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Q73: Hi I'm reaching out for a quick question. And to be honest I am scared to do this but most of all scared to be rejected. It will be so much easier to read the response rather than to hear it. I was discharged from the military under chapter 5-17 back in 2012. After get out I started seeing a counselor at VA therapy clinic in California. We discussed about doing a claim but I never did. 6 years later now regretting I didn't and leaving. Is there a chance I'm still eligible to go back to that clinic and seal help? It has been 6 years since I was discharged and I didn't file a claim. I do still have my dd-214. I Really want to make sure I am still eligible to go back to that office before I reach out to them directly. Whatever the answer is please email me back.
If you have a question about benefits, compensation, pension or VA related issues please submit here.
A1: First question... was the discharge honorable? If yes, then you can apply for VA healthcare and/or compensation. If no, unless it is a mental health emergency condition, you will not be entitled to any assistance from the VA. If the discharge is honorable you can possibly apply for compensation for any condition that happened to you while you were in the military. You must be able to prove it happened in the military or was caused by the military, you have had treatment for it and it still bothers you to date and there is a nexus (link) between then and now, then you should file a claim for it. If the VA comes back and denies it, saying it was pre-existing, then you can argue it based on the Presumption of Soundness rule. (LC) 7/10/18