Join Ed Farmer as he sheds light on why your increased rating claim for PTSD or other mental health conditions might be denied. In this episode, Ed breaks down four common reasons for these denials, including misunderstanding the rating criteria and inconsistent symptom reporting. He elaborates on the importance of both medical and buddy statements in supporting your claim and how C&P exam inconsistencies can impact the decision. Ed also touches on potential changes to mental health conditio...
Aug 16, 2024•7 min•Ep. 47
Join Ed Farmer, an accredited VA attorney and US Army combat veteran, as he reacts to a VA Claims Insider video about VA presumptive conditions. Offering his insights, Ed clarifies the nuances of presumptive conditions, emphasizing that while they can streamline the claims process, they are not automatic guarantees of benefits. He dissects the video's explanation of the three elements of service connection, providing a more comprehensive understanding of how presumptions can eliminate the need t...
Aug 02, 2024•10 min•Ep. 46
Join Ed Farmer, an accredited VA attorney and US Army combat veteran, as he reacts to another veteran-focused YouTuber, Combat Craig, and his advice on VA benefits. Ed evaluates the accuracy of Combat Craig's responses to common veteran inquiries on service connection and disability claims. Unpacking key elements, Ed discusses the importance of proper medical diagnosis, the necessity of in-service events, and the critical role of nexus opinions. He also addresses the misconceptions around the du...
Jul 26, 2024•12 min•Ep. 45
Join Ed Farmer as he uncovers the number one mistake veterans make when filing their VA disability claims: insufficient evidence. Ed, an accredited VA attorney and US Army combat veteran, emphasizes the importance of self-proving your case with solid medical documentation and other crucial evidence. He breaks down what types of evidence are necessary, including medical records, treatment documentation, and medical nexus opinions. Additionally, Ed discusses the value of buddy statements and how s...
Jul 19, 2024•4 min•Ep. 44
Today Ed Farmer, VA disability appeals attorney and combat veteran, breaks down the pivotal choices between filing a higher level review and a supplemental claim after a VA claim denial. Explaining key distinctions, Ed clarifies when to opt for supplemental appeals, highlighting the necessity for new and relevant evidence. In contrast, he discusses higher level reviews, emphasizing scenarios where no new evidence is needed. Ed also shares strategic insights on combining both options simultaneous...
Jul 12, 2024•6 min•Ep. 43
Join Ed Farmer as he tackles five widespread myths about the VA disability system, debunking common misconceptions to help veterans navigate their claims more effectively. Ed explains why receiving treatment from the VA doesn’t automatically mean a condition is service-related and addresses misunderstandings about compensation for toxin exposure. He delves into the value of medical nexus opinions, highlighting the pitfalls of generic, unsubstantiated evaluations. By clarifying why simply appeali...
Jul 05, 2024•6 min•Ep. 42
Join Ed Farmer as he dives into the recent PACT Act updates, aimed at simplifying your VA disability claims. In this episode, Ed unpacks the two key legal presumptions introduced by the PACT Act—presumptions of exposure and service connection—designed to alleviate the burden of proof for veterans. He highlights the newly added conditions to the presumptive list: male breast cancer, urethral cancer, and cancer of the pair urethral glands, detailling how these additions enhance your chances of a s...
Jun 28, 2024•5 min•Ep. 41
Join Ed Farmer, VA disability appeals attorney and combat veteran, as he dives into essential tips for navigating your VA disability compensation and pension exam with confidence. Highlighting crucial pitfalls, he stresses the importance of attendance, vocalizing your story, and honestly reporting your symptoms. Ed underscores why discussing occupational impairments and avoiding exaggeration are key to maintaining your credibility. Beyond the exam, he advises on proactive steps like reviewing yo...
Jun 07, 2024•5 min•Ep. 40
Join Ed Farmer, VA disability appeals attorney and combat veteran, as he dives into eight conditions the VA does not consider for service connection, providing invaluable insight for veterans navigating their disability claims. Today's episode covers why high cholesterol, obesity, congenital defects, refractive errors, personality disorders, willful misconduct-related disabilities, substance abuse, and tobacco-related issues don't qualify as service-connected disabilities. He goes beyond the bas...
May 31, 2024•6 min•Ep. 39
Welcome back to VA Made Easy. In today's episode, Ed Farmer, VA disability appeals attorney and combat veteran gives the top ten tips for filing your VA disability claim, straight from the perspective of a VA accredited attorney. Ed emphasizes the importance of having a diagnosis, shares why mass filing claims can be counterproductive, and explains the value of articulating your theory of service connection clearly. He also highlights the rise in importance of environmental toxin exposure in cla...
May 17, 2024•11 min•Ep. 38
Welcome back to VA Made Easy; this is part two of welcoming physician assistants Kory McCullah and Joey Richardson from Casparii Medical. They dive into the complexities of VA disability claims for sleep apnea and toxic environmental exposure cases. The discussion unfolds around linking sleep apnea to veterans' service through weight gain and other conditions, and the challenges of substantiating such claims with medical evidence. Further exploration covers the direct connection of sleep apnea t...
May 10, 2024•14 min•Ep. 37
Join Ed Farmer in the first part of this two-part series as he dives into the intricate world of VA medical nexus opinions, featuring guests Kory McCullah and Joey Richardson, both physician assistants from Kaspari Medical. Highlighting their extensive backgrounds as veterans and medical professionals, Kory and Joey unravel the complexity behind creating effective nexus letters crucial for VA claims. They articulate the essential elements that constitute a strong medical nexus opinion and discus...
May 03, 2024•15 min•Ep. 36
A Board decision doesn't have to be final. In this episode, Ed walks through the appeal process at the Court of Veterans Appeals level. He explains the rules you must follow to give yourself the best odds to win your appeal, as well as the most common outcomes. Watch this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RlzXpy2Lqho If you're looking for more help, please schedule a consultation: https://calendly.com/vetlawoffice You can also find more information about my practice at: https://www.vetlawoffice...
Apr 26, 2024•11 min•Ep. 35
Welcome back to VA Made Easy. In today's episode, Ed Farmer, VA disability appeals attorney and combat veteran delves into the unnerving topic of VA rating reductions. Ed breaks down the reasons behind potential decreases, the VA's legal obligations, and your rights in contesting such proposals. Highlighting how reductions can stem from reevaluations, requests for increased ratings, or TDIU filings, he arms veterans with critical strategies for response. Understanding the importance of thorough ...
Apr 19, 2024•16 min•Ep. 34
Welcome back to VA Made Easy. In today's episode, Ed Farmer, VA disability appeals attorney and combat veteran, delves into the complexities of filing a service-connected disability claim related to PFAS exposure in the military. Ed breaks down the key steps in winning a claim, emphasizing the importance of not just being exposed to PFAS, but also having a resulting disability or illness. He highlights the need to show a likely connection between the condition and PFAS exposure, discussing the C...
Apr 05, 2024•12 min•Ep. 33
Welcome back to VA Made Easy, in this episode Ed Farmer, VA disability appeals attorney and combat veteran, delves into the upcoming changes to VA rating criteria for digestive system disorders. Covering the three major updates for irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, and hemorrhoids, Ed breaks down the implications for veterans seeking disability benefits. With a focus on the minimum ratings, new diagnostic codes, and criteria adjustments, he sheds light on how these changes can potentiall...
Mar 29, 2024•7 min•Ep. 32
Join VA disability appeals attorney and combat veteran Ed Farmer in this episode of VA Made Easy as he delves into the VA PACT Act and the issues surrounding TERA exams. Ed highlights how the VA is scheduling an increasing number of TERA exams for various conditions, leading to unnecessary delays in claims processing. He discusses the inadequacy of these exams, including examiners spending minimal time with veterans and the poor conditions of some exam locations. Ed also touches on the impact of...
Mar 22, 2024•11 min•Ep. 31
Join VA disability appeals attorney and combat veteran Ed Farmer as he delves into the three crucial elements required to establish service connection for VA disability compensation. In this episode, Ed emphasizes the importance of proving a current disability, identifying an event, injury, or disease in service, and establishing a medical nexus between the current disability and the in-service event. Using real-life examples and practical advice, Ed sheds light on the complexities of the VA dis...
Mar 08, 2024•9 min•Ep. 30
Join VA disability appeals attorney and combat veteran Ed Farmer as he delves into the higher-level review process and the potential benefits of informal conferences. Ed sheds light on the common scenarios where higher-level reviews are relevant, such as addressing incorrect effective dates and ensuring consideration of positive evidence. He also shares his shift in utilizing informal conferences to communicate effectively with higher-level reviewers, offering valuable insights into the purpose ...
Mar 01, 2024•9 min•Ep. 29
In this episode of VA Made Easy, Ed Farmer, a VA-accredited attorney and US Army combat veteran, explains why your appeal to the board may be taking longer than expected. Ed discusses the factors that lead to these delays, including the large number of appeals at the board and the implications of the two appeal systems. He also sheds light on bureaucratic mismanagement and how it affects the appeals process. With his candid and experienced perspective, Ed highlights the challenges veterans face ...
Feb 23, 2024•8 min•Ep. 28
Join Ed Farmer, a VA accredited attorney and US Army combat veteran, as he breaks down secondary service connection for VA diability ratings. Drawing from his real case experienced, Ed explains the process of building up a disability rating through secondary service connection, using a step-by-step approach and practical examples from a winning case. He shares insights on the criteria for establishing secondary service connection, the importance of medical evidence, and the potential impact on a...
Feb 16, 2024•7 min•Ep. 27
In today's episode of VA Made Easy, VA-accredited attorney and US Army veteran Ed Farmer explains the VA's presumptive rule for conditions related to service and how to win a claim even if you were diagnosed years after leaving the service. Exploring the list of conditions that can qualify for this presumption, Ed provides insights into the process of proving service connection and winning claims. He gives a real example of a case he recently won with a client with schizophrenia, who wasn't awar...
Feb 09, 2024•8 min•Ep. 26
Join Ed Farmer, a VA accredited attorney and US Army combat veteran, as he breaks down the key elements of VA disability claims on this episode of VA Made Easy. Ed discusses the three crucial factors needed to prove a VA disability claim, emphasizing the importance of a current disability, an event, injury, or disease that occurred in service, and a medical nexus. He addresses the misconception that VA treatment for a condition automatically means it is service-connected and explains the separat...
Feb 02, 2024•5 min•Ep. 25
Join VA-accredited attorney and US Army veteran Ed Farmer as he dives into the topic of getting a medical nexus opinion for VA disability claims. Ed sheds light on the importance of a well-crafted medical nexus letter and walks through how to navigate the complexities of obtaining one. He discusses the significance of choosing qualified medical professionals to provide opinions, emphasizing the need for expertise and experience in the relevant field. He also talks about the essential components ...
Jan 26, 2024•9 min•Ep. 24
In this episode of VA Made Easy, attorney and combat veteran Ed Farmer delves into the intricacies of Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU). Ed discusses six key points about TDIU that every veteran should know, including how the VA considers disabilities, educational and occupational history, age, and the ability to work while on TDIU. Forms mentioned: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-21-8940/ Video mentioned: https://youtu.be/44jtirWncVQ Watch this video on YouTube: https:...
Jan 19, 2024•12 min•Ep. 23
In today's episode of VA Made Easy, Ed Farmer, VA disability appeals attorney and disabled veteran, talks about the five most common mistakes that VA examiners make and how to deal with them. Ed goes into detail about each mistake, explaining the subtleties and consequences of these errors. You can find helpful resources in the video and links provided below. This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FATLqBtf0Jc Videos mentioned in this episode: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-20-10206/...
Jan 12, 2024•10 min•Ep. 22
Join Ed Farmer as he discusses proposed changes to VA rating criteria in 2024, with a focus on tinnitus, sleep apnea, and mental health conditions. Unpacking key elements, Ed explores the proposed shifts in tinnitus ratings, potential impacts on sleep apnea evaluations, and the revamped approach toward assessing mental health conditions. Delving deeper, concerns and potential benefits of these changes are illuminated, providing a balanced perspective. If you're looking for more help, please sche...
Jan 05, 2024•8 min•Ep. 21
In this followup episode, Ed into the murky world of unaccredited agents and the jaw-dropping contracts they're using! He shares the contents of these contracts and explains why this is so alarming, and warns about potential legal pitfalls for veterans who use these services. This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7rkh0bl5NQ0 Videos mentioned in this episode: Accredited Representatives part 1: https://youtu.be/tZWVwJDM7LI Effective Date video: https://youtu.be/ZWxSc1J3e48 If you're looking fo...
Dec 29, 2023•9 min•Ep. 20
Today Ed walks through the different types of board of veterans appeals hearings, what they mean, and what you need to do to prepare for them! Know what to expect as Ed breaks it all down. Videos mentioned in this episode: Accredited Representatives video: https://youtu.be/tZWVwJDM7LI This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FH8hfJs2ggY Disclaimer: The material and information contained on these pages and on any pages linked from these pages are intended to provide only general information abou...
Dec 22, 2023•9 min•Ep. 19
Ed breaks down the three ways how you can get the VA to pay beyond the 100 percent! This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/G-j0xPXHLv8 To do disability rating math: www.va.gov/disability/about-disability-ratings Forms mentioned in this episode: Exam for aid and attendance: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-21-2680/ Decision Review Request: Higher-Level Review - https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-21-0966/ To provide new evidence after denial use Form 20-0995 https://www.vba.va.gov...
Dec 15, 2023•10 min•Ep. 18
