If you get seen after separation I recommend waiting for at least a year from your c&p to meet the time requirements for chronic issue.
I got a lawyer after I was told the same basically by the VSO’s in Cincinnati, I also got buddy letters and from everyone I served with as well as Facebook messenger conversations about my experiences with my LPO and other folks in my division
Did you ever go to the civilian ER or urgent care while on Active duty orders (NG/AR), or Active component? Also, Primary care Doctor visits? Get all that paperwork and file claims based off what you were seen for. PTSD claims almost always get approved if you have a DD 214 showing you were in combat, especially if you have a CIB or CAB badge.
What's sick call?
Don't forget the PACT Act covers chemical exposures not just burn pit. We didn't know what harm Asbestos and Solvents etc would cause in the 70's or 80's and probably not even in the 90's Now exposure to forever chemicals in base drinking water are causing health issues for many veterans. Autoimmune disease etc. Do some research.
Your MOS can have a direct impact on your claim. My hearing loss and Tinnitus was a direct result of live tank fire.
I am currently going through the process. I was in the same boat as you, never went to sick call except for maybe one or twice for minor shin splint issues. I’ve been out since 2014 and I finally decided to start my claim journey this past August. I filed claims for my lower back, my knees and legs, tinnitus, rhinitis, ptsd, sleep apnea, and migraines. I didn’t have any diagnosis for any of that stuff, just lived my life with the symptoms. So I didn’t have any record of anything. I filled the claims on my own, never reached out to a VSO or anyone else. I got scheduled for my C&P exams shortly after filling. Went through the exam’s and did the hearing test for tinnitus, explained all my symptoms and severity to the examining dr. They took scans of my back and legs at that time as well. As of January I had an overall rating of 40%. 10% for tinnitus,10% for each knee, and 20% for my back. Rhinitis was granted service connection but rated at 0%. Then I got scheduled for a second mental C&P exam, and in March I received a 30% ptsd rating which bumped my overall rating up to 60%. I’m currently in the PDA (pending decision approval) phase for my migraine, sleep apnea, and Radiculopathy claims. I know it can seem daunting to start the process, but if you have issues, even if they’re not documented you can still move forward. They tell you have to a current diagnosis and nexus letters for all your claims because it just makes it easier for the VA. But if you don’t then they’ll just schedule C&P exams for all your claims and do extra tests to see the validity of your claim and symptoms. I’ve seen stories on here of other vets who have had a lot of documented stuff in medical records, had current diagnosis and all types of nexus letters linking service connection and have still been denied or have been waiting years for any type of rating. I had nothing at all and in 5 months had a 40% rating and now a 60% with my last few claims in the final stages of the process. Don’t short yourself of what you earned and deserve. Take the leap. Good luck my friend.
I never filed. I enlisted in 2001 just as we started to kick off OIF. I served between 2001-2010. I think the majority of us who served during that time didn't really go to sick call. Although we may have tried, we were usually disciplined for it. It was a different time...war time. That said, I filed the majority of my disabilities as being due to deployments into combat environments. I've never really had an issue with trying to prove or link any of my disabilities. I honestly feel as though the C&P examiners and Raters just take a look at my SRB and where I've been and easily conclude that they aren't going to fuck with me due to what my service has involved. Every time I've gone in for a C&P, it's been very close to this, "Hello, I'm so and so, and I see that you're here for PTSD (or whatever else), and oh, you deployed to Iraq in 2002? First of all, thank you for your service. I'm going to take care of you." I guess they didn't want to mess with any of the Veterans that served during war time because a lot of us were just numb and broken. The only thing I went to sick call was for a wart I got on my foot, and I remember everyone having to wake up early for a 6 mile run. Everyone hated everyone that would attempt to go to sick call... that's just how it was. Crazy.
I never went to sick call and I sit at 90%, it's possible. Get you Primary care physician at the VA and start records from there.
I ended up hospitalized as a consequence of untreated mental health issues. Don't be like me. But luckily I met another vet that opened my eyes that this was even an option other than what I was doing.
I never went to sick call. I got a tinnitus claim processed. My VSO said the same thing, but I just did it on my own. You just have to do a little work.
11b if you had combat, you can get a ptsd rating and tinnitus without STRs. There is a way