Exposed Vet Productions

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...

We explore the complex world of military toxic exposures and how veterans can navigate VA claims related to these exposures, with special focus on the PACT Act, asbestos, Agent Orange, and other harmful substances service members encounter.

• PACT Act covers toxic exposures including burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune water contamination, and extends presumptive conditions
• Environmental hazards like silica (desert...

Alex Graham joins us fresh from the NOVA Conference in Minneapolis to share insights about veterans' claims and the evolving landscape of VA benefits advocacy.

• VA computer systems often reject valid benefit combinations like dual aid and attendance awards
• The VA M21 Manual is treated like biblical law despite changing 135+ times per year
• Recent Loper ruling shifts power from VA Secretary to judges for in...

Migraine headaches require meticulous documentation for successful VA disability claims because they are purely subjective conditions with no objective tests to verify symptoms. Bethanie Spangenberg of Valor 4 Vet explains the critical components of the Migraine DBQ and rating criteria.

• "Prostrating" is the magic word determining VA ratings—meaning attacks causing extreme exhaustion, powerlessness, debilitation...

Post-traumatic stress disorder affects thousands of veterans, with approximately 35 veterans committing suicide every day due to PTSD-related issues. We explore the realities of PTSD among veterans, sharing real stories of how this mental health condition impacts lives and discussing effective approaches to treatment.

• Combat exposure is the primary cause of PTSD, but non-combat trauma can also trigger the condition
•...

Bethanie Spangenberg, CEO of Valor 4 Vet and VA appeals agent, joins us to examine peripheral neuropathies and potential changes to the VA's rating system that could dramatically affect veterans' disability claims.

• Peripheral Nerve Conditions DBQ covers nerve damage including carpal tunnel syndrome and surgical nerve damage, but not diabetic neuropathy or radiculopathies
• VA currently rates nerve condition...

We discuss Tennessee's House Bill 342 which would allow unaccredited individuals to process veterans' disability claims in exchange for up to five months of back pay. This legislation poses serious risks to veterans seeking benefits they rightfully deserve through their service.

• House Bill 342 allows anyone to help veterans with claims regardless of qualifications or training
• Claim sharks could receive fi...

We dissect the VA's approach to rating neurological conditions, revealing how ALS claims are structured to maximize benefits while other similar conditions receive less comprehensive evaluations.

• Bethanie Spangenberg shares concerns about proposed VA changes to neurological rating criteria that could negatively impact veterans
• ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) is the only disability presumptively service-connect...

John, Ray, and Bethanie break down the complexities of the VA Aid and Attendance benefit and walks through the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) process required to qualify for this additional compensation.

• Aid and Attendance benefits are available to veterans and surviving spouses of deceased veterans who were service-connected
• The DBQ requires in-person examination by specific medical professionals (MD, DO,...