Small Wars Journal

Survival Guide for Veterans

Fri, 12/19/2008 - 5:58am
Survival Guide for Veterans - New York Times editorial

Far too often, military veterans find themselves desperately short of the information they need as they make the torturous quest for benefits within one of this country's most daunting bureaucracies, the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Officials say help is on the way, but administrators are forever promising to streamline procedures for an era of conquered paperwork that never seems to come. That is why it is heartening to see that one promising form of help has indeed arrived: a 599-page guide to veterans' issues...

It's called "The American Veterans' and Servicemembers' Survival Guide," and it comes, unsurprisingly, from outside the system. It is a publication of the nonprofit advocacy group Veterans for America, available as a free download at veteransforamerica.org...

More at The New York Times.

From the Veterans for America web page:

VFA has brought together three co-authors of the bestselling "The Viet Vet Survival Guide," as well as former VA analysts and military and legal experts, to create a 21st-century survival guide that includes vital information for servicemembers and veterans from our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The book presents in three parts - "Veterans and Their Families"; "Special Non-VA Programs, Opportunities and Problems"; and "Issues Related to Active Duty Servicemembers and their Families" - information every returning servicemember and family member needs to know to best serve as their own post-combat advocate. The guide is available, without charge, through the VFA website.

More at VFA.

Comments

Corpsman Up 2/4 (not verified)

Fri, 12/19/2008 - 2:40pm

You need to get with veterans who have went through the VA wars. That includes Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) or attorneys who represent veterans to the VA or with Accredited Agents who may represent you before the VA. Attorneys and Agents normally won't assist in filing an original claim; but, the VSO's will. Attorney's and Agents will assist you after you are denied service connection or if you don't think that you got the right rating. (And usually you can get low-balled because your doctors don't understand what the VA wants in a Diagnosis). Attorneys and Agents do work for a fee; but, they can't get that fee until there has been a Notice of Disagreement and/or appeal. (That's inside talk). You may get lucky and get an Agent or Attorney who will assist you with tips from the above books and from their own experience. Some of these agents do help on an initial claim for no cost. They believe that the veteran should have the best help possible from the start. VSO Service Officers and County Veteran Service Officers (CVSO) are good also. But, they have hundreds of claims and time is limited.
The books are good. This is like being in combat. Everyone has their job and it takes four people to be in a fireteam and they work together. Getting veterans benefits is the same. You don't have the experience so get someone who does to walk point for you.