5 Ways to Establish Service Connection | VA Benefits!

[@maconmentor]

Thank you. Beautiful minds = equally beautiful ladies.

[@terrancepinkney777]

Thank you for this information. I now understand that I have a secondary condition based on the my primary service connection.

[@miguelsurgtech8113]

All this is good info, but the issue is not that, in my case, I have the diagnosis & treatment of my conditions. It's getting a doctor to be brave enough to fill a Nexus letter. I live in Central Florida & talked to doctor's about it, but they shy away with the "but, but's." I really do not want to pay one of those third-party companies that specializes in that. I will if I have to, though. Thank You!!

[@cerebralone9438]

Excellent video ladies! Will you ever do a video about conditions/injuries that occurred while on hardship tours?

[@meredithhpmoderator713]

That is a good suggestion! I will pass this on to our marketing team! Thank you for watching!

[@cerebralone3962]

Thanks!@@meredithhpmoderator713

[@totiriel6079]

Very informative. Thank you so much for sharing it to us!

[@HillAndPonton]

Thank you for watching! We are so glad this it was helpful!

[@SirShoddrick]

What about a National Guardsman where your Commander maliciously falsified your records causing you to be discharged, but in between Guard Drills, although they ( Commander ) was in an active duty special work role when he falsified the records? Army Board of Corrections of Military Records has determined this. SCOTUS ruled that a civil court could not adjudicate the damages because it was service connected related per FERES Doctrine.

[@Peculiar223]

@1:12 lol 😆 I’m definitely aggravated at this point.

[@Peculiar223]

@@HillAndPonton hopefully you all will be representing me because I contacted you all and spoke with an agent.

[@Cam-wi3tp]

trying to prove after being out of service for 40 years is pretty tough, my advocate said my chances of proving service connections would most likely end in denials. I was only in for 2 years 75-77, no combat

[@HillAndPonton]

It can be tricky but there are ways to make it work. If you can secure evidence like a nexus letter from a doctor, lay statements, and more could be very beneficial for you.

[@russell311000]

Is there a timeframe on service connected issue's?

[@timward62]

Hello, I’ve been retired for five years now. While I’m active duty I was in a military parachuting unit and had many jumps. My doctor now five years later is telling me that my neck injuries are due to most likely parachuting. I was never seen an active duty how do I establish service connection?

[@moniquebaskett338]

My husband cracked his pelvis while in basic training. Had to sit out for 6 months. Claimed hip pain and they said it wasn’t service connected.

[@paratrooperlane7022]

Paratrooper - presumptive service connection, lower back, knees.

[@gilbertoberrios9312]

Iam a paratroper 82 ND 3 year the judge remand and waiting for the cmp exam. The jumper are in the presumting condición now. I" ve knee replacement botas knee.

[@tommarinevet]

Great info ladies...on secondary..you can secondary the secondary and the secondary all the way to 100% P&T

[@Poppenwicho]

Hey Tom does this mean you can have two secondaries for one primary claim?

[@tommarinevet]

@@Poppenwicho yes as many as you have medical evidence for

[@oscarballesteros1065]

Can I get service connection for TBI because I was sick the night before going to work an as I finished report with everyone present at report I felt down hitting the ground and woke up to an appendectomy

[@johnny1963ify]

Got granted service connected diabiliy August 19th. Got the letter a month later. How long will it take the regional office to rate me. I've got major depressive disorder. I'm also on Social Security disability for the same thing. Thanks!

[@tlang8960]

Does a "service connected" condition have to be caused by something service related or just occur while in the service? For example, if I started having migraines while in the service and was also diagnosed with migraines in the service with no apparent cause is that enough to file a claim? Or would I have to prove the migraines were caused by something I did in the military (head trauma etc.)

[@juleskinkead4604]

asthma listed, got worse then 16 years later removal of right lung

[@RonMac08]

The VA doesn't want to accept telemed psych evals. I had one because of COVID-19 and was diagnosed with SSD. Does the VA have to accept this?

[@tommarinevet]

What the VA accepts is anyone's guess they will give you a C&P exam and then decide. The decision letter will tell you what they did... good luck

[@RonMac08]

@@tommarinevet My C&P exam is going to be by telemed.

[@tommarinevet]

@@RonMac08 VA can do telemedicine C&P exam...good luck and be prepared

[@meredithhpmoderator713]

Do you currently have an open claim? If so, please feel free to give our office a call at 386-257-2100 to see if we may be able to assist. Thank you.

[@thedolphinDog]

@@tommarinevet thank you for your service

[@johnnycontreras6307]

I have a question and maybe you can help….. VA is working on my mental health claim. Seems I need proof of service that I was in Macedonia…. I have the United Nations Service Medal on my DD214 and I lost all my military documents and orders. what else is there? TIA

[@JB-dk8zc]

Were you in between 1995-1998? I may have a work around for you. Bosnia/Serbia/Yugoslavia?

[@johnnycontreras6307]

Yes, I was in FYROM in 94. My case is waiting to see the judge with a lot of buddy letter. What were you going to suggest? Thanks for reaching out

[@tommartin5667]

I am applying for direct service connection for memory loss and essential tremors due to mercury poisioning as a dental assistant in the 1970's. I just recently discovered mercury is likely the cause. I have the following evidence 1. Testimony by a Navy dentist I worked with that we handled mercury in what is now known to be dangerous ways. The CDC states this handling procedure resulted in CONSIDERABLE EXPOSURE. 2. Current diagnosis of both medical problems 3. CDC statement that this mercury exposure can cause permanent brain damage that can result in both problems. 4. Statement from the dentist that he witnessed my essential tremors start after we returned from Vietnam. 5. Medical nexus statements from a VA Neurologist and the Navy dentist that they conclude that my current symptoms are MORE LIKELY THAN NOT and AT LEAST AS LIKELY AS NOT the result of the mercury exposure. Any advice? Predictions?

[@arielmanosca6865]

I just got my c&p exam yesterday and my exam took less than 10 min.. is that a good thing or a bad thing?

[@tommarinevet]

Hard to tell, some short C&Ps are good and some bad...if you feel it was a bad C&P you can challenge it by complain to the VA and ask for a new one. I had 5 min C&P exams with an approval of a claim....with the VA is crap shoot.

[@jayfoster8120]

You’re screwed

[@sJ-bb8lr]

My exam was 15 minutes

[@tiffanywelchhomesteadnmama5524]

Great info ladies. Can hypertension be considered presumptive if it wasn't documented in service records other than the taking of your blood pressure? AND if that hypertension then caused sleep apnea, which one would be 1st, which one second, and would they all be presumptive, or the hypertension direct? (but again, not documented in military records).

[@HillAndPonton]

Hi Tiffany, thank you for watching! In regards to your question about presumption, our website states "Hypertension is on the list of conditions that are presumed to be related to a veteran’s military service. The VA will presume service connection for hypertension only if you have received a diagnosis within one year of your release date from active duty. Also, in order to receive service connection by presumption for hypertension, the condition needs to manifest to at least a 10 percent disability rating within one year of your release from active duty." However, if you do not fit into this category, our website states "For VA disability purposes, it must be proven that your hypertension is directly related to your military service or aggravated and or caused by a veteran’s current service-connected disability." There is a known link between Hypertension and Sleep Apnea. I have linked a great blog that we have on this topic here www.hillandponton.com/the-link-between-sleep-apnea-and-hypertension/.

[@viperviper5]

So I served in the military back in the late 70 I was a paratrooper and many jumps from military aircraft. I was also assigned to a artillery unit and participated in many military exercises with heavy artillery. In addition I had an accident while in the military which I lost my balance and fell off a railing about 10 feet to the ground I was unconscious and they transported me to the hospital where I recovered. I am now in my sixties and experiencing hearing loss and knee pain.which could be tied to my military service but I did not ever go on sick call in the military. The only time I went was when I fell off the railing and went unconscious. I am trying to figure out if I have a good case. Please advise

[@HillAndPonton]

Hi Viper, thank you for sharing a little bit of your history. It sounds like you may something here. Have you already filed a claim for your knee and hearing loss?

[@viperviper5]

@@HillAndPonton no I have not filed a claim. I am very new at this and have been watching a lot of videos about this subject matter. It seems like tying this back to my military career is going to be a bit challenging considering I have been out of the military for 35 years now. I mean these ailments I have now are associated with getting older. Right!!!!

[@earlcabbel5523]

I have a direct-service connected left knee arthritis disability, a secondary (to the left knee), right knee and left hip arthritis va disabilities. I have been treated over the last three years with arthritis in the back and right hip (at the VA Orthopedic Clinic). The C&P Examiner acknowledged the back arthritis but denied the secondary service-connection for the back (lack nexus). I have not filed a claim for the right hip because I’m not sure what to do to show the nexus to the service-connected disability. Next steps unknown at this time? Any suggestions?

[@HillAndPonton]

Hello Earl, sorry to hear your secondary conditions were denied. We typically recommend continuing the appeals to get your rightful benefits. Sounds like you may want to consider obtaining a nexus letter from a medical doctor regarding your conditions being service connected. Here's our video on nexus letters: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZPQq5xvqtN7fKs

[@earlcabbel5523]

@@HillAndPonton You’re the best. Thank you and stay safe.

[@jamesbarrett311]

What if the navy cause me depression because they were not payint me for almost 3 months? I cant sleep and feel I have insomia and cause me serious depression, can I claim that in the future?