The short answer to how one proves service connection can be narrowed to 2 words: medical evidence. It cannot be overstated that medical evidence is the key to proving service connection. Sometimes this medical evidence can be developed by the VA through the comp and pen process but more often than not private medical opinions are required to help a … Read More

First the reason the distinction is important is because veterans who served in “brown water” will receive the presumption of exposure to agent orange thereby making service connection easier for some claims. Thus, a lot of litigation and argument has ensued over the definitions of blue water and brown water navy veterans. Blue Water Veterans are not presumed to have … Read More

Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service may be eligible for a variety of VA benefits, including disability compensation for diseases associated with exposure. According to VA, “Agent Orange” refers to a blend of tactical herbicides the U.S. military sprayed in the jungles of Vietnam and around the Korean demilitarized zone to remove trees … Read More

As with all claims, the first thing to do is start from the three basic requirements for a VA disability claim. First, a veteran must have a diagnosed condition. A lot of times veterans file a claim for back pain. That is not a disability. The back pain is a symptom of a condition. That condition is what needs to … Read More

More attention is given for PTSD in recent years due to the growing concern of suicides among the veteran population. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a medical condition that can develop after experiencing a traumatic event. Some of the common symptoms of PTSD include: persistent memories of the event, nightmares, re-living the event over and over, not talking to anyone … Read More