As a newly minted VSO for the Vietnam Veterans of America in Vancouver, WA (the organization will serve all veterans, regardless of time or location of service) I've come to detect a pattern where client veterans can speed up the process if they look these forms over in advance and provide as much information as possible:
If you're thinking about filing a claim with the VA, please do the following:
Go to this link: https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
Bring a copy of your DD214s... certainly your last 214. If you don't have a copy, you can get one here:
If you're married, bring a copy of your marriage license. Know your spouse's date of birth. Have their social security number handy.
Same for your kids (minus the marriage license, of course.)
Bring your bank account number and routing numbers (located on the bottom of one of your checks.
Have a list ready of your ailments that you're claiming. Understand that some of your problems are going to be secondary to a primary diagnosis, for example, tinnitus is secondary to hearing loss typically.
Have letters of diagnosis that say, at least at a minimum, the diagnosis is more likely than not service-related. Make sure those letters are signed by an MD.
Locate the following forms on the net. Understand that as much information as possible is needed to fill these forms out:
21-0966 (Notice of intent to file)
21-526EZ (Intake form)
21-22a (Power of attorney)
21-4138 (Statement in Support)
21-686c (Dependents form only needed if you have dependents)
21-4142 (VA Request for medical records)
21-0781a (Needed for PTSD secondary to personal assault.)
21-0781 (Needed for PTSD claim)
Get the name, address and phone number of any civilian source for medical records related to your claim(s).
Other forms may be required depending on your situation.
But these will do for most initial claims.
Please immediately let your VSO know if you have been on the ground in Vietnam or any other Agent Orange Location.
For those who've served more recently, look over the contaminated water list.
Also, look over the burn-pit list if you deployed.
Get as much of your medical records as possible, or at a minimum, know the location so the VA can request them for you.
If you request your records from a civilian source, and they tell you it will cost you to reproduce them, then the choice between you getting your records and paying for them and the VA getting those records is up to you.
The Notice of Intent to file is important because that is the date your benefits will start when an award is given.
The Notice of Intent to file is needed in the event you don't have the other information required.
Remember: you're dealing with a bureaucracy. You have to, in effect, paint them a picture that makes it very easy for them to arrive where you want them to be: a decision in support of your claim(s). Taking this approach will be a big help in getting them there.
If you're thinking about filing a claim with the VA, please do the following:
Go to this link: https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
Bring a copy of your DD214s... certainly your last 214. If you don't have a copy, you can get one here:
If you're married, bring a copy of your marriage license. Know your spouse's date of birth. Have their social security number handy.
Same for your kids (minus the marriage license, of course.)
Bring your bank account number and routing numbers (located on the bottom of one of your checks.
Have a list ready of your ailments that you're claiming. Understand that some of your problems are going to be secondary to a primary diagnosis, for example, tinnitus is secondary to hearing loss typically.
Have letters of diagnosis that say, at least at a minimum, the diagnosis is more likely than not service-related. Make sure those letters are signed by an MD.
Locate the following forms on the net. Understand that as much information as possible is needed to fill these forms out:
21-0966 (Notice of intent to file)
21-526EZ (Intake form)
21-22a (Power of attorney)
21-4138 (Statement in Support)
21-686c (Dependents form only needed if you have dependents)
21-4142 (VA Request for medical records)
21-0781a (Needed for PTSD secondary to personal assault.)
21-0781 (Needed for PTSD claim)
Get the name, address and phone number of any civilian source for medical records related to your claim(s).
Other forms may be required depending on your situation.
But these will do for most initial claims.
Please immediately let your VSO know if you have been on the ground in Vietnam or any other Agent Orange Location.
For those who've served more recently, look over the contaminated water list.
Also, look over the burn-pit list if you deployed.
Get as much of your medical records as possible, or at a minimum, know the location so the VA can request them for you.
If you request your records from a civilian source, and they tell you it will cost you to reproduce them, then the choice between you getting your records and paying for them and the VA getting those records is up to you.
The Notice of Intent to file is important because that is the date your benefits will start when an award is given.
The Notice of Intent to file is needed in the event you don't have the other information required.
Remember: you're dealing with a bureaucracy. You have to, in effect, paint them a picture that makes it very easy for them to arrive where you want them to be: a decision in support of your claim(s). Taking this approach will be a big help in getting them there.
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