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2010 Veterans Benefits Manual

By Ray Parrish

It's hard for me to tell you how excited you should be with the just published 2010 Veterans Benefits Manual by the National Veterans Legal Services Program. To me it feels like a magic wand that can win so many VA claims! The new VBM has significant additions that address the changes in law, policy and political debate that have happened this past year. This VBM will mean more vets will find it easier to win VA claims. It's now indispensable to both service officers doing VA claims and veterans' advocates staving off proposed cuts to benefits who want to know the system's details.

The new VBM reproduces the revised versions of commonly used VA forms that say "supersedes previous editions which will not be used." (The changes themselves are just as important as that warning.) There's a new chapter on finding military records. There's great advice on how to deal with new changes in the VA's "rating schedule" on TBI. A new section on the recently added diseases presumed to be service connected to Agent Orange; ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's and more leukemia. Info on the new vet-friendly rules on PTSD claims. There are new instructions on two dozen ways to insure that you get all the benefits that you're entitled to and how to use the VA's new electronic filing system, which is especially useful to vets with OTH/BCD's in avoiding hospital admission personnel who are unaware of policies ordering health care for service connected disabilities regardless of these discharges.

Maybe it's just the "policy wonk" in me, but this edition seems easier to use and I'm convinced that it enables more people than ever to help vets and their families to navigate the VA system and some may even learn enough to be able to make a living doing VA claims. Lexis Nexis 800-533-1637.