Exposed Vet Productions

We walk through a clear path to enroll in VA healthcare, choose and use primary care for referrals, and separate benefits battles from medical care so you get help faster. We also show how to access geriatrics, housing grants, VR&E, Independent Living, and practical mental health support for families.

• enrolling in VA healthcare with DD214 and eligibility review
• choosing primary care and preparing a focused firs...

We trace a veteran’s path from early enlistment to JAG attorney and into VA benefits law, then dig deep into SMC strategy, effective dates, and what it really takes to move from denials to life-changing awards. Along the way, we share wins, warnings, and the tactics that keep claims on track.

• service-to-law journey and family-driven practice
• scope across RO, BVA, and CAVC
• evolving SMC law and teaching others<...

We draw a sharp line between feeling tired and a true Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosis, then show how to build a VA-ready record with testing, coding, and a precise DBQ. 

• symptom fatigue versus CFS syndrome and six-month persistence
• why ICD-10 G93.32 matters
• diagnosis of exclusion and the lab, sleep, and cardio workup
• DBQ structure, activity restriction tiers, and functional impact
• filing order ...

We break down how VA’s push for speed is eroding quality and costing veterans years of backpay through wrong effective dates, misapplied TDIU rules, and missed SMC. Jim Radogna shares practical ways to spot errors early and the fastest paths to fix them.

• rising denials and poor-quality grants driven by quotas
• missed Intent to File dates and easy HLR/CUE fixes
• exam date errors used as improper effective dates<...

Alex Graham, an accredited non-attorney practitioner for veteran disability, brings his expertise on VA benefits and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) to help veterans understand their entitlements. Drawing from his Vietnam experience and years of advocacy, Alex illuminates the complex pathways to maximum benefits that many veterans and even VA employees don't fully understand.

• Recent "Barry versus McDonough&q...

Bethanie Spangenberg from Valor 4 Vet explains the thoracolumbar spine DBQ process and what veterans need to know about back disability evaluations with the VA.

• Understanding the difference between clinical vs. VA perspectives on spine anatomy
• The DBQ examination covers both thoracic and lumbar spine despite their distinct functions
• Most degenerative spine issues begin at the L5-S1 junction due to biomechanic...

Jerome Spearman, accredited VA claims agent, shares his expertise on navigating the complex VA disability system and the future of veteran advocacy. As a veteran himself, Jerome brings a unique perspective combining military experience, nursing background, and passion for helping fellow veterans receive the benefits they deserve.

• The VA disability system faces significant challenges with a high denial rate for initial cl...

We dive deep into veterans' survivor benefits, exploring what spouses and dependents are entitled to when a veteran passes away due to a service-connected condition. This important discussion covers financial support, healthcare coverage, and practical steps for preparing the necessary documentation.

• Dependent Indemnity Compensation (DIC) provides monthly payments to surviving spouses of veterans who died from servi...

Our discussion with veteran advocate John Dorle reveals the current state of VA claims processing, highlighting both ongoing frustrations and notable improvements in appeals wait times.

• VA claims process still operates on a "delay, delay, delay until veterans quit" philosophy
• Board of Veterans Appeals wait times have improved from 40 months to 8-12 months
• Filing claims without a formal diagnosis can...

The cervical spine DBQ process has undergone significant improvements, providing clearer guidelines for examiners and potentially better outcomes for veterans with neck conditions.

• Cervical spine anatomy includes vertebrae, discs, and nerve roots that can be compressed through injury or degeneration
• Recent improvements to the DBQ require examiners to document when pain begins during range of motion testing, not jus...

Alex Graham, a VA accredited appeals agent, unpacks the revolutionary impact of Berry vs. McDonough on Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) claims and explains how veterans can now receive multiple "Berry Bumps" to dramatically increase their benefits.

• SMC ratings are frequently misunderstood by veterans, VSOs, and even VA employees
• The Federal Circuit Court decision in Berry vs. McDonough now allows for mu...

Veterans have multiple options when appealing VA claim denials, and understanding these pathways can mean the difference between receiving deserved benefits or walking away with nothing.

• Three main appeal options: High-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, and Board of Veterans Appeals
• High-Level Review involves senior review of existing evidence without submitting anything new
• Supplemental Claims allow submissio...

Filing a VA disability claim requires understanding the process from beginning to end and preparing all necessary evidence before submission.

• Call 1-800-827-1000 to establish an intent to file, which gives you one year to prepare your claim while preserving your effective date
• Collect medical evidence from both VA and private healthcare providers to support your claim
• Submit all conditions on the same initial...

Former VA Compensation and Pension examiner Bethanie Spangenberg breaks down the complex process of VA knee disability claims, sharing insider knowledge on how veterans can better prepare for their exams and secure fair compensation.

• Knee DBQ is 14 pages long but typically one of the easiest musculoskeletal exams to complete
• Veterans should provide detailed evidence including when symptoms started, specifics of inj...

John Stacy welcomes James Cripps and Ray Cobb, the first two veterans to receive service connection for Agent Orange exposure that occurred within the continental United States, breaking through decades of denial.

• Inadequate training for Veterans Service Officers who receive just five days of instruction focused on passing a basic test rather than comprehensive knowledge
• Many service officers secure positions throu...

Special Monthly Compensation offers pathways to significantly higher VA disability compensation for severely disabled veterans, with key court decisions improving access to these benefits.

• Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) ratings can progress from S to L to M to N to R1 to R2
• VA's SMC calculator is broken, incorrectly calculating benefits in 13 out of 19 regional offices
• Aid and attendance (SMC-L) can ...

Selecting the right representative for your VA claim can determine whether you spend years fighting denials or receive timely approval and the benefits you've earned.

• Veterans have three main options for representation: Veterans Service Officers (VSOs), accredited VA appeals agents, or attorneys
• VSOs provide free services but vary greatly in quality and accessibility
• Ensure your representative has proper...

Bethanie Spangenberg, former VA C&P examiner and CEO of Valor 4 Vet, breaks down shocking VA denial patterns and provides strategies for veterans to fight back against illogical denials.

• Copy-pasted medical opinions appearing in denials across different regional offices 
• VA examiners citing general risk factors without considering veterans' specific medical conditions
• Cases where non-medical VA staff...

Veterans are facing incorrect payment dates for PACT Act claims, with the VA Inspector General finding errors in roughly one quarter of the claims examined, resulting in $6.8 million in improper payments and shortchanging an estimated 2,300 veterans.

• VA has received 2.44 million PACT Act-related claims since August 2022, approving 1.59 million and awarding $5.7 billion in benefits
• Inspector General estimated VA wil...