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VA Disability Evaluations: One Veteran to Another
Episode 012: Download and Share the one-page VA Disability Tracker at MindshiftCare.com/veterans.
Physical and mental ailments follow veterans throughout their lives. Some things that start out relatively small turn out to be disabling as we age. Eventually the struggle causes a veteran to apply for benefits when they really, really need it. In that condition, it is difficult to stay organized when you're not sleeping enough to have memory issues caused by chronic high levels of cortisol. Well, I've created a one-page VA checklist tracker for you to keep up with the steps of the VA application process for disability compensation. Download and share with the world the VA Disability Tracker (below). This tracker is used to train new psychiatrists to do VA Disability Evaluations like an efficiency expert (see video below).
Hello, I'm Dr. Daniel Williams, former Major in the Texas Army National Guard. I served as 36th Infantry Division Psychiatrist, Behavioral Health Officer and Veterinary Food Inspector Sergeant in my 16-year career.
I've been doing veteran disability evaluations and wanted to discuss my lessons learned healing veterans and getting the disability compensation right.
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Book Appointment
Tinnitus | Hearing Loss | Chronic Pain | Chronic Fatigue | Anger and Irritability | Social Isolation | Losing Jobs and Relationships | Night Sweats | Depression | Panic Attacks | Addictions of All Types
When you first book an appointment with me, I'll go through my full psychiatric evaluation. Then, I'll spend time analyzing your Capacity/Opportunities/Motivation experiences throughout your life. Next, I'll cross-reference that information with your Physical/Mental/Spiritual/Emotional domains to come up with a customized Mindshift Plan for you.
Steps to VA Disability Evaluations
One-Stop-Shop in under 1 hour - listen to full video due to Semper fi - heal your comrades
https://vimeo.com/1124693712?fl=pl&fe=sh
Download the best Ambassador Slides HANDOUT yet.
Step 1. Request an appointment for an Independent Medical Opinion and Compensation and Pension. Your approval email will come with instructions to access the HIPAA-secure portal at Mindshift Care. This will allow you to upload secure PDF copies of your medical records and paperwork needed PRIOR to the appointment. Please allow at least 2-3 weeks to gather all of the documents below.
Step 2. Request a copy of medical records from healthcare agencies you visited. Upload copies into the HIPAA-secure portal at Mindshift Care. (FAQ page)
Disability Packet
Your DD214. If you don't have a copy, you can request one from the National Archives.
Your NGB-22 if you were in the National Guard or Air Guard. The method of getting a copy depends on several factors and each state may have a different process. The National Guard Associations hosts a database with the contact information for all of the state's National Guard Headquarters where you can directly request a copy of your NGB-22.
Your military medical record.
All previous VA Rating Decision letters are available for download online.
VA medical records online (recommended) or request a physical copy. If all of your paperwork is in PDF files, you can upload it quickly both here at Mindshift Care for your disability evaluation and to submit for your VA claim to be date-stamped faster. The first payment for VA service connections will be back-dated to the initial date of filing of your active claim, therefore I recommend doing it online so you don't waste time or risk your sensitive information in the mail. (But overnight, certified, return receipt mail should do the trick.)
Civilian medical records from each clinic or hospital you've visited. Each place will have it's own forms. Be sure to request the copy to go to yourself and always keep a copy of everything organized. Any medical evidence related to your illness or injury (like doctors’ reports, X-rays, and medical test results).
Step 3. Fill out the appropriate forms for your disability case.
Statement in Support of Claim (VA Form 21-4138). Tell the VA what you are claiming, your story, symptoms you've had and how your life is doing in every area now. Alternatively, you can write the VA a letter directly. Simply write what you want to say onto a blank piece of paper. Keep in mind that PTSD is now accepted based upon circumstantial evidence and these forms are an important part of that, as is behavior change after trauma (addiction, self-abuse, divorce, etc.)
Lay Witness Statement. Try to get a military buddy or family member to fill out a Buddy Lay Witness Statement (VA Form 21-101-10) describing what they have witnessed. Behavior change, mood swings, arguments, family dysfunction, social isolation and nightmares are helpful to psychiatrists because people frequently lack clarity when they're experiencing these things. They can write the statement on the official form or write a basic letter on a blank sheet of paper. Be sure to include the current date, relationship of the writer to the veteran and the veteran's name in the letter. (I recommend pre-fill out the form with your personal information for your buddies to speed them up in getting it done.)
Step 4. Attend your Mindshift Care appointment you made in Step 1.
Step 5. Immediately afterwards, upload my report and all of the records you provided me to the VA for a new or updated application here. The clock starts now for increases in service connection percentages.
Steps 6-10. Go celebrate! It may take a few months to get the VA Rating Decision letter back. If you are owed back-pay, veterans tell me that they typically notice the money hit the bank prior to seeing the letter itself. So take it easy and celebrate the fact that you got some government documentation done with a steak dinner or an MRE.
Implied Tasks
To get all of this done, you'll need just a few items to make it smooth:
A computer with file folders set up to save copies of all of these documents.
A 3-Ring Binder with copies of all relevant medical records (helpful for taking to doctor appointments).
Divider tabs to organize all of the forms and records you collect.
Basic office supplies: three-hole punch for your binder, stapler, staple remover, pens, pencils and whatever else makes you feel happy when you do a project "right".
Access to the Internet so you can download forms and files.
Keep digital files backed up so that all of your work is not lost on accident. Dropbox or cloud storage options are viable and handy because you can access files from your phone for easier sharing.
Healing Veterans and Growing Your Own Medicine
In the last 10 minutes of my disability appointments, I like to mention any resources that I know about that might help veterans. Most of the time, I break into a discussion that goes very much like this...
Flashbacks are electromagnetic waves moving around in the body. When you have an unpleasant feeling that lingers and reappears, you have dozens of things you can do about it now to help relieve the intensity down to 10-20% of what it is now. I recommend booking an appointment today, watching date night documentaries and animal therapy to get people Mindshifting absolutely as fast as possible. When you add-in complimentary and alternative self-care strategies, mainstream treatment does its finest work.
There are principles in this world that will give us the best possible results. These success principles are true throughout time and apply to gardening as well. Patient, persistence, loving intention, precise nutrition, removal of toxins, etc. Classes at Mindshift Care always have a universal perspective that teaches truths about life that cross-over into lots of other areas. Know that there is a LOT of hope for healing in this world.
Recruiting VA Evaluators
https://vimeo.com/1127268588?share=copy
Download & Share the VA Application Tracker
Don't get overwhelmed, just glance at this one page sheet on the fridge and enjoy life one day at a time! You deserve it. In case no body thanked you for taking care of yourself, thank you. It means a lot to me - I can promise you that.
VA Disability TrackerDownload
This is the first book I wrote when I was a senior at Baylor Scott & White Psychiatry Residency. It's all the mainstream facts and figures, a quick read. Notice the subtitle, Combat PTSD in America: Toward a Permanent Solution, 2016. A Mindshift is the permanent solution.
I believe energy healing returns us to our ancestral roots and God has provided a way for all peoples to find relief through different forms of medicine and healing. When it works for you, now that's when you see the path forward and start feeling it.
Browse other Book Titles
View all episodes
By Daniel M. Williams, M.D., P.A.Episode 012: Download and Share the one-page VA Disability Tracker at MindshiftCare.com/veterans.
Physical and mental ailments follow veterans throughout their lives. Some things that start out relatively small turn out to be disabling as we age. Eventually the struggle causes a veteran to apply for benefits when they really, really need it. In that condition, it is difficult to stay organized when you're not sleeping enough to have memory issues caused by chronic high levels of cortisol. Well, I've created a one-page VA checklist tracker for you to keep up with the steps of the VA application process for disability compensation. Download and share with the world the VA Disability Tracker (below). This tracker is used to train new psychiatrists to do VA Disability Evaluations like an efficiency expert (see video below).
Hello, I'm Dr. Daniel Williams, former Major in the Texas Army National Guard. I served as 36th Infantry Division Psychiatrist, Behavioral Health Officer and Veterinary Food Inspector Sergeant in my 16-year career.
I've been doing veteran disability evaluations and wanted to discuss my lessons learned healing veterans and getting the disability compensation right.
.spwidget-button-wrapper{text-align: center}.spwidget-button{display: inline-block;padding: 12px 24px;color: #fff !important;background: #de6a26;border: 0;border-radius: 4px;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;text-decoration: none}.spwidget-button:hover{background: #d15913}.spwidget-button:active{color: rgba(255, 255, 255, .75) !important;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, .15) inset}
Book Appointment
Tinnitus | Hearing Loss | Chronic Pain | Chronic Fatigue | Anger and Irritability | Social Isolation | Losing Jobs and Relationships | Night Sweats | Depression | Panic Attacks | Addictions of All Types
When you first book an appointment with me, I'll go through my full psychiatric evaluation. Then, I'll spend time analyzing your Capacity/Opportunities/Motivation experiences throughout your life. Next, I'll cross-reference that information with your Physical/Mental/Spiritual/Emotional domains to come up with a customized Mindshift Plan for you.
Steps to VA Disability Evaluations
One-Stop-Shop in under 1 hour - listen to full video due to Semper fi - heal your comrades
https://vimeo.com/1124693712?fl=pl&fe=sh
Download the best Ambassador Slides HANDOUT yet.
Step 1. Request an appointment for an Independent Medical Opinion and Compensation and Pension. Your approval email will come with instructions to access the HIPAA-secure portal at Mindshift Care. This will allow you to upload secure PDF copies of your medical records and paperwork needed PRIOR to the appointment. Please allow at least 2-3 weeks to gather all of the documents below.
Step 2. Request a copy of medical records from healthcare agencies you visited. Upload copies into the HIPAA-secure portal at Mindshift Care. (FAQ page)
Disability Packet
Your DD214. If you don't have a copy, you can request one from the National Archives.
Your NGB-22 if you were in the National Guard or Air Guard. The method of getting a copy depends on several factors and each state may have a different process. The National Guard Associations hosts a database with the contact information for all of the state's National Guard Headquarters where you can directly request a copy of your NGB-22.
Your military medical record.
All previous VA Rating Decision letters are available for download online.
VA medical records online (recommended) or request a physical copy. If all of your paperwork is in PDF files, you can upload it quickly both here at Mindshift Care for your disability evaluation and to submit for your VA claim to be date-stamped faster. The first payment for VA service connections will be back-dated to the initial date of filing of your active claim, therefore I recommend doing it online so you don't waste time or risk your sensitive information in the mail. (But overnight, certified, return receipt mail should do the trick.)
Civilian medical records from each clinic or hospital you've visited. Each place will have it's own forms. Be sure to request the copy to go to yourself and always keep a copy of everything organized. Any medical evidence related to your illness or injury (like doctors’ reports, X-rays, and medical test results).
Step 3. Fill out the appropriate forms for your disability case.
Statement in Support of Claim (VA Form 21-4138). Tell the VA what you are claiming, your story, symptoms you've had and how your life is doing in every area now. Alternatively, you can write the VA a letter directly. Simply write what you want to say onto a blank piece of paper. Keep in mind that PTSD is now accepted based upon circumstantial evidence and these forms are an important part of that, as is behavior change after trauma (addiction, self-abuse, divorce, etc.)
Lay Witness Statement. Try to get a military buddy or family member to fill out a Buddy Lay Witness Statement (VA Form 21-101-10) describing what they have witnessed. Behavior change, mood swings, arguments, family dysfunction, social isolation and nightmares are helpful to psychiatrists because people frequently lack clarity when they're experiencing these things. They can write the statement on the official form or write a basic letter on a blank sheet of paper. Be sure to include the current date, relationship of the writer to the veteran and the veteran's name in the letter. (I recommend pre-fill out the form with your personal information for your buddies to speed them up in getting it done.)
Step 4. Attend your Mindshift Care appointment you made in Step 1.
Step 5. Immediately afterwards, upload my report and all of the records you provided me to the VA for a new or updated application here. The clock starts now for increases in service connection percentages.
Steps 6-10. Go celebrate! It may take a few months to get the VA Rating Decision letter back. If you are owed back-pay, veterans tell me that they typically notice the money hit the bank prior to seeing the letter itself. So take it easy and celebrate the fact that you got some government documentation done with a steak dinner or an MRE.
Implied Tasks
To get all of this done, you'll need just a few items to make it smooth:
A computer with file folders set up to save copies of all of these documents.
A 3-Ring Binder with copies of all relevant medical records (helpful for taking to doctor appointments).
Divider tabs to organize all of the forms and records you collect.
Basic office supplies: three-hole punch for your binder, stapler, staple remover, pens, pencils and whatever else makes you feel happy when you do a project "right".
Access to the Internet so you can download forms and files.
Keep digital files backed up so that all of your work is not lost on accident. Dropbox or cloud storage options are viable and handy because you can access files from your phone for easier sharing.
Healing Veterans and Growing Your Own Medicine
In the last 10 minutes of my disability appointments, I like to mention any resources that I know about that might help veterans. Most of the time, I break into a discussion that goes very much like this...
Flashbacks are electromagnetic waves moving around in the body. When you have an unpleasant feeling that lingers and reappears, you have dozens of things you can do about it now to help relieve the intensity down to 10-20% of what it is now. I recommend booking an appointment today, watching date night documentaries and animal therapy to get people Mindshifting absolutely as fast as possible. When you add-in complimentary and alternative self-care strategies, mainstream treatment does its finest work.
There are principles in this world that will give us the best possible results. These success principles are true throughout time and apply to gardening as well. Patient, persistence, loving intention, precise nutrition, removal of toxins, etc. Classes at Mindshift Care always have a universal perspective that teaches truths about life that cross-over into lots of other areas. Know that there is a LOT of hope for healing in this world.
Recruiting VA Evaluators
https://vimeo.com/1127268588?share=copy
Download & Share the VA Application Tracker
Don't get overwhelmed, just glance at this one page sheet on the fridge and enjoy life one day at a time! You deserve it. In case no body thanked you for taking care of yourself, thank you. It means a lot to me - I can promise you that.
VA Disability TrackerDownload
This is the first book I wrote when I was a senior at Baylor Scott & White Psychiatry Residency. It's all the mainstream facts and figures, a quick read. Notice the subtitle, Combat PTSD in America: Toward a Permanent Solution, 2016. A Mindshift is the permanent solution.
I believe energy healing returns us to our ancestral roots and God has provided a way for all peoples to find relief through different forms of medicine and healing. When it works for you, now that's when you see the path forward and start feeling it.
Browse other Book Titles