Guide to Filing a Veterans Medical Claim

Submitted by Andy GERO

There are three things a veteran must have for a claim approval.
A diagnosis – A physician must have diagnosed the vet with an actual illness or injury. Whatever the illness or injury may be, the veteran must have a medical record from a physician stating the diagnosis.

Current treatment – A veteran’s rating with the VA is dependent on the current level of treatment. A condition treated years ago may not mean it is still a problem today. Those who are seeing a physician currently may not have a problem that can be rated for VA purposes. If a veteran is seeing a physician for any physical or mental malady to include therapy, that counts as treatment. Veterans do not need to see a VA physician for the treatment to count.

A link to service – There are four ways to have a medical condition become service-connected:

• Direct – In the veteran’s military medical records

• Secondary – Caused by a service-connected injury

• Aggravated – Service worsened an injury from prior to service beyond the normal scope of progression

• Presumptive – Allowed by law after time in service

In other news, the commander-in chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America presented VFW Post 1614 in La Crescenta with a congratulatory Diamond Jubilee Award for 75 years of service to local veterans and youth in the community. District 7 Commander Gary Mitchell presented the award to Post 1614 Past Commander Warren Spayth, USMC and Vietnam veteran.

Andy Gero is a life member of the VFW, Post 1614 and the American Legion, Post 288 in La Crescenta. He may be reached through CV Weekly, (818) 248-2740, or write CV Weekly at 3800 La Crescenta, Ave., Suite 101, La Crescenta, CA 91214