Welcome Aboard!
You've Arrived at the A to Z Guide to Military Veterans Benefits
This is the original web site published by me...Jim Strickland.
In the early days, I wanted to provide a simple web site that was easy to navigate and full of accurate information.
I went on to work with Larry Scott at VAWatchdog dot Org and eventually took command of that site.
This year, 2012, I'm determined to update this web site and make it what it should be...a friendly resource for vets to quickly locate the intel they need to solve a problem today.
Much of what you find here is duplicated at VAWatchdog. After all, there are only so many ways that we can tell you how to file for benefits.
What you won't find here is the news headlines and opinions of the VAWatchdog site. We're going to stick to the informative and "how-to" data that will help you solve a problem with your VA benefits.
Please use both sites. You'll find a lot of good stuff at each site and as always, there's no registration required, no fee required and nobody will ask you for a donation.
Contact Us
If you have questions or comments, please email Jim at <jim912@gmail.com>
You may send VAWatchdog a fax toll free at 888-658-5058
Nobody cares about your claim as much as you do!
That's the reason I started writing about veterans benefits years ago. I wanted to teach vets how to "DIY" their claims.
In the pages of this web site, you'll find a wealth of intel about important topics. Our mission is to teach you how to Do It Yourself. You'll find that most of our pages include a How To... instruction.
For example:
Learn How To File A Claim...it's simple to Do It Yourself (DIY).
Get tips about How To Attend A C & P Exam. The C & P exam causes a lot of anxiety...this page will help prepare you.
If you've received a letter telling you that you aren't getting the benefits you applied for, learn How To Appeal When You Are Denied.
If appealing a denial seems a bit much for you, we tell you How To Hire A Lawyer.
You'll find plenty of facts...no BS, no ranting...just the truth about the way things are today.
For example...
Read about agent orange...dioxin is the herbicide that has caused hundreds of thousands of illnesses and deaths.
The language of the VA is a challenge to understand. We spell out the definitions, acronyms and abbreviations for you.
You have to spend some time reading and learning! You are your best advocate! Filing a disability claim isn't a spectator sport. This is full contact rugby and you must get into the scrum.
Too many veterans want to hand their claim over to someone else who will represent them and they expect that they won't need to put any effort into it. It doesn't work that way.
If you want a successful claim and a fairly adjudicated award, you must get involved yourself.
I assembled the information here and at the VAWatchdog so that with effort on your part, you can find what you're looking for. I've tried to make the complex legalese a little easier to understand.
Like it or not, there are many Americans who smoke marijuana. Click here to learn how this may affect you and your VA benefits.
How To Navigate This Web Site
Look to that column over on the left. It's in alphabetical order. Each page you go to will have links to other sources of information.
You are responsible for the success or failure of your claim.
To Do It Yourself (DIY) method isn't difficult. If you use a Veterans Service Officer or another person to handle your claim, about all that accomplishes is to add a middleman to the already complex process.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is set up to work directly with the veteran. Applying for a disability benefit is an administrative process, not a legal one.
If you do it right the first time, if you complete the required paperwork, if you have your records in good order and if you use certified mail, return receipt requested...you'll be ahead of the crowd.