SERVING
Those That
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Veterans Share How They Won
Timmy Bahr, Marine Corps Veteran
I am a Marine Corps Veteran with 46 years of service to date. Hard to believe but, because of our current war footing, I've not been able to receive my final discharge as of yet.
Anyhow, after a bit over 20 years of active duty (1972-1992) I "Retired" and went home to try and forget. At that time I felt everyone else deserved VA services not me. However, after being "voluntold" to take a team of Marines to Iraq for about 9 months, and suffering additional physical and emotional injuries, I was talked into filing for service connected disability compensation; which I did.
Starting in 2006 I started the claims process through a VSO and, after WAY too much time in the process, I was finally service connected at 30%.
Then, with the introduction of eBenefits and MyHealtheVet, and with the DAV as my representative, I took charge of the process. After having both hips replaced in 2013, both service connected, I filed my own claim Fully Developed Claim, without assistance of a VSO I might add, and was service connected at 100% P&T. With that done I filed for SSDI and was awarded the maximum allowed.
The point I want to make is this: If you are receiving medical services through the VHA for possible service connected disabilities, you MUST file a claim request with the VBA if you want to receive a rating and compensation for physical and emotional injuries you sustained while in service. YOU DO NOT NEED TO WORK WITH A VSO TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN! We all need to take charge of our future ratings and through eBenefits and MyHealtheVet you can do just that.
If there is a veteran who reads this posting who has more questions relating to this, or who would like information as to how to log into eBenefits and MyHealtheVet, please feel free to contact me at my contact information.
Contact Timmy Bahr
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