VFW Post 10229

06/18/2026

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06/17/2026

The state convention was held last weekend. We had to reschedule our monthly meeting because of this. I want to remind everyone that we are going to meet this Saturday, 20 June at 0900. Please invite new members to join us! If you haven't been to a meeting in awhile, come back!! We will be honoring woman Veterans at our meeting and at the next district meeting.

06/16/2026

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SERVICE-CONNECTED AT 0%: NOW WHAT?

Few things confuse veterans more than receiving a decision letter that says a condition is service-connected but assigned a 0% rating. Many veterans read that decision and immediately think they were denied. Others wonder why they went through the entire claims process only to receive a rating that does not increase their monthly compensation.

The first thing to understand is that a 0% rating is not a denial. In fact, a 0% rating means you won the service connection portion of the claim. The VA has officially recognized that the condition is related to your military service. That is a significant victory because service connection is often the hardest part of a claim to establish.

The reason a condition receives a 0% rating is usually because the VA determined that the condition does not currently meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic code. In other words, the VA agrees you have the condition and agrees it is connected to service, but the evidence did not show symptoms severe enough to qualify for monthly compensation at this time.

That may sound disappointing, but a 0% rating can still have important value. First, the condition is now officially service-connected. If the condition worsens in the future, you may be able to file for an increase rather than having to prove service connection all over again. In many cases, proving that a condition got worse is much easier than proving it is related to military service in the first place.

A 0% rating can also create opportunities for secondary claims. For example, a veteran may have a service-connected condition rated at 0% that later causes or aggravates another condition. Even though the original condition is not currently paying compensation, it may still serve as the foundation for a secondary service connection claim.

Another benefit many veterans overlook is access to treatment. Depending on the condition and the veteran's overall circumstances, a service-connected disability may affect eligibility for certain healthcare benefits and treatment options through the VA healthcare system.

That said, a 0% rating should still be reviewed carefully. Sometimes the VA correctly grants service connection but assigns the wrong evaluation. If the evidence at the time of the decision supported a compensable rating, the veteran may wish to review the rating criteria, examine the evidence considered, and determine whether a Higher-Level Review or another review option may be appropriate.

This is why I always encourage veterans to read more than just the percentage. Look at the diagnostic code. Look at the rating criteria. Look at the evidence the VA considered. Then compare that information to your symptoms and medical records. The percentage itself only tells part of the story.

I have also seen veterans become discouraged by a 0% rating and stop pursuing the issue entirely. That can be a mistake. Many veterans eventually receive compensable ratings after additional evidence is obtained or after the condition worsens over time. The important thing is that the VA has already acknowledged the connection to military service.

The bottom line is this: a 0% rating means the VA recognized the condition as service-connected. It does not mean you lost. It does not mean the condition is unimportant. It means the VA determined the current evidence did not support a compensable rating under the applicable criteria. In many situations, that service connection can become very valuable later.

Have you ever received a 0% rating and initially thought the VA had denied the claim?

06/14/2026

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Today is Flag Day!

Flag Day has been observed for more than 150 years, but its origins can be traced all the way back to June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress declared, "The Flag of the United States shall be of thirteen stripes of alternate red and white, with a union of thirteen stars of white in a blue field, representing the new constellation."

In 1861, a celebration of the American Flag in Hartford, Connecticut focused on the Americanization of immigrant children, in 1889 the principal of a free kindergarten for the poor in New York City started a Flag Day initiative that caught the eye of the State Department of Education, and in 1893, Elizabeth Duane Gillespie, a direct descendent of Benjamin Franklin, proposed a resolution to the city of Philadelphia to observe June 14 as Flag Day (unfortunately, as she was a woman, this was largely ignored). Presidents Wilson and Coolidge, in 1916 and 1927, issued proclamations declaring June 14 Flag Day, but it was not until 1949 that President Truman signed it into law.

The VFW Auxiliary considers observances of Flag Day and of the American Flag itself an important part of the Americanism Program. Past and present traditions involving the Flag have included distributing them to immigrants who celebrating their new citizenship, participating in Flag retirement ceremonies alongside the VFW, welcoming visiting National Presidents with an Aisle of Flags, replacing tattered or faded Flags flying in front of local businesses, placing Flags on veterans' graves over Memorial Day weekend, carrying Flags during parades and teaching children about the history and meaning of the American Flag in schools through picture books and youth programs.

Happy Flag Day from the VFW Auxiliary!

06/14/2026

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Today is is National Women Veterans Recognition Day.

As explained by the VA, this is not a Veterans Day just for women, but a celebration of the signing of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act in 1948, which was significant in that is allowed women the right to permanently and fully serve in the regular armed forces (and to be recognized as veterans after doing so).

Prior to the signing of this act, military women (save for nurses) were sent home after each conflict. Many were not treated as veterans who served their nation, but like civilians. They were often denied the rights and benefits afforded to men who'd served beside them, simply because of their gender. The act "deemed women essential to war efforts and allowed them to serve in the regular armed forces full time," (Missina Schallus, VA news).

Women have served in conflicts and wars throughout America's history, including the Civil War and the Revolutionary War, in positions as nurses and support staff (and even as spies!).

The VA notes, "Currently, Women Veterans Recognition Day is a state-recognized commemoration. This year, the states of Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah... and Wisconsin will recognize" it, as will the Virgin Islands.

With that in mind, today and every day we salute women veterans, regardless of when, where, how or how long they served, or whether they reside in a state that recognizes the holiday. Thank you all.

06/13/2026

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06/12/2026

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BUILDING A STRONG VA CLAIM PACKET

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is veterans believing that simply filing a claim is enough. While there are certainly claims that get approved with very little effort, many of the claims that are denied, deferred, or tied up in appeals could have been strengthened significantly before they were ever submitted.

A strong VA claim packet is not about overwhelming the VA with hundreds of pages of records. It is about making it easy for the VA to understand exactly what you are claiming, what evidence supports it, and why the condition should be service-connected or rated higher. Think of it this way: the easier you make it for the VA to connect the dots, the better your chances of receiving a fair decision.

For most service connection claims, there are three basic elements the VA is looking for. First, there must be evidence of a current disability. Second, there must be evidence of an in-service event, illness, injury, exposure, or aggravation. Third, there must be a link, often called a nexus, connecting the current disability to military service or to another service-connected condition. If one of those pieces is missing, the claim becomes much harder to win.

A strong claim packet usually starts with medical evidence. That may include VA treatment records, private medical records, diagnostic testing, specialist reports, prescription histories, surgery records, sleep studies, imaging reports, or anything else that helps establish the diagnosis and severity of the condition. The goal is not to submit every medical record you have ever generated. The goal is to submit evidence that actually helps prove the claim.

Personal statements are often overlooked, but they can be extremely valuable. A well-written statement can explain when symptoms started, how they have progressed, how they affect daily life, and why the veteran believes the condition is related to service. The statement should focus on facts, observations, and experiences rather than emotion or frustration with the process. Sometimes a good personal statement helps connect evidence that would otherwise appear unrelated.

Lay statements from spouses, family members, friends, coworkers, or fellow service members can also be powerful evidence. These statements can help establish symptoms, changes in behavior, limitations, and events that occurred during or after service. In some cases, buddy statements become especially important when service records are incomplete or missing.

For secondary claims, many veterans make the mistake of only proving they have the secondary condition. The packet should also show how the secondary condition is connected to the already service-connected disability. If a veteran is claiming migraines secondary to tinnitus, depression secondary to sleep apnea, or radiculopathy secondary to a back condition, the evidence should clearly address that relationship.

Organization matters more than many veterans realize. A packet that contains strong evidence but no explanation can sometimes be harder to understand than a smaller packet that clearly explains the claim. This is one reason cover letters, evidence indexes, and properly labeled documents can be helpful. They provide a roadmap that allows the reviewer to quickly understand what evidence supports each claimed condition.

A strong claim packet also means understanding when additional evidence may be needed. Some claims may benefit from a medical opinion. Others may require exposure evidence, scientific studies, personnel records, service treatment records, or additional lay evidence. There is no one-size-fits-all packet because every claim is different.

The bottom line is that a strong claim packet is not necessarily the biggest packet. It is the packet that clearly tells the story, contains relevant evidence, addresses the elements the VA must consider, and makes it easy for the reviewer to understand why the claim should be granted.

If you were giving advice to a veteran filing their first claim, what is one thing you wish someone had told you before you started the process?

06/08/2026

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THE VA OVER-55 RULE EXPLAINED

A lot of veterans have heard some version of this: “Once you are over 55, the VA cannot touch your rating.”

That is not exactly true.

The over-55 rule is real, but it is often misunderstood. Under 38 CFR 3.327, the VA generally should not schedule routine future reexaminations for veterans over age 55, except under unusual circumstances. That can be an important protection because it reduces the chance of the VA scheduling a routine exam just to “check on” a condition.

But that does not mean your rating is completely untouchable.

The VA can still review a rating if:
-- You file a new claim
-- You file a claim for increase
-- You file something closely related to an already-rated condition
-- The record shows material improvement
-- There was a clear error
-- Fraud is involved
-- Another unusual circumstance exists

So yes, being over 55 matters. It can help protect veterans from routine future exams. But it is not the same thing as being Permanent and Total, and it is not a force field around your rating.

This is also why veterans should understand that different protections do different things. The over-55 rule, static conditions, 5-year protection, 10-year protection, 20-year protection, and Permanent and Total status are not all the same.

The bottom line is this:

Being over 55 can reduce the chance of routine reexaminations, but it does not mean the VA can never look at your rating again. Before filing new claims, increases, or anything that could put an existing condition back in front of the VA, it is worth understanding what protections actually apply to your situation.