Your VA Disability Claim - Steven B. Crane

What is your gut reaction when you hear anything about the VA Disability Claims process? Do you feel angry? Confused? Overwhelmed?
For many Veterans, interactions with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seems like a necessary evil. You know you need to work with the VA to find out if you can get disability compensation for an illness or injury that was caused by—or got worse because of—your active military service. So, you proceed with your eligibility determination and submit your documents. And then you wait. According to the VA, Veterans waited an average of 161 days to find out their fate (as of January, 2022). For some Veterans, this was the end of the story. They received an appropriate rating and were done with the process. But for many, this is just the beginning. A 2018 statistic stated that roughly 65% of VA Disability Claims are not approved. Are you part of this number?
My guest today is Steven B. Crane, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Founder of The 360 Veteran. Steven is here to provide the information Veterans need to help them navigate the VA Disability Claims process. He will explain when to file a claim, the importance of obtaining an expert medical opinion, what type of evidence you should include, and more. In addition, Steven will share key tips to help veterans secure the benefits they deserve from VA.
Notes on VA Disability Claims: How much Veterans receive in disability compensation depends on how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rates your service-connected disability or condition. If you have more than one service-connected condition, the amount of monthly compensation is based on your combined disability rating. To be eligible for VA disability compensation, you must submit a claim, establish a service connection for at least one condition related to your military service (whether on active duty, active duty training, or inactive duty training), and have VA approve your claim and assign a disability rating for that condition. VA assigns a disability rating based on the frequency, duration, and severity of symptoms. VA makes a determination about the severity of your disability based on the evidence you submit as part of your claim, and/or from military records. VA rates disability from 0% to 100%, in 10% increments.

To connect with Steven B. Crane:
The 360 Veteran: www.the360veteran.com/overview

To connect with Erin:
Life After the Uniform Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeaftertheuniform

Life After the Uniform Facebook Podcast Page: https://www.facebook.com/ErinSilverPodcast

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/erinsilverpodcast/