Veterans services

September 22, 2018, 08:01 PM

k5blazer

Veterans services

My FIL has macular degeneration and is legally blind. We are looking into veterans benefits for his as he lost hearing in his left ear in the Navy. My wife came across a company, American Veterans Aid, that want a teleconference with all the siblings. They also said they will have to be paid every month first before the VA check comes. Seems odd to me. Does anyone have any info on this company?

September 22, 2018, 08:10 PM

wcb6092

Contact The Disabled Veterans of America. They can help you get the information you need to file a claim and it is free.

Also the Veterans Administration website can help a lot. I found the forms I needed to help my father in law file a claim. He developed lung cancer and the doctors discovered asbestos fibers in his lungs. He worked in a boiler room on a Navy ship. I filled out the paperwork and submitted medical records and he was awarded 100% service connected disability.

September 22, 2018, 08:20 PM

Redleg06

Almost every county in the US has a Veterans Services office. Contact the one in your county. The services are free and the staffs are knowledgeable. Their sole job is helping vets wade through the VA bureaucracy.

September 22, 2018, 08:27 PM

lowflash

quote:
Originally posted by Redleg06:
Almost every county in the US has a Veterans Services office. Contact the one in your county. The services are free and the staffs are knowledgeable. Their sole job is helping vets wade through the VA bureaucracy.

That's what I did for my Agent Orange claim!

September 22, 2018, 08:30 PM

Riley

Absolutely do not pay for help with this. There are many organizations that help and for free. A few were mentioned.

September 22, 2018, 08:33 PM

detroit192

2017 VA official guide to VSOs.

"When in danger or in doubt, run in circles scream and shout" R.I.P. R.A.H.
Ooga Chakka Hooga Hooga Ooga Chakka Hooga Hooga
NRA Basic Rifle Instructor
Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Adult/Child/Infant Instructor
Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Instructor

September 22, 2018, 08:34 PM

RHINOWSO

Contact one of these two - Disabled American Veterans (DAV) or American Veterans (AMVETS).

Both do great, LEGITIMATE work for veterans. Most have local offices that you can sit down in person with a rep to go over the situation.

September 22, 2018, 08:41 PM

HayesGreener

You shouldn't have to pay anything. County veteran services office is a good place to start. AMVETS, DAV are advocates

September 22, 2018, 08:46 PM

ZSMICHAEL

Your local Congressman or Senator's offices have representatives that handle these issues. He will need to be seen at the local VA and then scheduled for a comp and pension exam at that facility or with a private doctor if the wait is long. These services are free.

September 22, 2018, 08:50 PM

JALLEN

quote:
Originally posted by Redleg06:
Almost every county in the US has a Veterans Services office. Contact the one in your county. The services are free and the staffs are knowledgeable. Their sole job is helping vets wade through the VA bureaucracy.

Do this. They will have good information usually.

Sometimes the bureaucracy needs a little prodding. Don’t be reluctant to ask your Congressman or Senator for help, too, although you don’t want to do both simultaneously. If the VSO seems to get bogged down, call your Congressman.

Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me.

When you had the votes, we did things your way. Now, we have the votes and you will be doing things our way. This lesson in political reality from Lyndon B. Johnson

"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown

September 22, 2018, 08:54 PM

arfmel

Link to info on the company referenced in OP:

https://www.veteranslawblog.or...-attendance-pension/

September 22, 2018, 09:23 PM

10X-Shooter

VFW, DAV, and County Veteran Services all help for free. If a company wants money to help you shouldn’t do it.

September 22, 2018, 11:42 PM

46and2

DAV folks will have an office at the area VA hospital, too, and they can file paperwork on your behalf and generally help in many ways, from arranging transportation for those in need, to answering a myriad of questions, and you can sit in person with a human helper.

September 23, 2018, 12:09 AM

Johnny 3eagles

I am a Life Member of the DAV.
I can offer only one bit of advice: Do NOT pay anyone for Veterans assistance.

September 23, 2018, 12:27 AM

LBTRS

I'm also a life member of the DAV. Contact them and they will provide all the assistance you need for free.

September 23, 2018, 07:19 AM

sigmoid

quote:
Originally posted by JALLEN:
quote:
Originally posted by Redleg06:
Almost every county in the US has a Veterans Services office. Contact the one in your county. The services are free and the staffs are knowledgeable. Their sole job is helping vets wade through the VA bureaucracy.

Do this. They will have good information usually.

Sometimes the bureaucracy needs a little prodding. Don’t be reluctant to ask your Congressman or Senator for help, too, although you don’t want to do both simultaneously. If the VSO seems to get bogged down, call your Congressman.

^^^this
Unfortunately, like anything else, there is a huge effort to commit fraud in attaining disability benefits.
Legit claims are typically handled thru a hearing for evaluation by a judge and if the VA is not taking care of a vet, they have no reservation rippin the VA a new asshole.
He served our country, do NOT pay anyone anything to find help for him.
Many people work tirelessly to support our veterans.

September 23, 2018, 07:24 AM

max628

Here in my area there is an organization called "Still Serving Veterans" They actually filled out my disability paperwork for me and they don't charge anything.

September 23, 2018, 09:43 AM

quote:
Originally posted by 10X-Shooter:
VFW, DAV, and County Veteran Services all help for free. If a company wants money to help you shouldn’t do it.

September 23, 2018, 09:45 AM

k5blazer

Appreciate everyone’s help. My wife is now saying that the group said we would have to pay the caregivers first before the VA benefit. I could not find them listed as a VSO nor the person my wife has talked to. Really sad how the elderly are targeted by scammers.

Again thanks for the help.