The links below are separated into functional groups and are intended to support VSO efforts to prepare claims and assist Veterans and their families UPDATED March 4, 2021 Various Web Links for VSO's Healthcare Provider Letter - Letter Explaining "More Likely than" and "As Likely as" phrase for claims Combined Disability Calculator with Bilateral Factors This site allows the user to add bilateral ratings first then add non-bilateral factors VA Disability Calculator - Hill and Ponton - this is another calculator Hearing Loss Calculator - This calculator is an excel spreadsheet that allows the user to insert the hearing loss measurements from an audiology report and calculate the hearing loss rating. It is purported to be very accurate, but recommendation is to use it as a guide and double check on VA ratings. This file will download to your computer and run in Excel. Instructions can be found at this site https://sites.google.com/site/hutskysdesk/ under the hearing calculator and click view. The site also contains a disability calculator as well. eVetRecs Diabetes Ratings Explanation - Hill & Ponton - This site is very beneficial in explaining what symptoms warrant what percentage rating. It is useful for the VSO to know when to recommend an increase and for the Veteran to know what to watch for in the future. Conditions Secondary to Diabetes - Hill & Ponton Lung Cancer/Mesothelioma Link - This is a commercial site not endorsed by SDVSOA, but it is a good source of information on mesothelioma, causes, exposures by service, etc... Noise Exposure Fast Letter - Explains when VA concedes noise exposure and when it is considered. You use with the link below for all services. This Fast letter language is now included in the M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, Chapter 4, Section B, 3, d , but is much easier to read here. This links to Conditions of the Auditory System PDF of M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, Chapter 4, Section D - This reference is a major change to the M21-1MR that was pointed out by a Florida Veteran who mentioned a typo. Further research show the VA is conceding noise exposure for ALL MOS's regardless of High, Moderate or Low probability of hearing loss. Here is a link to the M21-1MR. Thank You to the Veteran who pointed this out! Duty MOS Noise Exposure Levels- Shows which MOS's are considered High, Moderate or Low risk - can be referenced on Tinnitus/Hearing Loss claims 4138 This may not be important since high, moderate and low are all conceded, but it will remain for now. to better format (click the table of contents to jump to the selected listing) and includes Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. PDF of National Guard/Reserve SC hearing loss from M21-1. This section provides information on National Guard and Reserve hearing loss considerations including their MOS and military duties. . Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQs) - After about a year of denying access the VA has once again granted access to DBQ's. This is the updated link. Updated March 4, 2021 Hearing Loss DBQ - The hearing loss DBQ is not available like other DBQ's on the VA website. This is provided for cases where the veterans seeks an outside audiologist to provide a second opinion. The VA does not appreciate having this form used as a second opinion, but it has been used effectively by at least one VSO to get hearing loss awards. Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) - Information on SMC More SMC - this is an explantation of SMC from a law firm that does a lot of VA cases. Asbestos DUTY MOS LISTING - This is similar to the Duty MOS Listing for hearing, but does not necessarily grant an in service event. It is specific to Navy MOS's and has a link at the bottom to the M21-1 information for Asbestos claim processing. Commissary and PX/BX Access for Service Connected Veterans Fact Sheet - This PDF provides facts and Frequently Asked Questions regarding the exchange privileges recent granted including caregiver information. VA PTSD Ratings by Symptoms - This document lists the symptoms and how they equate to various VA ratings for PTSD. This can be helpful when discussing whether or not to file an increase and explaining the risk of such a claim. . Cut and Paste Statements to support a claim Rebuttal for Denial of Temp 100 for Hot Springs DOM treatment - Be sure to edit this with the dates of YOUR Veteran's denial Hearing Loss & Tinnitus Statement Example - Every hearing loss and tinnitus claim should include a 4138 with a statement similar to this. Vets did not go on sick call meaning the medical records are silent. The VA concedes noise exposure for all MOS's, but VA employees often do not know that. They are much less likely to deny by saying there was no in service event if you state that the MOS IS THE EVENT and they were to macho to go on sick call for a little ringing. Vietnam & Agent Orange Web Links for VSO's Agent Orange Presumptives List Detailed Presumptives List from CFR - this is more detailed with an effective date of September 26, 2019. It better defined the soft tissue cancers. Agent Orange Ship List -Agent Orange Ship List - October 28, 2019 publishing date. This file can be downloaded, opened and searched with Adobe Acrobat Reader. To use a search function select the EDIT tab on top left and then FIND in the drop down. Enter the ships name in the find box. Use the arrows to determine if there are more than one entry for a ship name. Ships Log Archives - This links to the National Archives alphabetical list of ships logs NEW August 26, 2019 Vietnam Blue Water Bill - This link opens a document with the text of the Blue Water Bill as signed. A couple of passages are HiLited. Guam- EPA study showing dioxin on Guam - This study was used in a successful Agent Orange case where a Veteran was granted service connection for Diabetes Type 2 and Parkinson's Disease based on presumptive exposure to herbicides NEW Nov 24, 2020 Guam AO Related Case - This is the successful 2017 case for Agent Orange related conditions from Guam NEW Nov 24, 2020 DENTAL CARE INFORMATION Dental Eligibility Cheat Sheet - this PDF from a commercial source explains the classes of eligibility for dental care for veterans. Questions for Dentists - this PDF from a commercial source providing question veterans may wish to ask their provider. Dental Information Website - this website is a commercial source providing veterans information on dental services. VA FACT SHEETS Benefits by SC percentage Cheat Sheet - The document was prepared by Susan Irons to assist in explaining the benefits that come with each SC percentage - Updated Jan 27, 2021 Application For Identification Card - Fillable Form 1172-2 for requesting dependent ID card for dependents of 100% SC Vets - website for card information ID CARD INFO - Added Jan 27, 2021 2021 Compensation Rates - Added Dec 29, 2020 2021 Pension Worksheet - Excel File Added Dec 29, 2020 VA Fact Sheet Website - This is the VA website that serves as the repository for VA fact sheets. below are a couple of them. Catastrophically Disabled Veterans - Information about classifying a veteran as Catastrophically Disabled More on Catastrophically Disabled Veterans - more detailed information Pension Fact Sheet - Great info to print for veterans or family to take with them. SBP-DIC Offset Elimination - This PDF explains the calculations and phase out of the DIC Offset Added Dec 29, 2020 - Thanks Dan More info on DIC Offset - from the DFAS website Added Dec 29, 2020 - Thanks Dan PENSION RATE TABLES & INFO - 2019 Pension Table Link to VA Website Survivors Pension Table Link to VA Website Pension Calculator Spreadsheet - Excel Spreadsheet that assists CVSO in calculating what pension Veteran may receive Updated with December 1, 2018 rates Pension Rates 2019 - PDF of 2019 Pension Rates B&W Pension Rates 2019 Color - 2019 Pension Rates color Compensation Rate Tables - 2019 Comp Rate PDF Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Table 2019 - 2019 SMC Table Special Benefit Rates - Rates for Clothing, Spina Bifita, Mothers of Vietnam babies, etc... VA HEALTHCARE Annual Income Limits - Healthcare - This page links to a VA best that details income thresholds by county in South Dakota for Priority Group 8. You can select the rates for Priority Group 7 in the upper right corner. Annual Income Threshold Calculator - Select the link "Determine the income threshold..." for a calculator. VA CoPay Chart 2020 - Ambulance Transportation at VA Expense Fact Sheet - Explains requirements for pre-planned and emergency care reimbursement from community providers Emergency Transportation Fact Sheet - Emergency Medical Care Fact Sheet - Beneficiary Travel FAQ's - VA Dental Benefits - 2014 is most recent at the time of posting CHAMPVA HANDBOOK - Link to most recent CHAMPVA Handbook COMMERCIAL LINKS - Vendors and resources which Veterans may wish visit Alcohol Rehab Help - information on a variety of alcohol abuse related topics from causes to rehab NEW August 12, 2020 Mesothelioma Information and legal - this site covers all aspects of mesothelioma including legal claims outside the VA NEW August 12, 2020 BURIAL LINKS South Dakota State veterans Cemetery Application - New application for the state veterans cemetery Burial Allowances - Opens a PDF Types of Markers Markers Brochure - Color Brochure Emblems of Belief - PDF version Pre-Need Eligibility Pre-Need Eligibility Form VA40-10007 Presidential Memorial Certificate Presidential Memorial Certificate Request Form BUDGET ITEMS South Dakota VA Expenditures Report FY 2017 - Opens a PDF file that can assist in showing the impact VA payments have on your county. The highlighted column is the combined total of Comp, Pen and Education which was NOT a column in the original report. This column shows the cash impact veterans bring to their county. VA Expenditures Reports - All years, All states Disabled Veteran Statistical Trends 1990-2018 - Document detailing the trends in VA disability- BLUF: although there are fewer Veterans, a larger percentage are SC and receiving higher ratings. VA FORMS & DECISIONS SEARCH PAGES SDDVA Claims Cheat Sheet - Cheat Sheet sent out by Audry SDDVA HIPAA FORM - This form uses the signatures from the digital pad in several formats (JPEG, PNG, GIF,TIF) but does not support .BMP at this time. Click in the space below Section 5: Signatures to open a window, browse to the folder with your signatures and click on the correct file. Contact Doug Huntrods in Meade county if you need assistance. We will work on getting the form to work properly for a direct upload in the near future. VA Forms Search Page - this page can be used to search for rarely used forms that are not listed in VetraSpec VBA Decisions Search Page - This page is where you can search for decisions that may be similar in nature to a claim you are working. The final paragraphs can give you an idea of the evidence and statements used to win a claim. Key words can be used in the search such as the name of the condition. US Court of Appeals for Veterans - This page is where you can search for decisions that may be similar in nature to a claim you are working FAST Letters & Training Letters - these are letters that explain and train VA employees on how to make decisions. After clicking the link you have to sort through many adds to find the link to the letter. After it downloads the extension may need to be changed in the file name from .ipb to .pdf in order to open it. Fast Letter 09-52 Verification of Participation in “Special Operations” Incidents VA Ruling on Pain being included in decisions - Article Ruling - This is a pdf of the ruling. |