How to obtain your DD-214

     To often I have veterans reach out to me for help or questions regarding benefits.
My first question is always, do you have a copy of your DD-214 for service verification.
Seventy Five percent of veterans reply the same way; I moved after I separated and I
misplaced my 214.
Veterans please maintain a copy of your DD-214. You can't do anything regarding your 
benefits without this! Click the link below to obtain a copy of your DD-214 

Get my DD-214 today!!

Veterans and "ebenefits"

There just aren't a lot of guarantees in this world, however I think we can all agree that we will all eventually leave this world, we'll probably never see Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio win an award, yes that is his middle name. BUT there is a guarantee if you're a veteran. All veterans know that if you call the VA 1 (800) 827-1000, you are in for a long wait! Sometimes upwards of 2 hours It’s a reality too many Veterans are aware of in our modern time.

     I find that a lot of the Veterans that I interact with are often not aware of the VA website “eBenefits.” So, what is eBenefits? Essentially the eBenefits website is a web portal in which Veterans can access information about their disability benefits, healthcare records, and even enroll in programs for education and housing. I am a cynic, especially when it comes to the VA, and even I was impressed by everything you can do on this site. I was also surprised to learn that it has been around since 2007. I’m going to stop here and applaud the VA for making online access a priority. As someone who works with veterans and is active on social media, I will also say that the VA does a really great job with their social media presence. However, if you’re waiting months to see a doctor for your PTSD claim, a nicely worded Tweet isn’t going to do you much good. Maybe the social media team can share some of their efficiency with disability administrators.

You might be wondering why you, as a Veteran, should use eBenefits. That’s actually a simple answer. It offers a great alternative to calling the 1-800 number. Further, you have quicker access to your medical records. With eBenefits you can see what is going on with your VA Disability Claim, and you can even file for benefits by way of the site.  Honestly, from my personal experience, it is better than it used to be. It’s not flawless, but it works well enough for what most people need it to do. When I first started using ebenefits, my biggest complaint was that it was not very accurate and the status of a case was rarely updated. Now it’s not as much of an issue. It’s not completely without issue, but it’s getting there.

So, why am I telling you about eBenefits? Honestly, I have a vested interest in this site because it is helpful for what I do for clients and it has helped me also. Too often I encounter Veterans who aren’t aware of the status of their case. Well, with eBenefits a Veteran can get all of the up to date information needed to determine eligibility for their claim. This includes the status of their claim, their percentages, and what disabilities they have applied for in the past. So, if you want to get some answers a little quicker from the VA, check out the VA eBenefits site. It’s free, works pretty well, and can be pretty helpful. 

Army Ranger Dies On 14th Deployment

An Army Ranger who was on his 14th deployment to a combat zone has been killed in Afghanistan.

Sgt. First Class Kristoffer B. Domeij, 29, 

was killed Saturday when the assault force he was with triggered a hidden roadside bomb in Afghanistan's Kandahar Province.

Domeij served four deployments in Iraq and another nine stints in Afghanistan. During that time he was awarded two Bronze Stars. His third Bronze Star, earned during his final tour in Afghanistan, will be awarded posthumously, according to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

Also killed in Saturday's blast were First Lieutenant Ashley White, 24, a Cultural Support Team member, and fellow Ranger Private First Class Christopher A. Horns, 20, who was on his first combat deployment.

His battalion commander, Lt. Col. David Hodne, described Domeij as "one of those men who was known by all as much for his humor, enthusiasm, and loyal friendship, as he was for his unparalleled skill and bravery under fire."

"This was a Ranger you wanted at your side when the chips were down... He is irreplaceable … in our formation … and in our hearts," Hodne said.

Domeij, who grew up in San Diego, Calif. and Colorado Springs, Colo., and lived in Lacey, Wash., was married and had two young daughters.

Rangers are some of the Army's most elite special operations forces and have seen almost continual combat in Afghanistan since October 2001 when they were part of the original airborne assault into the country.

Rangers serve three to four month tours of duty that are significantly shorter than the year-long deployments served by soldiers in conventional units. But during those short deployments they see a constant churn of intense combat missions. On average, a Ranger battalion will conduct between 400 to 500 missions during a combat deployment.

Tracy Bailey, a spokesperson for the 75th Ranger Regiment, says Domeij had a combined total of 48 months deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Higher ranking enlisted Rangers, like Domeij, typically have between nine and 12 deployments if they were with the 75th Ranger Regiment prior to or shortly after Sept. 11, 2001. Domeij had enlisted in the Army in July 2001 and joined the 2nd battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in April 2002.

With his 14 deployments, Domeij becomes the Ranger with the most deployments to date killed in action. Just a year ago this month, fellow Ranger SFC Lance Vogeler was killed in Afghanistan during his 12th deployment, becoming at that time the Ranger with the most deployments killed in action.

Domeij had the distinction of being one of the first Rangers to be qualified as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), a position usually reserved for Air Force airmen who serve with ground combat units and call in airstrikes from fighters or bombers flying overhead.

Col. Mark W. Odom, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment, called Domeij "the prototypical special operations NCO" whose abilities as a JTAC "made him a game changer on the battlefield—an operator who in real terms had the value of an entire strike force on the battlefield."

Filing for a Rating Increase

Last week I took you back to "GROUND ZERO!" What is Ground Zero? 

"GROUND ZERO" is filing your brand new claim. Click here to read -> Veterans Guide to VA Claim Filing.

This week I want to discuss something that a ton of veterans face every day. False rating or to keep it plain an simple. The veteran feels as if the rating is wrong or not enough! Follow these steps carefully and you should be successful.

Determine exactly what your current ratings are before you proceed.  Dig out those original award letters so that you know exactly what sort of benefits and ratings you have. Don't just guess at it, get the facts. You may need to check your records at the eBenefits site.

This will be a good time to initiate the VA Form 21-0966.                 Using the VA Form 21-0966 will establish the effective date of your claim to increase the ratings of your existing benefits. Look at the ratings table for your existing benefit --->>>The Schedule For Rating Disabilities is your guide to what you may be eligible for. You may learn that your current rating is already at the maximum or that you're current rating is seriously deficient. Do not rely on VA to obtain your civilian records.

You have to research it to know. Gather your evidence and records to support the increase.​ If there are civilian medical records, you have to gather those for yourself.           

It's time to file the claim. ​Use VA Form 21-526EZ                                              Be as precise as you can to describe just what it is that you want. Provide supporting evidence.

That’s it! You're done.

WARNING:                                                                    Any time we ask VA to open our file to make any adjustment, we open ourselves up to a complete review of all ratings.  Many veterans get an unpleasant surprise when they discover that their request for an increase leads to a proposal to decrease a rating. You have an absolute right to be rated appropriately for each disabling condition you may have incurred during your honorable military service. If you feel that your rating is not correct for your condition, by all means seek an increase. Before you do...be sure that you can't lose. Check your current condition's symptoms against the standards you find in VA Rating Schedule Match your physical or mental health status to the ones you find there. If you are confident that you can prove your entitlement to a higher rating, go for it.

If not, sometimes its just best to leave things alone.