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5 Steps to Prepare You VA Ailment List (VA Form 21-526)

 

First, order your medical / dental records.  Second, compile the list of ailments from your medical / dental records grouped by area of the body (arms, legs, torso, head, etc) or body system (circulatory, respiratory, etc).  You can list your deployment ships and/or locations under a 'miscellaneous' category.  Next, share your list with your spouse or VSO to find additional ailments that are missing.  Make sure to be selective who you share this personal health information with.  Then, create a paragraph for each ailment in preparation for the VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) exams.  Lastly, if you're within 6-12 months of leaving the service, go onto VA.gov and make an account.  If you're not using a VSO, this is where you'll input your list of ailments along with copies of your medical / dental records.

 

1) Order your medical / dental records - Go to your medical treatment facility (MTF) or order your medical / dental records from the number or email your doctor / dentist provides you. While you're waiting for your medical / dental records to be emailed or mailed to you, start making a list of known ailments that you plan to claim.  Don't forget to include the areas of the world you've deployed because those locations could open you up to additional ailments that you are unaware of (example: agent orange or burnpits).  You can list your deployment ships, aircraft, vehicles, and deployment locations under a 'miscellaneous' category on your list of ailments. Also, set appointments for ailments that you need to see a doctor for so that there is a record of these visits.  You can update your medical / dental records with recent medical appointments before you submit your initial VA claim at your 180 day point (6 months) from leaving the service.  The VA will ask you to upload your own records on VA.gov because otherwise it will take weeks for the VA to get a copy of your records.  

 

2) Once you receive your records, review your records page by page making a careful list of ailments.  If you don't remember the medical term or name for the ailments then Google the symptoms written in your medical records to familiarize yourself.  Also, read 38 CFR Part IV.  This Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) document will give you an indication of how the VA decides what percentage certain medical conditions are given above 0%.  You can also Google 'common VA ailments' or 'VA claims agent sites' to better understand the proper medical terms that you'll use to describe your particular ailments.  Remember, you are allowed to claim anything.  The VA will schedule you VA Compensation and Pension exams for each ailment to allow you to demonstrate the ailment to the VA contracted medical proffessional.  If you claim an ailment that is not in your record you must be able to successfully answer how the ailment limits you, when you received it, and why it's not documented in your medical records.  While this step is the most time intensive, once you've completed it, you'll be close to finishing a major step in your VA engagement process.  Don't forget to include the areas of the world you've deployed because those locations could open you up to additional ailments that you are unaware of (example: agent orange or burnpits).  You can list your deployment ships, aircraft, vehicles, and deployment locations under a 'miscellaneous' category on your list of ailments. 

 

3) If you're using a VSO (Veteran Service Officer), you can use their experience to continue to craft your list of ailments.  I had an extensive list of major and minor ailments.  Keep in mind that dental, eye, and skin conditions are usually not claimed and should be.  Your conditions do not have to be limited to what currently ails / hurts you.  You're not a doctor and you don't know what past ailments could mean for your future health.  Also, many of your health conditions cause you to restrict certain activities that you previously enjoyed and that may have impacts on your health, both physical and mental.  Your spouse or partner can be another good source to assist you to refine your list or add ailments you couldn't remember.  Including your spouse / partner in your VA engagement process is important because they are also going through the transition / retirement process with you even though they may not be in the service.  They also benefit from you completing the VA engagement process correctly the first time.

 

4) You should reserve several weeks to create a script or explanation for each medical ailment you intend to claim.  Each ailment can be a simple paragraph that explains where you first received the injury and date, how you treated the injury through the military medical system or on your own, how the injury limits your day-to-day activities, and whether this ailment is chronic (occurs periodically) or not.  During your C&P exams you'll be asked if each particular ailment is listed in your records.  If it isn't listed, or it's not listed enough to indicate it's a chronic condition, you'll have the opportunity to explain why the injury / condition isn't listed in your records.  For instance: A good way I would explain a knee injury, that wasn't sufficiently documented, is to calmly explain that if you had received the extensive treatment and rehab necessary you would not have been able to be with your unit, therefore you would have missed valuable training, and more than likely not been able to deploy.  If you couldn't deploy then you wouldn't have been able to promote and eventually you would have had to leave the service and you love to serve your country.  This may seem to be an embellishment.  It isn't.  If this applies to you then you will need to use your head to best describe how your injury limited you but you refused to seek treatment becuase it would have stopped you from doing your job.  You can also truthfully mention that when you did go to medical you were told, "Suck it up!  Take some tylenol and water and get back out there."  Unless this is the medical examiners first C&P exam, they will have heard this from other service members. 

 

5) Lastly,  go on VA.gov and make yourself a login.  This took me a couple weeks because I needed to make a zoom appointment to physically show my passport and one other form of ID other than my military ID.  The process may be less stringent now but I would still get a VA.gov login soonest so you have one less thing to do to prepare to submit your VA ailment claim.

 

*Disclaimer.  For entertainment purposes only.  I am not a financial professional.  Modify your decision making as necessary.