AT WAR
40 Stories From Women About Life in the Military​   

"Not Many Women Get to

Do What I Do"

Say what?


Craig N. Bash M.D., M.B.A.

The Veterans Medical Advisor

Independent Medical Opinions     Nexus Letters     Records Review

Nationwide Representation     Free Consultation

(240) 506-1556


​​​FREE case evaluation.

The attorneys and doctors

you'll meet here will be happy to review your case for free. It will

only cost you a little of your time

to speak with an expert. 

What  are  you waiting for?

VAWatchdog Dot Org

Claims Go Here

​V A Claims Intake Center
PO BOX 4444
JANESVILLE, WI 53547- 4444


Toll Free Fax: 844-531-7818​

Vet Friendly Law...as it should be.

Roger Hale

Robert Wilkie  <robert.wilkie@va.gov>  ​855-948-2311

Other-than-honorable discharge?

You’re still eligible for VA mental health care​

Why Do Women Military Vets Avoid Using VA Benefits?Research by UMass Amherst epidemiologist pinpoints factors of health care quality, accessibility and comfort

Ad agency leaks data on US military veterans' combat injuries
Florida ad agency leaks the keys to its entire kingdom, including invoices, campaign metrics, and all collected data.

Education Service

DEA - Chapter 35

Am I eligible for an advance payment of my education benefits?

What is Special Restorative Training?

C&P Service Clinician’s Guide

Scheduled For A C & P???    Filing A Claim?

This is a must read for you!!!

I've been posting this again and again over the years and it's still one of the best ways I know to win your case. Published in 2002 the principles and much of the verbiage still applies and is in daily use at the VA. 

How to download VA benefit letters
To receive some benefits, Veterans need a letter proving their status. Access and download your VA Benefit Summary Letter (sometimes called a VA award letter) and other benefit letters and documents online.

What You Should Know about Disability and Debt

There Are Protections...When it comes to debt collection, disability income enjoys special status.

Scientists study how service dogs help veterans cope with PTSD

To say retired Army Sgt. Carlos Cruz depends heavily on his service dog, Hannah, is an understatement. Cruz was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from service in northern Afghanistan where he hunted for enemy explosive devices.

Social Security’s Wounded Warriors website

We’re there to provide comfort during difficult times

Amazon Prime Music Trial
Jim's Mailbag

Overpayment? VA proposing to claw back money from your benefits? Submit a Compromise Offer to the Debt Management Center. 

This is the only thing that works. 

​"If you are unable to pay the debt in full or clear the debt in a reasonable timeframe through monthly payments, we can consider a compromise offer.  A compromise means we can accept a lesser amount of money as full settlement of your debt."

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 38 CFR Part 17  

Urgent Care 

ACTION: Final rule. ​​

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment

Additional information needed to support claim

Direct Deposit - May I apply by telephone?

Bash Bulletin     Prostate cancer reduction   

Clumsiness or cruelty? Trump now deporting military veterans, in violation of federal rules
Another established norm trashed as ICE deports undocumented veterans, and then apparently loses their records

Oregon officials start work removing barrels labeled with Agent Orange chemicals from bottom of lake

The barrels are labeled as containing either 2,4-D or 2,4,5-T, commonly known as Agent Orange, which was widely used during the Vietnam War and has been linked to a number of illnesses, including cancer.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 38 CFR Part 17 

Veterans Community Care Program

ACTION: Final rule.

​Create or update your will today – fast and 100% free

Make your will with FreeWill today

Does FreeWill offer other end-of-life planning documents?
Yes! We have advance healthcare directives (also known as healthcare proxies or living wills),

and durable financial power of attorneys as well. All are free to use.

M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, Chapter 3, Section D - Examination Reports

Obtaining Examination Reports

Examination Report Requirements

Reviewing Examination Reports for Rating Criteria

Owe VA Money??? 

​​Submit A Waiver Request

Jim's Mailbag

Jim Strickland is a Vietnam era Army veteran and nationally recognized expert on VA disability benefits

and a member of the Stateside Legal Website Advisory BoardJim's Mailbag, is a regular column where veterans,

servicemembers, and family members can  ask Jim their questions about VA and Social Security disability benefits.  

You can browse all of these Q&As here, and search the Jim's Mailbag archives for helpful answers.

Email Jim your question for a quick and confidential reply.   jim@vawatchdog.org

Legal Help

Criminal Law

Everything you ever wanted to know about how the VA benefits system works but were afraid to ask and more!
Welcome to the KnowVA Knowledge Base
​This is a part of the effort being made to overhaul the existing VA computer system. The current system is mostly a

dumpster fire where legacy software programs don't speak to each other, older hardware fails and sets in

action a cascade of delays and out of date information isn't purged regularly.
So far this is pure data...you'll find a lot of information here but to do anything with it you'll have

to travel over to eBenefits or healthEvet or some other portal to take action.
But if you're one of us who want to see the real information, the laws, the rules and the regulations that affect your

interactions with your VA, this is where you start. I have to advise that you're going to need a real computer. Trying to explore

this on a phone is going to be terribly frustrating. You'll also need a high speed connection...anything less will drive you nuts

as there is a lot of data to transfer.​​​Your local public library is a great place for a veteran to sit quietly and

access all this on a newer model desktop computer with a blazing fast connection. 
​Here are a few of the thousands of bits of information you ask for every day.

Take a minute and explore with us...you'll be glad you did.

TRANSITIONING SERVICEMEMBERS:
Information on Military Employment Assistance Centers
GAO-19-438R: Published: Jun 17, 2019. Publicly Released: Jun 17, 2019.


Understanding VA’s New Process for Verifying Individual Unemployability

​​The VA recently began sending out letters to veterans in receipt of a total disability rating (100 percent) based on individual unemployability (IU) that detail the department's new process for verification of employment status. The letters include some confusing language that the VA is working to clear up.

The NPRC

Military Records DD 214

Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs)
Official Personnel Folders (OPF)

What is the Electronic Claims Submission Process?

When does SEP recommend a Disability Benefit Questionnaire (DBQ)?


The forecast for your VA, today!

Brought to you by The VAWatchdog...keeping an eye on your VA because somebody has to.

These programs help guide military families through complex financial matters

​Being a military service member or veteran comes with a unique set of challenges.

VA Form 21-526EZ 
Use For...

Disability Service Connection
Secondary Service Connection
Increased

Disability Compensation
Temporary Total Disability Rating
 Individual Unemployability
Compensation under  38 U.S.C. 1151
 Special Monthly Compensation
Special Home Adaptation 
Automobile Allowance
/Adaptive Equipment
Benefits Based on a Veteran's
Seriously Disabled Child

38 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code

Preservation of disability ratings

Find Legal Help Here  

Money & Debt


Medical Malpractice Claims,  VA 1151 Claims,  Personal Injury Claims,  Accident Claims,  Civil Law Suits

Roger Hale, Veterans Law Attorney      

Nationwide Representation


The Benefits Navigator will list benefits you may be eligible for

Veterans Benefits on Reddit

Do you know who your doctor is? 

​The AIM DocFinder

&​
Physician Information Made Easy


The Law Offices of David Anaise, MD JD

Board Certified Physician/Surgeon    Accredited Veterans Law Attorney    Military Veteran

​DRO, BVA, CAVC Appeals     Nexus Letters     Independent Medical Opinions

Has Your Claim Been Denied?   Do you need an IMO or a DBQ?
You'll need to speak with an expert physician and then a veterans law attorney.

Why not speak with both at the same time? 

(​520) 219-7321    Free Case Evaluation    (520) 219-7344


Veteran Proud

Read Me Please...

The Users Guide to the VAWatchdog Dot Org

​How to navigate to what you need and what we're all about. Welcome aboard!

Wounded Warrior Project Veterans Benefits

Veterans Attorney & Veterans Doctor 

(520) 219-7344​​​

How to Fight VA Debt
Military members know that when DoD gives

you too much money, it will come back for it.

The VA is similar, but the system is worse.

What is “Malingering” ?

Faking a sickness for an ulterior motive – is surprisingly common. Here are some of the ways in which doctors tell real illnesses from false ones.

​​What Is Substantial Gainful Activity (Work) to Social Security?
Substantial gainful activity is the level of work that a person without a disability can do.


Friedman Disability

Serving Disabled Veterans Nationwide

PTSD, MST, TBI, Agent Orange Exposure, Back Injuries

Gulf War Syndrome, Migraines, Heart & Vascular Disease, DIC, Unemployability TDIU

Free Veterans Disability Consultation!      (800) 742-5035


Legal Help For Vets 

Dallas, Texas

Shop For CBD Oil

Find Legal Help

Civil Rights


Julie L. Glover, Veterans Law Attorney    GLOVERLUCK     Adam R. Luck, Veterans Law Attorney

Veterans Law At Your Service

Unemployability (TDIU) Appeals,

Agent Orange Exposure, Death Benefits, PTSD & Mental Health Appeals,

​Gulf War Syndrome, BVA % CAVC Appeals,

 Asbestos or Radiation exposure, Traumatic Brain Injury

Nationwide Representation     Free Claim Evaluation

​​844 244 VETS (8387)


There is no substitute

for the veteran claimant who is involved and informed. Once you've learned how the system really works, filing correctly...getting it right the first time...isn't that hard to do. Educate yourself by reading what the experts have to say.

Get Legal Help

Family Law

Legal Help 

Housing & Real Estate

Florida Veterans...Get a free medical marijuana card !
Tell the doctor you saw it on VAWatchdog and ask about veterans discounts!​


Hodes Milman LLP

​VA Malpractice Attorneys Helping Veterans Harmed By The VA

​​Veterans Healthcare Rights - Federal Tort Claims - VA Medical Malpractice Claims,

Misdiagnosis, ​Hospital Negligence, Medical Errors

For a review of your VA malpractice case contact our lawyers today. Our firm serves throughout

the nation, and is one of the few firms to have specialized experience in VA malpractice cases.

(949) 640-8222.



Gregory Rada

Veterans Law Attorney     OEF & OIF Air Force Veteran

A VETERAN FOR VETERANS
Proven Results • Direct Communication • No Fees Unless You Win

TDIU     CUE     Specializing in PTSD Disability Claims & Appeals   MST   TBI   Hearing Loss & Tinnitus Appeals

Nationwide Representation     Free Case Assessment    ​​​(844) 385-5665


Veterans  Attorney  

Oklahoma

Legal Help

Discharge Upgrades


Veterans Social Security Disability Lawyer

Roger Hale, Veterans Law Attorney

​SSDI & TDIU Claims

​Personal Injury Claims     Nationwide Representation     Free Claim Evaluation

(405) 531-9983



Personal Injury Lawyer - Free Consultation For Veterans

​​Industrial Accidents   Nursing Home Negligence   Car Accidents   ​Workers Compensation   

Veterans Law​     Pain & Suffering     Emotional & Mental Anguish

​Roger Hale,  Veterans Law Attorney​​

(​405) 531-9983



Drew Early, Veterans Law Attorney

West Point Graduate - 20 Years Army Service - Airborne - Explosive Ordnance Badge

Free Case Review - Nationwide Representation

BVA/DRO Appeals - Fiduciary & Caregiver Issues, Trusts, Wills

Appeals of Veterans & Survivor Claims

​(770) 939-1939


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To 256-bit  Encryption

Secure Site

Website Monitoring Tool


Brett Valette, Ph.D.

Veterans Clinical Psychologist

Some Wounds Cannot Be Seen

Nexus Letters     Independent Medical Opinions   Psych DBQs

​(303) 465-3147