SERVING

Those That

SERVED

9.   Know and use your appeal rights.  VA decisions can be appealed. If you feel your claim was improperly denied, find out how to have it reviewed.

   

No government agency is 100% perfect, and mistakes can be made. If your case is one that may have been mistakenly decided and you don't appeal it, the only one who loses is you.

  

All VA decisions come with your appeal rights attached--follow them. Also, remember that VFW will represent you free of charge as your power of attorney.

   

10.   Share your knowledge.  Once your claim has been satisfactorily processed, consider yourself a "mini-expert" in that area. If you know of someone else who might be in need of the same benefit, assist him or her.

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

       

It is human nature for someone to more readily accept assistance from a friend or relative than an informal government employee. If you are a "people" person, you might even want to consider becoming your local VFW Post service officer to help fellow vets.

   

There you have it. Ten concise and concrete suggestions for helping your claim go through the system faster.

  

There is no guarantee these steps will alleviate all problems and delays, but they are bound to improve most situations. No one likes run-arounds and red tape. These ideas will help you smoothly navigate the byways of what sometimes seems a daunting process.

         

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

     

       

Top 10 Ways To Avoid VA Red Tape written by Raymond P. Toczek.  Mr. Toczek is a benefits counselor at the VA Westside Hospital in Chicago, a veteran of 20 years of Post service work and a member of Post 2004.

Top 10 Ways To Avoid VA Red Tape 

| 1 | 2 | 3 |