Selecting the right representative for your VA claim can determine whether you spend years fighting denials or receive timely approval and the benefits you've earned.

• Veterans have three main options for representation: Veterans Service Officers (VSOs), accredited VA appeals agents, or attorneys
• VSOs provide free services but vary greatly in quality and accessibility
• Ensure your representative has proper accreditation and access to the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS)
• Don't hesitate to change representation if you're receiving inadequate service
• Learn to navigate VA.gov yourself to monitor your claim status and submit evidence if needed
• High-Level Reviews (HLR) don't allow new evidence submission, while Supplemental Claims do
• Direct service connection claims are possible even when you don't qualify for presumptive connection
• Some VSOs may give incorrect advice about appeals options after a denial or reduction


If your VA rating is reduced, request a hearing rather than just filing an appeal. Your benefits continue at the current level until the hearing occurs, and you can present new medical evidence during the hearing process.

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Bethanie Spangenberg, former VA C&P examiner and CEO of Valor 4 Vet, breaks down shocking VA denial patterns and provides strategies for veterans to fight back against illogical denials.

• Copy-pasted medical opinions appearing in denials across different regional offices
• VA examiners citing general risk factors without considering veterans' specific medical conditions
• Cases where non-medical VA staff insert their own medical opinions into denial decisions
• Examples of VA omitting service periods that contain evidence supporting claims
• How the VA repeatedly claims obesity is "a choice" despite service-connected conditions limiting physical activity
• Understanding the growing evidence linking PTSD and sleep apnea despite VA denials
• Absurd case where a widow was denied benefits because her husband "didn't have cancer" when using fentanyl
• Why veterans should carefully review all rating decisions for errors and omissions

Don't give up. Go wherever you need to go to get the proper representation, but get it done. Read your denials carefully, make sure they're really talking about your case and your situation.

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Veterans are facing incorrect payment dates for PACT Act claims, with the VA Inspector General finding errors in roughly one quarter of the claims examined, resulting in $6.8 million in improper payments and shortchanging an estimated 2,300 veterans.

• VA has received 2.44 million PACT Act-related claims since August 2022, approving 1.59 million and awarding $5.7 billion in benefits
• Inspector General estimated VA will make $20.4 million in improper payments in first three years of the PACT Act
• Veterans diagnosed with conditions prior to PACT Act passage qualify for benefits backdated to diagnosis date
• Mistakes occurred because claims processors weren't prepared to determine correct effective dates and automated tools were unreliable
• Current VA claims system has a 96% initial denial rate
• The "benefit of doubt" rule means if evidence is equal, the decision should favor the veteran
• VA doctors are often not allowed to make statements connecting conditions to military service
• Outside medical specialists can provide crucial opinions connecting conditions to service
• Veterans facing appeals may benefit from hiring accredited agents rather than relying solely on VSOs
• The Traveling Vietnam Wall will be in Winchester, Tennessee in August for veterans and families to visit

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Visit J Basser's Exposed Vet Productions (Formerly Exposed Vet Radioshow) YouTube page by clicking here.

We explore the complex world of military toxic exposures and how veterans can navigate VA claims related to these exposures, with special focus on the PACT Act, asbestos, Agent Orange, and other harmful substances service members encounter.

• PACT Act covers toxic exposures including burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune water contamination, and extends presumptive conditions
• Environmental hazards like silica (desert sand) can cause permanent lung damage and interstitial lung disease
• Project SHAD/112 involved secret military testing of chemical and biological agents on service members in the 1960s
• Asbestos was extensively used in military settings, particularly Navy ships, with Hull Maintenance Technicians at highest risk
• VA examiners often incorrectly deny claims because conditions aren't on presumptive lists, when direct service connection is still possible
• Military performance appraisals provide valuable documentation for proving exposure history
• "Forever chemicals" stay in the body for decades, stored in fat cells and released during metabolism
• Camp Lejeune water contamination presumptive period doesn't align with actual soil contamination data that extended into the 1990s
• VA medical opinions sometimes contain errors when raters ask leading or incorrect questions
• Veterans should consider seeking independent medical opinions for conditions related to exposures even if not on presumptive lists

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Visit J Basser's Exposed Vet Productions (Formerly Exposed Vet Radioshow) YouTube page by clicking here.

Post-traumatic stress disorder affects thousands of veterans, with approximately 35 veterans committing suicide every day due to PTSD-related issues. We explore the realities of PTSD among veterans, sharing real stories of how this mental health condition impacts lives and discussing effective approaches to treatment.

• Combat exposure is the primary cause of PTSD, but non-combat trauma can also trigger the condition
• PTSD manifests through social withdrawal, relationship difficulties, employment problems, and anger management issues
• Veterans can receive VA ratings from 20% to 100% depending on the severity of their condition
• Secondary depression and anxiety often develop from service-connected physical limitations
• Seeking professional help is crucial—diagnosis typically requires multiple sessions with a social worker
• Treatment options include counseling, medication, and developing effective coping strategies
• The path to diagnosis and benefits can be challenging, with some veterans waiting years for approval
• Warning signs include social isolation, relationship breakdown, and inability to manage anger
• Extreme cases can lead to violence or suicide if left untreated

If you're struggling with PTSD or other mental health issues, don't wait to get help. Contact the VA Crisis Line or reach out to mental health professionals who specialize in veteran care. You're not alone, and treatment can make a difference.

Tune in live every Thursday at 7 PM EST and join the conversation! Click here to listen and chat with us.

Visit J Basser's Exposed Vet Productions (Formerly Exposed Vet Radioshow) YouTube page by clicking here.

Bethanie Spangenberg, CEO of Valor 4 Vet and VA appeals agent, joins us to examine peripheral neuropathies and potential changes to the VA's rating system that could dramatically affect veterans' disability claims.

• Peripheral Nerve Conditions DBQ covers nerve damage including carpal tunnel syndrome and surgical nerve damage, but not diabetic neuropathy or radiculopathies
• VA currently rates nerve conditions using multiple factors: symptoms, muscle strength, reflexes, sensation, and skin changes
• Proposed changes would reduce assessment to muscle strength testing only, potentially under-rating veterans with small fiber neuropathy
• Small fiber neuropathies (affecting fingers/toes) present differently than large nerve fiber diseases but aren't properly captured in current or proposed systems
• Veterans with diabetic neuropathy can have severe symptoms while maintaining good muscle strength, leading to inappropriate ratings
• EMG and nerve conduction studies can differentiate between acute and chronic nerve damage but don't always capture small fiber disease
• Veterans with nerve conditions should ensure comprehensive documentation of all symptoms, not just muscle weakness

Contact Valor for Vet at www.valorforvet.com if you need assistance with independent medical opinions for your VA claim.

Tune in live every Thursday at 7 PM EST and join the conversation! Click here to listen and chat with us.

Visit J Basser's Exposed Vet Productions (Formerly Exposed Vet Radioshow) YouTube page by clicking here.