Navigating VA Benefits

You’re Not Alone in Navigating VA Benefits

By Paris Moulden, Wounded Warrior Project

Applying for veterans benefits can be a complex and confusing process for service members and veterans.

The Benefits Service program at Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) can help. The WWP Benefits Team works to ensure warriors and family support members receive the benefits they have earned in a manner that honors their service.

Post-9/11 wounded veterans can take advantage of the skill and knowledge WWP national service officers can provide, easing the navigation process with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

WWP is a VA-accredited veterans service organization (VSO), which means it is recognized by the VA as a reputable source to submit claims on a veteran’s behalf at no cost to the veteran.

Having the assistance of a VSO like WWP can give warriors peace of mind throughout the benefits application process. While there can never be a guarantee of benefits, knowing what information is needed and the best way to present it can go a long way toward approval and avoiding the lengthy appeals process, which is something WWP can help with, as well.

Filing for VA Disability, Other Benefits

Mike Stoddard, national service director for WWP’s Benefits Service program, wants service members to know they don’t have to wait until they leave the service to start the benefits process.

“The No. 1 thing I’d ask warriors to do is prepare early,” Stoddard said.

For the VA to consider a disability claim, service members or veterans must show their medical issue is service connected. Stoddard said that’s why it’s important to maintain documentation early, including medical records or “buddy statements,” which is a letter from someone with firsthand/eyewitness knowledge of the disability or injury.

“The biggest thing that I want our warriors to know is this is the one time in their life, where I would say be as selfish as you can be,” Stoddard said. “You’re not taking away benefits from anybody else.”

Obtaining military medical records and buddy statements is the first step, but many veterans don’t know how to proceed after. The assistance of a VSO can make all the difference in not only helping veterans get the benefits they deserve but guiding warriors throughout the process.

“I think that’s one of the great things about having an advocate like Wounded Warrior Project to help is because they can actually sit down with you and look through all of that evidence and tell you, ‘Here’s what we’ve got and what we need to move forward,’” said Michael Snook, WWP regional benefits director.

One of the biggest reasons to leverage a VAaccredited VSO is to have continuous support from knowledgeable experts — and it’s completely free.

“It’s our job, from a VSO/Wounded Warrior Project standpoint, to ensure our warriors get the benefits they’ve earned in a manner that honors their service,” Stoddard said.

Disability Changes and Appeals

One of the most common topics wounded veterans ask about is disability ratings, and how to change them. That’s often because initially evaluated, service-connected conditions could worsen over time and/or become chronic, which would necessitate a re-evaluation by the VA. WWP can help with that as well.

“Because your journey continues on throughout the rest of your life, we can continue to help you with those claims as they come up,” Snook said.

Sometimes veterans are denied disability benefits because of incomplete records or other issues in the application process, and not because they don’t qualify. Appealing a denial of benefits or increases is another often-confusing process the WWP Benefits Team can help warriors maneuver.

“The appeals process is daunting for a lot of people, and we have experts who have 10, 15, 20 years of experience,” Snook said. “They can really break it down and simplify many of those processes.”

Overall, the most important thing the WWP Benefits Service program wants warriors to know is that they don’t have to go through this process alone.

“Sometimes it’s better to find somebody who can help you through the process, so don’t do it alone,” Stoddard said. “That would be my No. 1 one advice, because you’re not in this alone. You’ve got plenty of partners and advocates who are willing to help you.”

Other Key Things to Know

• It’s important to attend all medical and examination appointments set up by the VA. “These are all things that help us with the evidence that is necessary to confirm your service connection,” Stoddard said. • Those just leaving the military are encouraged to take advantage of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), which provides information, tools, and training to help ensure service members and their spouses are prepared for the next step in civilian life. • WWP-registered family members of a warrior are also eligible for assistance with claiming their entitlements.

• WWP’s Benefits Service program can assist warriors with other earned entitlements, including education benefits, health care benefits, and Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC). The team can also help connect them to other WWP programs in mental health, financial wellness/employment assistance, and physical wellness.

Seek Accredited Veteran Service Organizations to File Claims

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The COVID-19 pandemic was sometimes used as an opportunity to target veterans on social media, with promises to increase disability ratings and offers of “free” evaluations. The veteran could end up paying thousands of dollars upfront or even a portion of their disability payments for an extended period — all for help they can get for free.

“What they found was an opportunity to reach out to warriors and say, ‘we’ll take care of everything for you, and we’ll get you an increase in your rating,’ but it came at a cost,” Stoddard said. “And the problem is veterans are being scammed with poor-quality claims advice, locking them into harmful contracts, and, in some cases, getting access to personal information that is not needed.”

Stoddard said a common predatory practice is accessing the veteran’s info through the VA website or eBenefits by using the veteran’s login information. Legally, only VA-accredited individuals and organizations can assist veterans and their family members with benefits claims.

Another bad practice is using confusing tactics or ambiguous language in contracts, purposely designed to mislead the veteran. “The contract the veteran signs are long, confusing, sometimes illegal, documents that typically run over 10 pages long,” Stoddard said. The VA provides a searchable database of accredited VSO representatives, attorneys, and agents to help veterans navigate the benefits process and avoid unscrupulous tactics.

“Don’t pay for your benefits advocacy, come see an accredited agent,” Stoddard said. “It’s important that warriors know sometimes what seems like the fastest path to getting something is really a barrier to getting you what you need and costs you money that you don’t need to spend.”

Keep in mind that veterans can file VA claims on their own behalf for free through the VA, but also have access to numerous veterans service organizations (VSOs), like WWP. VSOs can help warriors file claims completely free of charge — and are also accredited by the VA. While VSOs can’t guarantee a positive result, many — like WWP — have the expertise, experience, and, most importantly, the recognized right to help veterans collect the benefits they deserve in a manner that honors their service.

Find out what WWP’s Benefits Service program can do for you.

About Wounded Warrior Project

Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more:

https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org