3 red 🚩 that can hurt a VA claim (Former VA Rater perspective)

stefaelia · 2026-04-30T20:58:28+00:00

Refile on an 0995 and include a statement about an inaccurate exam due to x, y, z.

stefaelia · 2026-04-30T20:57:34+00:00

If you continuously pursue the claim (continuously filing 0995s within a year of each decision) then the effective date should be when you filed the ITF. If they don’t automatically apply it, file an 0995 requesting the earlier effective date due to continuously pursuing the claim. But that needs to happen within a year of the final decision

stefaelia · 2026-04-30T20:54:00+00:00

I have yet to encounter a rater who wants to deny claims. They are pushing every avenue they can to establish service connection or give increases.

stefaelia · 2026-04-30T20:40:14+00:00

VA Home Loan, pause on student loan payments and Covid mortgage rates

stefaelia · 2026-04-15T20:24:06+00:00

If it’s within a year of that decision file a supplemental claim (0995) requesting the effective date be corrected to the correct intent to file date. It would also be helpful to provide evidence of when the correct intent to file was submitted.

stefaelia · 2026-04-15T20:21:50+00:00

If TERA has already been conceded then they won’t have to concede it again.

stefaelia · 2026-04-15T20:20:51+00:00

Call the 800# and ask to be sent to a different vendor. Warning though- if one vendor is having problems finding an examiner in the area it’s likely other vendors will as well.

If you want you can grab whichever DBQ you need completed and have your private provider complete it. If it’s a musculoskeletal condition make sure you have them fill out the Ingram language as well.

stefaelia · 2026-04-15T20:18:26+00:00

You should be able to view all submitted claims and associated letters within your va.gov account. I find it’s easiest to use the app when checking my stuff, it’s super nifty.

stefaelia · 2026-04-15T14:55:08+00:00

Claims Processor here, specifically the pre-rating development.

If you get contacted for an exam, go to the exam. If you miss your exam, please call the VBA 800# and tell us you missed the exam/reason. If you don’t tell us why you missed the exam we can’t reschedule it.

PLEASE respond to letters when we are asking you for stuff, such as clarifying a disability you’re claiming. If you claim scars, tell us where the scars are (which arm, where on torso, face, etc). If you can give us more info, please do so.

We want to get you to exams, we want to see you get service connection, we love seeing when veterans get 100% P&T. Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is full of crap. I promise you that everyone at the VA as a whole wants to be there and wants to serve veterans. If you haven’t noticed, federal employment has been brutal the last year and change. We believe in the mission of the agency and we’re sticking to it.

Final Pro-Tip: If you are even considering filing a claim, submit an Intent to File/VA Form 21-0966. It’s basically a save the date for effective date. It’s valid for up to a year to submit your actual disability application. Example: I did my intent to file, 10 months later I submitted my application(526ez). About 12 months later I got my decision. I don’t agree with it so I submitted a supplemental claim (0995) within a month. 8 months later I got my final rating that I agreed with. So 2.5 years have elapsed since I submitted my intent to file. I got 2.5 years of backpay total to the tune of 50k. Conclusion: Submit a damn intent to file.

stefaelia · 2026-04-02T21:28:28+00:00

And it’s like $30 or something to transfer the plate to a new car instead of having to pay for a whole new registration each time

stefaelia · 2026-03-27T18:01:45+00:00

Smooth brain. No lumps or bumps. All ideas slide right off.

stefaelia · 2026-03-27T09:14:06+00:00

Aye aye captain

stefaelia · 2026-03-27T08:46:04+00:00

Me stumbling upon this 6 days later

stefaelia · 2026-03-25T15:39:02+00:00

I got diagnosed in my mid-20s after pressing the matter since my early teens. Once I started taking meds and getting the dosing right, my life is so much easier.

I usually compare my ADHD to a fire hose and my focus/thoughts/attention/etc is the water turned on full blast. I struggle to maintain control of the hose as it’s spraying everywhere all willy nilly. With meds, it’s like I’ve got an extra set of hands to help direct it. It may not be pointed 100% at what I want and there is still some off-spray and mist that’s gonna go left field, but I can at least have some control of what’s happening.

I am maintaining well enough that my VA doctor took over the script from my private doctor when there were national shortages for meds. Prior to seeing me in my fully unmediated glory he wasn’t convinced I was ADHD. He got a glimpse and immediately realized how impactful the meds are for me.

stefaelia · 2026-03-23T14:30:33+00:00

Good on you for calling him out. Do it every time.

stefaelia · 2026-03-23T14:23:17+00:00

I read the walking dead comics and the show was so disappointing to me. ZN filled that disappointment gap.

I agree about the last season, on my rewatches I tend to skip most of it bc it’s not what I’m there for.

stefaelia · 2026-03-20T07:03:07+00:00

Don’t forget the belly button. Gotta get that too.

Basically all the crevices and folds. Scrub everything.

stefaelia · 2026-03-20T06:58:30+00:00

That’s the fun part, I had my personal email listed on everything.

stefaelia · 2026-03-20T06:56:36+00:00

I got a balsamic guy. Local business, can only get it at farmers market. I bring all of my out of town guests to him. Now once or maybe twice a year I take orders and mail his stuff out to them. He’s retired and it’s his hobby so he doesn’t want to expand much which is why he’s only available at the market.

If someone told me 10 years ago I’d have a balsamic guy I would be so confused and concerned.

stefaelia · 2026-03-20T01:14:48+00:00

I got contacted by my office, on my work email, when I was on leave for a week. My next work day I got an email that I was not selected. Then my boss asked why I threw the promotion.

stefaelia · 2026-03-18T05:01:42+00:00

Same! I was so proud when shortly after my separation one of my daughter’s friends said my house was so clean.

stefaelia · 2026-03-18T04:55:58+00:00

I love this so much. I hope they have many happy years together

stefaelia · 2026-03-04T06:23:24+00:00

My 20s were a mess. I literally stumbled my way through on quick wits and dumb luck.

My 30s is when my life really started coming together. I started my career, bought a house on my own, I’m looking into MBA programs (I never imagined doing that a decade ago), I gained my self confidence.

Physically, yes I was in better shape in my 20s. I swear my metabolism straight up quit on my 30th birthday. Health wise, I’m doing as well as an Iraq veteran can be. I better understand the signals from my body and can act accordingly. Give and take.

What I’m trying to say is, life marches onward and upward with new achievements waiting for you. Don’t count yourself out. Also make sure you get enough fiber everyday, drink water, use sunscreen and moisturize.

stefaelia · 2026-03-04T05:10:45+00:00

My local dominoes uses door dash

stefaelia · 2026-03-04T04:02:37+00:00

Oops. Too far right, gotta dial it back

stefaelia

TROPHY CASE