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Q625: I went to the VA Hospital in Houston, Texas when I got out of the Navy and I was treated for UTI and possible Kidney stones. No one signed me up for my 10% disability at that time or gave me instructions on how to apply. I am wondering if I can still apply or if I am too late? I am 80 years old.
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A1: You need to contact an accredited VSO with the American Legion, VFW, DAV, Am Vets, TX Dept of Veterans Affairs or another Veterans Service Organization. Take a copy of your discharge and a VSO will assist you in filing a claim. Do not wait until you are 81. (GH) 12/30/20
A2: Yes you can thank you fro your service. You are entitled to all the benefits VA has to offer. You can do it through your local Legion Chapter or the nearest VA claims office or State VA. (JMA) 12/30/20
A3: I am 73 and applied over a year ago, so its never too late. Of course the VA is still working on my application and said they would give me an answer by November 2021. I think the VA hopes maybe us older folks will die off before they have to pay us anything. (BP) 12/30/20
A4: Have you been receiving a disability payment from the VA? File a 21-526ez if you haven?t and then do some investigating into it. This could end up being a very interesting claim. (GR) 12/30/20
A5: If those issues are STILL affecting you to this day, then yes, you can file for them, but you have to prove that you either acquired those issues during service, or that your time in service exacerbated them. And even if you don't get rated, you will have them in your records in case they ever worsen.
Also, it's not guaranteed that you would get 10% from anything. And no one would have signed you up. You would have had to initiated a claim yourself. The VA doesn't EVER initiate a claim on your behalf (at least, that's my experience). (LD) 12/30/20
A6: Age is not a factor. You can apply for VA Disability Claim at any age. I would claim Agent Orange Exposure as well as Tinnitus + Hearing Loss and possibly PTSD in addition to your Kidney Stones issue. If you can get a VA Rating of 60 or 70 then file another VA claim for TDIU. That will give you a "bridge" to a full 100 VA Rating. Let me know if any questions. (SO) 12/30/20
A7: Sounds like there is a record somewhere. No one will apply for you. You have to do it yourself. It's not too late. Do it. Good luck. (EA)
A8: There is no age limit on applying for benefits. (RS) 12/30/20
A9: VA does NOT give anyone anything automatically. The Veteran has to apply for everything. First thing you want to do is file this form: VA Form 21-0966 (Intent to file a Claim for Compensation and/or Pension). That form will establish your DATE of Claim. After you submit your Form 21-0966, from that date, you have ONE year to gather ALL of your evidence (Doctor's, Clinics, Hospitals, etc. Medical reports). Put ALL of your evidence together and file a VA Form 526EZ. This MUST be done before a year has lapsed from the initial date on your Intent to File. Just remember you must file the Form 526EZ within one year of the Intent to File Form 21-0966. If you go past the year, you will have to start a brand new claim and you would be wasting precious time.
The reason for the Intent to File Claim, is that you are giving VA a 'heads up' that you will be filing a claim within a year. When, and if the claim is adjudicated, in your favor, VA will compensate and pay you from the date of the Intent to File. Not from the Date of Claim on the VA Form 526EZ. So it's money in your pocket with the 21-0966.
VA does NOT pay for Agent Orange Exposure. There is no claim there. What they will pay for is for anyone of the 14 diseases attributed to Agent Orange. At the moment Congress is working on 3 additional diseases attributed to Agent Orange. Good Luck and file that VA Form 21-0966 as Pronto as you can! Take Care, Brother. (RA) 12/31/20