I just strongly don't like that route. The vet needs to put a little work in and find a local VSO who actually loves what they do. I fully realize this can be difficult but so rewarding if found. Law firms take money from yore pocket, VSO's won't. So many resources available online that weren't avail when I first went threw the process (which I didn't really need as I was the guy behind the curtain). I still had issues as back then veteran employee claims would be assigned to another VBA office and often left to collect dust. Example, I had no idea what tinnitus was when I first got out and did not claim it originally. While going thru training I finally asked wut the others where talking about. They all in stereo said "ringing in yore ears"... I was like oh shit, you get 10% for that. I've had that since the first time I loaded and fired a 16" gun. VBA Portland stoopidly denied it... I had to appeal, and it got dumber and dumber. I finally said fuck all this and called the supervisor of the appeal team and asked them to grab my file and look at it. My claim was filed within the 12 month presumptive period, I had combat decorations (this matters bigly per law), and had done what I suggested above and had provided a state certified audiologist exam with opinion. I told the supervisor that his office simply did what was called top sheeting my claim and did not review it properly and that by now how much money has been wasted to deny when it's a grant period. I explained that you dont get the awards i had from a Sunday family pinic at the park. He looked at my file and simply said something along the lines of oh shit, this is bad. 2 weeks later I had a ridiculous retro sent to me.
Just need a good VSO and a good VBA group reviewing the claim. The later is more difficult due to how fucked up the VBA has gotten. There is no local office you can call as your claim file has been digitized and could be being worked on anywhere. The employees won't pick up the phn to call you to resolve simple issues cause they can't afford to as they don't get the work credit to justify thier position of employment if they do. They will simply send another letter giving you 30 days to respond and put your claim out for 2 months to see what is new.
I don't see the VBA changing. The org is a fucking revolving door and management promotes its on circle of friends and it never changes. Mgmt will get caught doing stoopid shit and all that happens is employees get tossed under the bus and the mgmt just rotates to another office....
Carry on
