The military lifestyle can be very rigorous on a body, regardless of profession or position. You may be taken care of while you are in, but what happens when you get out? How do you account for jobs you can't get because of damage done to your body? This can be especially tough for people who are separating but not retiring from the military. The only thing you can do is file for medical claims that will pay you a certain amount of money throughout your lifetime. This article will show you file for those claims early and realize your compensation benefits within months of separation.
Instructions
1. Go see your doctors often and early. The best way to make a claim for a medical condition is to have been examined for it at some point and time. Some people in the military prefer not to see the doctor for fear of finding out bad news or missing out on trips that can pay a lot of extra money. But you may regret this later on because the whole point of military compensation is paying you for possible lost wages from physical limitations you incurred while on military duty. It is also about the future. A slight twinge in your back from lifting up aircraft parts may seem like nothing at the age of 20 but at 50 it may have developed into something much worse if it were left untreated.
2. Request a copy of your medical records and find a Veterans Service Officer (VSO). The VSO is your liaison between you and the Veterans Administration (VA). You will need these records to show the VSO so he can send them to the VA. This could take days, weeks or months so start early. It's good if you know someone in the medical field. They have ways of getting things done quicker.
3. Find your local VA hospital. The military has a new program called the Benefits Delivery at Discharge. If you go to VA hospitals and get examined for claims you can start receiving soon after your discharge. If you can get your claims filed through a VA rep between 90 and 180 days before you separate, this program will work for you. Find the local VA hospital that participates in this program and start making appointments. Your VSO can help you get set up. Make sure that he has the address of where you will be when you leave the military.
4. Point out anything and everything you've been treated for or which has bothered you medically to your VSO. Even if you have never been treated for a particular problem, sometimes you can apply for a claim anyway. For instance, many people that work near loud equipment may experience ringing in their ears but not notice it until they have moved away from their work center for a few months. By listing anything and everything, you have a better chance of claiming something than by leaving certain things out. The same applies when you get your exam. Tell your doctor how often you feel pain and limitations in range of motion. Just saying "it hurts" won't hold water.
5. Send a copy of your DD 214 to the VA as soon as you get a copy. Call the VA to find out where your VA regional office for claims and benefits is and be sure to send a copy there. Even if you got your appointments done early and finished all the exams, the VA can't act on it until they receive your DD 214. You can get your claims on an average of 2 to 3 months after they receive your DD214 as opposed to 9 months or more.
6. Meet with your VSO as soon as you find out your rating. Sometimes he can push for more claims or an adjustment if he feels your rating was too low. Claims come in 10 percent increments and the difference between 20 percent and 30 percent can be as much as $200 per month if you have dependents
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