In most cases, your advocate should notify the VA of the benefits you want as early as possible. It is not necessary to wait until you have the proper application form. A dated, handwritten note is enough to start your claim and to preserve the earliest possible effective date (the date from which the VA pays benefits) for your claim. Every day delayed can mean another day of benefits lost forever. If you were discharged less than one year ago, it is vital to apply before that first year is up—special rules apply to you.

Do not delay your application until you and your advocate have gathered every possible bit of evidence needed to win your claim. You will have time after you file your claim to collect and submit relevant evidence. If you are worried that the VA may decide your claim before you get all of your evidence in, your advocate can write to the RO to say that you wish to submit evidence before they decide your claim.

The Peripheral Nerves of the Low Back and Legs is one of the most common claims made by Veterans for service-connected disability.  That is because back injury is so common during military service.

Peripheral nerves are the nerves that travel from the spinal cord to the rest of the body. Peripheral nerves that are in the lower back travel into the legs and feet. VA disability claims involving nerves in the lower back and the legs can be complex due to the fact that the larger nerves split off into smaller nerves as they go down the leg.

According to the VA 2015 Annual Benefits Report, over 395,000 veterans currently receive VA disability benefits for degenerative arthritis of the spine. Injury and joint overuse, both common among veterans, can contribute to degenerative arthritis.

It is important to note that both degenerative arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis  may be eligible for presumptive service-connection if symptoms appear within one year of discharge from military service. A veteran only needs to show that the condition is at least 10 percent disabling, and that symptoms began within one year of discharge.

It is really difficult to decide how best to rate a spine condition, but the basic rule of thumb is to rate it under the code that would give the highest rating. Always start first with the General Rating Formula. There are, of course, a few exceptions .

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common disorder among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Although carpal tunnel release is highly effective, the procedure may be under-utilized in this population.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is an entrapment of the median nerve at the wrist that is most commonly associated with repetitive motion. However, carpal tunnel syndrome may be idiopathic or caused by such diseases as diabetes, hypothyroidism, autoimmune diseases, or tumors. Carpal tunnel syndrome, whatever the etiology, is considered to be a type of mononeuropathy called a pressure neuropathy that results in neurologic signs and symptoms that, if untreated, or treated too late, may lead to permanent weakness and sensory loss in the hand. As such, it is clearly an organic disease of the nervous system, since peripheral nerves are part of the nervous system, and there is objective evidence of nerve damage. Therefore, carpal tunnel syndrome is considered a presumptive condition under § 3.309(a) subject to the rebuttable presumption provisions of § 3.307(d).

Please note: Entitlement should be granted for a chronic condition only. For VAC purposes, "chronic" means that the condition has existed for at least 6 months. Signs and symptoms are generally expected to persist despite medical attention, although they may wax and wane over the 6 month period and thereafter.

The Aid and Attendance (A&A) pension provides benefits for veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing and undressing or taking care of the needs of nature. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted care in an assisting living facility also qualifies.

Thank you everyone who post comments and get involved.

Many of the listed benefits also have other eligibility requirements. Mention of a particular benefit is to establish the basic threshold level of disability required for eligibility (or possible eligibility) to that benefit. Each higher level of disability also includes those benefits listed for previous levels.

We though to cover Federal Benefits and CalVet afterwards but finally decided to incorporate everything into one Episode:)

Pension is a benefit paid to wartime Veterans who have limited or no income, and who are age 65 or older, or, under 65, and are permanently and totally disabled, or, a patient in a nursing home, or, are receiving Social Security disability payments. Veterans who are more seriously disabled may qualify for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits. These are benefits that are paid in addition to the basic pension rate.

Thank you everyone who post comments and get involved.

Disability Benefits Questionnaires(DBQs) are medical examination forms used to capture essential information for evaluating disability compensation and/or pension claims.