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Hi Veterans, welcome to the VA Claims Insider Podcast! We’re Veterans helping Veterans get the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve. I’m your host, Air Force service-disabled veteran Brian Reese, and each week we share VA disability claim tips, strategies, and lessons learned to help you win, service-connect, and get rated at the appropriate level, even if you’ve already filed or been denied!
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Dr. John is a 100% P&T disabled American Veteran of the US Army Paratroopers, a doctor of psychology, and Veteran Coach Manager at VA Claims Insider (VACI). Now he’s on a mission to help other veterans heal through self-therapy by traveling across America with one goal: speaking at every stop about how we can all be better caregivers for our own mental health! Listen to Dr. John! New episodes every Tuesday! If you are a veteran and have filed a VA disability claim, have been denied, have rec ...
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Erin Ward-McCarty and Molly Cruzen discuss their experiences as military spouses and what they wish they would have known in the beginning. Join us for some heartwarming conversation and great laughs. From our house to yours, we can’t wait for you to join us!
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #157: Ask the VA Rater: Do I Qualify for VA Disability Benefits?
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On this episode of Ask the VA Rater, we will explain the basic eligibility for VA disability benefits and answer the question: "Do I Qualify for VA Benefits?" Generally, all veterans who don’t have a dishonorable discharge or bad conduct discharge qualify for some amount of VA benefits. The exact type and amount depends upon a variety of factors. L…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #156: Ask the VA Rater: How Many Veterans Are There? [2023 Veteran Statistics]
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On this episode of Ask the VA Rater, we will reveal some sobering Veteran Statistics as well as answer the question “How Many Veterans Are There in the World?” We will also discuss how to successfully navigate the military-to-veteran transition. Here is the high-value companion blog post with detailed military and veteran statistics: https://vaclai…
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Doc On The Road
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Season 4 Recap: Advise to Carry You to the Next Level
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My brothers and sisters in uniform, we’ve come down to the end of Season 4! This past season we’ve discussed a few things and had guests who imparted their knowledge to us! As we recap and look back, I am grateful for your continued support! We have a lot in store for you on this upcoming season so stay tuned! ********* Got some questions? I’d love…
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A special episode for you my brothers and sisters in uniform, with our very own Veteran Coach Managers Stacey Allen and Caleb MacLagan! We are all part of the Hundo Club and to those of you don’t know what that is, it’s what we call when veterans achieve the 100% VA disability rating! It’s really amusing that we’ve gone through the same process her…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #155: Ask the VA Rater: Why Is My VA Claim Taking So Long? [2023 UPDATE!]
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Wouldn’t it be nice to hear directly from a VA Rater? Well, now you can! Welcome to Ask the VA Rater, a brand new show where we deep dive into VA claim tips and strategies for VA disability benefits and veteran benefits. I'm your host Brian Reese, and in today's episode, we're going to answer the questions: Why is My VA Claim Taking So Long? How Lo…
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Last episode we talked about the SEM Method which stands for Strategy, Education and Medical Evidence. Prior to that method, we have what we call the “Gameplan” which is basically the list of conditions that a veteran is eligible to go after. It’s important that you know your Gameplan to be able to properly strategize your path to the rating that y…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #154: Ask the VA Rater: You Could Be Missing This Gateway VA Claim!
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Wouldn’t it be nice to hear directly from an RVSR, aka, a VA Rater? Well, now you can! Welcome to Ask the VA Rater, a brand new show where we deep dive into VA claim tips and strategies for VA disability benefits and veteran benefits. I'm your host Brian Reese, and in today's episode, we're going to uncover a crucial aspect of VA claims that you mi…
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In filing for VA claims, there's a process that we use here at VA Claims Insider. It's called the SEM method. That's S-E-M, stands for Strategy, Education and Medical evidence. This method works in a way to where it covers all the bases. It covers everything! When you follow this process, it’s gonna be easier and give you more confidence once you'v…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast 153: Mike Sarraille and Brian Reese - How to Live Your Best Life After the Military
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In this episode, Navy SEAL Mike Sarraille and Air Force Veteran Brian Reese dive into the leadership insights, strategies to win the game of life, and personal stories that will empower you to navigate your best life as a veteran post active duty military service. Are you ready to thrive beyond the uniform? Whether you're seeking inspiration, guida…
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Doc On The Road
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Higher Level Review (Along with updates for Doc on the Road)
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When your cable went out and you called the customer service and you don't get the right answer from the person you're talking to, what's the first thing you always say? I want to talk to your manager. That’s the same type of situation with the higher level review. You are requesting another review from a senior rater on your denied claim. HLR is o…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #152: The VA Disability Cheat Sheet - Your Ticket Inside the “Golden Circle”
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Yes, there absolutely is a VA disability cheat sheet!VA Claims Insider’s cheat sheet is broken out into the 5 types of VA service connections along with evidence requirements for each.Use these tips and strategies to help you prove service connection, even if you’ve already filed, been denied, or given up.Pro Tip: VA disability claims are won or lo…
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I met a Canadian veteran when I visited the National Veterans Museum and had a really interesting conversation. But there was one thing that he talked he talked about American veterans being tighter as a community. And then that actually brought up a couple other thoughts while I was there, that we should be doing that! We should be reaching out to…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #151: Did the VA Make a Mistake with Your Disability Rating?
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With so much riding on a VA claim, it should be handled with meticulous accuracy…at least in a perfect world. But the reality is that the VA is run by humans just like you and me, and a mistake is more common than we realize. After all, they are dealing with a backlog of more than 212,000 VA claims (as of April 29, 2023). With that kind of volume h…
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In filing for VA claims there are various ways you can go about it. You can connect with a VSO to help you, maybe a lawyer. Some immerse themselves in forums online to get information. Some get connected with an education-based coaching and consulting company like VA Claims Insider. There are different ways and they produce different outcomes as we…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #150: 3 Options to Consider if Your VA Claim is Denied
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3 Options to Consider if Your VA Claim is Denied If your VA claim is denied, you may feel frustrated and confused. Don’t worry; you aren’t alone. Thousands of veterans find themselves in this situation every year. The good news is that there are three options to overturn the VA’s decision available to you based on the specific details of your VA cl…
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When I visited the American Indian Museum, I noticed a lot of things there to where if things could have been just done a little bit differently, if there could have been just a little bit more respect for both sides, we probably wouldn't have had some of the mistakes that were made. When I looked at it, I realized that we just need to pick up wher…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #149: Military Sexual Trauma: Your First Steps For Getting VA Benefits For MST
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Few things can derail your life, like sexual trauma. It can trigger an onslaught of physical and emotional symptoms, making functioning at work and in relationships difficult. Tragically, it’s all too prevalent in the military. Studies show that 33% of female veterans and nearly 2% of male veterans screened positive for military sexual trauma (MST)…
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I had the chance to spend an afternoon talking to a veteran who has been a little sour in the whole process of going for claims and being recognized for situations that took place while he was in. And when I mean sour, I mean very sour. He was very negative. I couldn't see past that things have to happen in a certain way. So we talked, and had an o…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #148: Unveiling Gulf War Presumptives: Essential Guide for Veterans' Benefits
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Unveiling Gulf War Presumptives: Essential Guide for Veterans' Benefits CALLING ALL Gulf War Veterans! Regardless of whether or not you’re a Desert Storm veteran, If you served in what’s referred to as the Southwest Asia theater, you could be eligible for VA benefits. Listen now to learn more about whether you may qualify for additional VA benefits…
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There's an old TV show called 'Dragnet,' and one of the officers or the investigators would always say "just the facts." And that's basically what you have to do in filing for VA claims - you have to say just the facts! You gotta keep it as simple as possible. The more elaborate that you try to get with this and try to build up a story like you're …
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #147: Are You Living With PTSD Without Realizing It?
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According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects anywhere from 11 to 30% of veterans, depending on the conflict they were involved with. For example, 11 to 20% of veterans who participated in Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have been diagnosed with PTSD compared to 30% of Vietnam veterans. But t…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #146: Orthopedic Conditions Related to Military Service: Navigating the VA Disability Claims Process
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Are your ankles, hips, or elbows stiff or painful? Orthopedic conditions are common in veterans due to high-risk training, long ruck marches, military parachuting, and many other activities that cause extra wear and tear. Because military life can cause your joints to age more quickly—many veterans experience debilitating conditions as a result of …
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I just did a visit right outside of Petersburg, Virginia. And saw the Pamplin Historical Park. It talks about different stories from both sides of the battles that happened there like the Breakthrough on April 2nd 1865. Then I started thinking about the whole breakthrough idea of that battle. It kind of reminds me of filing strategically for VA cla…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Episode #145: Is CHAMPVA the Right Choice for Veterans?
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CHAMPVA (the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs) is among the many benefits not clearly understood by the veteran community. As a result, some dependents miss out on this comprehensive healthcare program and are stuck paying exorbitant rates for private insurance. CHAMPVA insurance provides eligible beneficiar…
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Our VA Claims Insider Founder, Brian Reese, believes that everyone would qualify for mental health because of situations that we've been through that create anxiety inside us that make that situation get even worse. And I too believe it. Anxiety is a common mental health condition that affects many of us, veterans,, and can have a significant impac…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #144: Agent Orange Exposure: Exploring the Link to Presumptive Conditions under the Pact Act
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Understanding the effects of Agent Orange exposure is crucial for you and others who served in the Vietnam era. Our aim is to help you become informed about the health conditions linked to Agent Orange exposure and the resources available to support you. In this video, we’ll explore the history of Agent Orange, its symptoms, and the health issues i…
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Mental health is one of those ones that has a stigma attached to it. If you hurt your elbow, you're gonna go to the doctor to check out why the elbow hurts. But for mental health, it’s different. We tend to suck it up and just say we’re okay. But that should not be the case. Mental health or your brain is just another part of your body and should b…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #143: Unveiling the Secrets: Q&A with Brian Reese, Founder of VA Claims Insider
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Join us as we sit down with Brian Reese, the visionary founder of VA Claims Insider, to uncover the untold secrets of successfully navigating the VA claims process. Get ready for valuable insights, expert tips, and insider knowledge to help you maximize your benefits. Do You Need VA Claim Help? WE'RE THE EXPERTS! If you need some help with your VA …
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I’ve been seeing a lot of claims coming through lately about musculoskeletal conditions so I wanted to go ahead and talk about that. I know a lot of you suffer from these and have situations that these also create. “The thigh bone's connected to the hip bone. The hip bone's connected to the backbone. The backbone's connected to the neck bone. Doin'…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast 142 - The Pact Act- A Lifeline for Veterans Exposed to Toxins
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With the passage of the PACT Act, as a veteran, you probably have a lot of questions. In this podcast, we will review the pact act and how it can benefit you. Did you know the PACT Act has the potential to benefit more than 5 million veterans? If you’re a veteran who has been impacted by toxic exposure, and you meet the new presumptive criteria, do…
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Doc On The Road
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Words of Wisdom! Building a Community and Beyond!
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As I always say in all our episodes, building a community is important. We, brothers and sisters in uniform, have got to get together and we actually need to start protecting ourselves and each other. I'd like to share this special episode with VA Claims Insider Founder, Brian Reese as we talk about building a community! ********* Got some question…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #141: Anxiety VA Rating: What Veterans Really Need to Know!
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If you’re suffering from anxiety that’s related to your military service, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation for an anxiety VA rating from 10% to 100%. The VA estimates that 43% of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan have at least one mental illness, which includes anxiety. Despite how common anxiety is amongst veterans, less…
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Doc On The Road
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The Experts Trail: How a Claim is Processed! With Veteran Coach Darrell McDonald
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Brothers and sisters in uniform, you probably wondering what happens to your claim after you submit it. It would take some time for the VA to process it and I know that the wait is sometimes frustrating! Join me in my first episode in our brand new season with Veteran Coach Darrell McDonald as we talk about how a claim is processed! ********* Got s…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #140: High-Value Secondary VA Claims for Veterans Benefits
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In this podcast, two of our experts delve into the world of VA benefits and show you how to navigate the complexities of secondary VA claims. In this informative video, we focus on conditions that can significantly impact your quality of life: migraines, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Did you know that t…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #139: Understanding VA Presumptive Conditions: Experts Discuss What Veterans Need to Know!
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A VA presumptive condition is one that the VA “presumes” to be service-connected, even if there’s no specific Nexus (meaning “link” or “connection”) for service connection. Presumptive conditions work like this: If you served at X location during the qualifying period and developed Y condition as a result, then X + Y = automatic service connection.…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #138: Get the INSIDER’s Scoop on TMJ VA Ratings!
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Get the INSIDER’s Scoop on TMJ VA Ratings! Welcome to our podcast on TMJ VA Ratings discussed by a panel of four of our experts. Veterans suffering from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder may be eligible for VA disability compensation. However, filing a claim for your TMJ VA rating can be a complex and challenging process. TMJ, or temporomandib…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #137: Are You Eligible for Special Monthly Compensation?
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Are You Eligible for Special Monthly Compensation? Special monthly compensation (SMC) is a special form of VA disability payment intended to help veterans, spouses, surviving spouses, or parents that have certain needs or disabilities. Veterans who receive a VA disability rating are most often given a rating between 0% and 100%. This is known as a …
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #136: Types of Medical Evidence the VA Will Accept to Support Your Claim
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In this informative podcast, our experts discuss the different types of medical evidence that the VA will accept to support your claim for disability compensation benefits. We will explore the various forms and documents you can provide to establish your eligibility and prove the extent of your medical condition.Types of Medical Evidence the VA Wil…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #135: How to file a FULLY developed VA Claim (2023 Edition)
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Overwhelmed by the process of filing a Fully Developed VA Claim? The VA Claim Process is complicated. We get it. Today, VA Claims Insider is going to share with you some secrets of the VA rating system, including the benefits of a Fully Developed VA Claim. Let’s face it. Most Veterans have no idea how to claim the compensation they deserve after di…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Episode #134: Key Tips to Help WIN Your VA Disability Claim: Expert Advice
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In this podcast, our experts share their insights on the keys to winning your VA Disability Claim. They will discuss the SEM method which stands for strategy, education, and medical evidence, and how it is essential in increasing your chances of success in winning your VA Disability Claim. Additionally, they will cover the golden circle created by …
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #133: Expert Advice on VA Disability Claims: Your Questions Answered!
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Welcome to our latest podcast where we sit down with VA Disability Claims experts to get answers to your most pressing questions. We know that navigating the VA Disability Claims process can be overwhelming and frustrating, which is why we've brought in the experts to provide you with valuable insights and advice. During this Q&A session, we cover …
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There was a saying that if you truly want to meet your goal, you will help others meet their goal and yours is just gonna happen by circumstances. It's just gonna happen because that's the way things work. If you do positive deeds to others, the byproduct is going to be that you're gonna feel good about yourself. You're gonna feel good about your a…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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Podcast #132: VA.gov Made EASY: Navigating the VA Website with Confidence!
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In this podcast, we will guide you through the VA website, also known as va.gov, to help you get the most out of its many features and resources. Whether you're a veteran, a family member, or a caregiver, the VA website has a wealth of information and tools to assist you. We'll walk you through the VA website login process, navigate the homepage an…
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I got a special treat for you guys in this episode! n the spirit of keeping up with the month for women. I'd like to hear some things that Veteran Coach Jenn McDonald has because not only is she an awesome coach here at VA Claims Insider, but she is from a military family as well. ********* Got some questions? I'd love to answer them! Email me at d…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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#131: How Veteran Mental Health is Affected by Disabilities!
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Welcome to our latest Podcast on how disabilities affect veteran mental health. In this podcast, we explore the impact of disabilities on veteran mental health. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 50 percent of veterans who need mental health treatment will get the treatment they need and are entitled to…
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Doc On The Road
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Women's Month With Veteran Coach Manager (VCM) Elizabeth Hash
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To celebrate March as Women's Month, I decided to bring in Veteran Coach Manager (VCM) Elizabeth Hash who is actually way ahead of the curve on a lot of issues. She's really the expert in a number of these areas and I thought it would be great if we could bring her in! She's got a great background and really comes from a military family and is real…
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Doc On The Road
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Interview With The VACI President - Terrell Murrell
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In this episode, I had the chance to interview the President of VA Claims Insider, Terrell Murrell. He is one of my mentors I look up to. If I ever have a problem and need guidance, I go straight to him. And he's always been open and welcoming and helps me a lot with a number of different situations! ********* Got some questions? I'd love to answer…
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C&P exam is the single most important day in the VA claims process that’s why it’s really important that you are prepared for it. In the last episodes, I kinda talked about C&P prep, but In this episode. I wanted to go deeper into discussing about it. I hope this helps! ********* Got some questions? I'd love to answer them! Email me at docontheroad…
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VA Claims Insider Podcast
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#130: Maximize Your VA Rating for Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)!
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Peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage, can be a debilitating condition that significantly affects a veteran’s quality of life. With over 2 MILLION veterans living with this condition, it’s important to understand how to get the maximum VA rating for nerve damage you deserve. Symptoms of Neuropathy can make it difficult to perform daily tasks and m…
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I've been talking to a lot of vets lately and we keep talking about C&P preps and the importance of them. Now, C&P that's the compensation pension exam that you're gonna go through when you do a claim. I’ll tell you, you really have to paint that picture to the practitioner. You really have to let them know what is going on. We as warriors don't go…
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