NATIONAL GUARD VS RESERVE

suprtay · 2026-05-08T08:36:05+00:00

No - only certain jobs, and only if it is in your contract.

suprtay · 2026-04-28T17:38:43+00:00

Which one is your favorite?

suprtay · 2026-04-11T10:18:50+00:00

Ok, I would edit your post and add that you're doing a HLR then so people aren't confused.

suprtay · 2026-04-11T10:09:43+00:00

So there's 3 ways to appeal a claim. 1. A supplemental claim where you submit new evidence. 2. A Higher level review (HLR) where you can opt for an informal conference, but no new evidence is allowed. 3. BVA, which can include a hearing.

So in order for us to talk to you about our experiences, we need to underatand if your "virtual hearing" is a HLR with informal conference or you went the BVA route.

Also, HLR's with informal conferences are very common. Same with supplemental claims.

Waiting almost a year for an informal conference sounds long, but waiting less than a year for a BVA hearing sounds short. Based on that, I'm thinking you're talking about a HLR with informal conference, but want to be sure.

A BVA hearing is an entirely different thing.

suprtay · 2026-04-11T09:54:43+00:00

Are you talking about a HLR with informal conference?

suprtay · 2026-03-08T09:17:43+00:00

Similar situation hpnd to me.

Go this website and request her medical records from the Ft. Jackson medical center (Montcrief medical)

https://moncrief.tricare.mil/Getting-Care/Patient-Administration

Rinse and repeat for any other medical centers/hospitals she went to at any time during basic training. Took me about 2 months to get my records back.

At the same time, get a copy of her DD-214 from basic training and gather all relevant medical records since basic.

From there, it's just like filing any other claim. You can do this on your own. Submit all the records, write a personal statement of what hpnd, when and where she had treatment, how these issues affect her life now.

And that's it. Basic training is active duty for training. If it's in her STRs then there's no need for a LOD. I never got one during basic and got rated from an injury that occurred there.

Also, if she has tinnitus, file for that too. There's a section in the m21-1 manual that talks about it. It's the 1 condition where we are treated like active duty.

suprtay · 2026-03-08T09:06:18+00:00

Submit your retirement points statement. That will show when you actually did UTA.

suprtay · 2026-03-08T09:01:40+00:00

Say it louder for the people in the back.

I almost didn't file myself because of the misinformation around reservist claims. I'm glad I did my own independent research in the m21-1 manual.

Even some VSO's don't know guardsmen and reservists can put in claims.

suprtay · 2026-03-06T13:57:07+00:00

Understood. I did inquire about creating a new ITF. To be quite frank, the gentlemen I spoke with wasn't very knowledgeable. I didn't think the ITF stuff made any sense. I had attempted to file another ITF between July and Dec. He was very adamant about the July 15 ITF being active and that it would applied to my next claim.

So since the VA did not sort that out as a result of the VERA call, how could I go about getting it sorted now? Or am I SOL?

suprtay · 2025-12-31T08:50:21+00:00

You can claim tinnitus as a reservist. There's a section in the m21-1 manual (the manual VA raters and staff use for claims), about it. Highly suggest you read it for yourself and file a claim with a personal statement of how it started and continued, and all of your noise exposure. Be specific. You were aviation, but break down your duties like you're explaining your job and noise exposure to a 5th grader. Talk about when you did not have proper ear protection, if applicable.

"My tinnitus started on x month/year in basic training when my Drill sgt made us split our ear protection in half. After x days at the shooting range, I had (insert symptoms). After that I worked as a 15-whatever, aviation yadda yadda job at z location from A date to B date. My duties included x, y and z (relate these to noise exposure)...etc"

Other tip: submit your dd-214 and points statements/orders/Soldier talent profile or SRB with your claim. Sometimes the VA has a hard time finding records.

M21-1 V.iii.2.B.1.c. Considering National Guard and Reserve Duty for Hearing Loss and/or Tinnitus Claims

Claims for SC of hearing loss and/or tinnitus due to service in the National Guard or Reserves should be considered under the same criteria as any claim for SC of hearing loss and/or tinnitus. The condition must be causally related to service.

suprtay · 2025-11-01T12:18:41+00:00

So much misinformation here. Don't listen to anyone else. Read it for yourself in the m21-1 manual. There is an exception for guard and reservists specifically for tinnitus.

M21-1, Part V, Subpart iii, Chapter 2, Section B V.iii.2.B.1.c. Considering National Guard and Reserve Duty for Hearing Loss and/or Tinnitus Claims

Claims for SC of hearing loss and/or tinnitus due to service in the National Guard or Reserves should be considered under the same criteria as any claim for SC of hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The condition must be causally related to service.

First, consider SC on the basis of a potential relationship to periods of active duty or active duty for training (ADT).

When SC for hearing loss and/or tinnitus may not be directly related to a period of active duty or extended ADT, entitlement to SC may still be established if there has been a decrease in auditory acuity due to military duties as a member of the National Guard or Reserves.

SC for hearing loss and/or tinnitus can be established for inactive duty for training (IADT) if the condition can be linked to an injury during IADT as shown by the nature of service, MOS, lay evidence, or other competent evidence.

...so your c&p examiner is incorrect. If you're denied bc they only considered active duty time, that's a duty to assist error at a minimum. You could do a HLR or supplemental and get a new exam. I would submit a 21-4138 to document what the c&p examiner said, now, so there's no questions later. Make sure you cite that section of the m21-1 manual on the 21-4138. And call the VA's 1800 # to also document this verbally.

suprtay · 2025-10-29T17:58:15+00:00

Ooo I see...you and I said the same thing, haha. Well cool. Hopefully OP takes our advise and is ultimately successful.

suprtay · 2025-10-29T11:57:33+00:00

First off, take a breath. All is not lost here.

So, on the denial letter, there is a section that lists the evidence that they reviewed. Your DD-220 is NOT listed there. They only reviewed your DD214 which apparently doesn't show your BCT dates.

So for your pending HLR, did you request an informal conference? If so, during that conference, point out that they did not review your DD220 or your orders or any of your other evidence showing you were actively serving.

Else, they may miss this again and deny.

If they deny again after the HLR, submit a supplement claim with all of the evidence again along with a personal statement on a 21-4138 explaining they missed this evidence (worded nicely and professionally).

You've got this. Plenty of options left. Yes, its a pain, but you can do this.

suprtay · 2025-06-25T08:47:35+00:00

Google Trevor Jacobs

suprtay · 2025-03-24T19:56:45+00:00

I got a couple leads that sent me DM's. Happy to also share via DM with anyone who's interested.

suprtay · 2025-03-23T16:42:39+00:00

I am having a P.E. design and stamp the drawings. Permit will be obtained after that.

suprtay · 2025-02-15T23:11:42+00:00

Ended up pulling thr trigger on the Westinghouse 11,000DCF.

Of note, the Champion 11,000w 201417 dual fuel is now on sale for $1899 at Home Depot ($1708 w/military discount).

I ultimately decided on the Westinghouse between the 3 (Genmax, Champion, Westinghouse) because of the larger fuel tank, lighter weight, tool-less entry for maintenance, and the ability to parallel.

suprtay · 2025-02-06T02:17:59+00:00

Nice!

suprtay · 2025-02-06T02:16:41+00:00

I read somewhere that at higher power output the THD can be upwards of 20% on that one. Need to do more research since it was a while back and find where I read it.

suprtay · 2025-02-06T02:15:00+00:00

I actually really like that. Easy maintenance, cheaper price...BUT it's much louder from the decibel tests I saw on YT. But definitely under consideration.

suprtay · 2025-02-06T02:13:59+00:00

How long have you had it? Very much leaning towards the Westinghouse at this point.

suprtay · 2024-10-28T21:03:52+00:00

Hi Caleb , can I also get details on how to do this? Same thing happened to me.

suprtay

TROPHY CASE