Top Ten Tips for Veterans

In memory of all the soldiers killed in the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.  This one is for you.   For soldiers injured and their families, the road back home after the initial banners and flowers fades require a focused approach.  This is not meant to be legal advice because I am currently not an attorney.  These ten tips are provided because I really do care, 365 days of the year.   It is about organizing your life in the event some unforeseen disease or condition should crop up in the future and you need to substantiate your claim for benefits. 

After each war effort from the Vietnam Era forward I have guided numerous veterans through the often perilous routes of the Veterans Administration administrative process.  For some I must say it went very smoothly. For others with onsets of disorders from exposure to Agent Orange and severe anatomical reactions to inoculations coupled extreme stress have not always gone expeditiously.  In fact, some of these took years to even get acknowledgments that the toxic agent had a harmful effect or that it was even present. 

Currently, there is discussion of possible relationships between a variety of neurological disorders and others which may mimic Lou Gehrig Disease.  The very recent communications from the Veteran’s Administration again and as always states further study is required.  Therefore, I offer the following helpful hints to ensure you are properly taken care for the courageous efforts you have made to protect and serve the United State of America.

(1) Do not feel you are being less patriotic or heroic if you admit you are ill. Even in the face of officials in the process who keep telling you to “buck up, suck it up” and a myriad of well-chosen words to make you feel like a wimp.  That is their job. You will not hear this from the spokes people of the military service.  Their outward statements will always be to care and protect the injured veteran. I am talking about the people you will have to deal with who are trained and skilled in the bureaucracy to minimize costs.