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Cbarbie created a topic to put useful websites/threads as they were found. It has become somewhat unwieldy, so I am organizing the info into a tidier bundle. If you want to read her site in its entirety, here it is [ http://vets.yuku.com/topic/24747/master/1/?page=1 ] I apologize if I leave a name out of the originator of a post, but I am trying to keep to just links with small explanations.

I am also including a few bits and pieces I have found along the way that might also help. Also, some are being eliminated since they are posted elsewhere in this thread.

SECTION 1 - PUTTING A CLAIM TOGETHER

How to Assemble a VA Claim: A good basic beginning for researching, organizing and assembling: http://www.howtoassemblevaclaims.com/index.html

Nexus letters
(per Stillhere) look especially at cruiser's reply (VBN topic): http://vets.yuku.com/topic/14406

Another site: http://veteransinfo.tripod.com/nexus2.pdf

Buddy letters, a description from Skinny Cat (I have polished a little so can't quote BUT all the knowledge is from Skinny Cat)---

You as well as other soldiers that were in a combat zone together need to write letters describing his combat experiences and send them to him. Be sure to put names, dates, and locations and units in the statements.

To make them official documents they must say something at the bottom of the statements in the form of:

"I hereby certify that the information I have given is true to the best of my knowledge."

Each statement must be signed and the service number and address of the author included on each statements.

Buddy letters make good evidence.

SECTION 2 - FINDING INFORMATION, OVERALL

Army Togetherweserved: http://army.togetherweserved.com/

Military.com: http://www.military.com/

National Personnel Center, St. Louis: SF-180 military records: http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/standard-form-180.html

C-File: Requesting a copy of your records (VBN topic): http://vets.yuku.com/topic/18756

VA Forms: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/

LINKS Page (VBN), excellent topic, be sure to check out: http://vets.yuku.com/topic/22333

VA Warms Systems: includes M21, manuals, circulars, CFRs: http://vets.yuku.com/topic/6882

Vital Records - Covers all states/territories death, birth, divorce-type information: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm

DisabilityInfo.gov, a source for researching all kinds of disability stuff: http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=500



SECTION 3 - DISABILITIES, RESEARCHING

MedlinePlus, a very good site to research any disability, medication, research, articles, etc.: http://medlineplus.gov/

Mental Disorders - Survivir created a General Rating Formula that might be of help (VBN topic): http://vets.yuku.com/topic/714

Hearing Loss:

Noise Levels of Common Army Equipment: http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/hcp/noiselevels.aspx

Hearing Test Advice (VBN topic): http://vets.yuku.com/topic/26213


Chronic Pain - Inflammatory and Neuropathic: http://www.iasp-pain.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=General_Resource_Links&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=3058

Sleep Apnea & CPAP: http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/


SECTION 4 - STATE/COUNTY ASSISTANCE

State Veterans Affairs-Alphabetically (VBN topic): http://vets.yuku.com/topic/26070

National Association of County Veteran Service Officers: http://nacvso.org/?page_id=14


SECTION 5 - INTERNATIONAL, WOMEN, FILIPINO

International:

U.S. Vets Worldwide via VA Site: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Foreign/index.htm

U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions: http://www.usembassy.gov/

Territorial, Veterans Affairs (See Post #20, this thread)

Women:

Military Sexual Trauma Counseling (VA): http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/Military_Sexual_Trauma.asp

Women's Trauma Recovery Program (VA): http://www.womenvetsptsd.va.gov/

Filipino:

Stimulus Bill Provides $198 Million for Filipino Veterans: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1654


SECTION 6 - BENEFITS

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Benefit Booklet site: http://www1.va.gov/OPA/vadocs/current_benefits.asp

U.S Veteran Compensation Programs: http://www.veteranprograms.com/index.html

Checklist of Benefits for Disabled Veterans and Survivors (2006 vers,): http://vets.yuku.com/topic/27744


SECTION 7 - VA MATH

TITLE 38, CHAPTER I, PART 4, Subpart A--General Policy in Rating, Sec. 4.25 Combined ratings table (explanation): http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=38&PART=4&SECTION=25&YEAR=2003&TYPE=TEXT

Concerning Bi-lateral (VBN topic): http://vets.yuku.com/reply/171092#reply-171092

SECTION 8 - EMPLOYMENT

U.S. Office of Personnel Management--Veterans Employment Information: http://www.opm.gov/Veterans/


SECTION 9 - LIFE INSURANCE, MISC. LEGALITIES

Life Insurance (VBN topic): http://vets.yuku.com/topic/25170

Paying Back Military Retirement (VBN topic): http://vets.yuku.com/topic/25535

Separation Pay - Legalities - 6 hr. limit, bunch of stuff (VBN topic): http://vets.yuku.com/topic/18056

Paying Back FERS Retirement: https://www.abc.army.mil/retirements/FERSPost56.htm

Amendment of Record - 38 CFR 1579
Amendment of Record (VBN topic): http://vets.yuku.com/topic/26631

Don't kill your claim by your inaction (VBN topic): http://vets.yuku.com/topic/17943


SECTION 10 - OTHER

This is information that most veterans as they go through the system, end up needing to access.

Social Security Forum. It gives a lot of helpful advice for filing.

Note the SSDI Self-Report by Patrick.
Also my topic about your Job Description as well as other research: http://vets.yuku.com/topic/20210

Veteran Finance & Tax Related Issues Forum. Offers information about various tax questions, your personal retirement fund access and other useful areas.


fanaticbooks
(with the help of a lot of others who contributed to the original topic)