Скачать или смотреть Maximize Your VA Benefits: Dependents & Claims Explained!

What to expect when adding dependents, when passwords for National Archives documents expire, and ALWAYS list your toxic exposures!!

As we step into the new year of 2025, I wanted to take a moment to share important updates and insights from my client work this week.

Adding Dependents

If you’ve attempted to add a dependent within the last eight to ten months, you might have noticed the process takes longer than it used to. It was once a pretty automatic task, but now it seems to have slowed down. Just this week, I had the privilege of informing a client that his dependents were finally added after quite some time.

When you have a disability rating of 30% or higher, your pay can vary based on the number of dependents you have. If you're handling your own claims, ensure you submit the necessary paperwork to add dependents simultaneously. This can significantly impact your pay and ensures any back pay reflects dependent benefits too.

Recently, a new client reached out with a concern: their child, who just turned 18 but is still in school, wasn't being recognized in the award records despite completing the necessary paperwork. Surprisingly, in their case, the dependency claim didn't appear in the system even though it was submitted. A quick call to VA revealed the claim was closed without any action and needed to be reopened. This incident underscores the importance of keeping an eye on your claims or enlisting help to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Password-Protected National Archives Files

I’ve made several videos on how to request records from the National Archives, but I recently learned a new lesson that I wanted to share with you. When you receive documents from the National Archives, they are password-protected for security reasons, and this password expires in 30 days.

When you receive files, ensure that you remove the password protection after downloading them!

Filing Claims for Toxic Exposures

On claim forms, there is an option to indicate if a claim results from a toxic exposure, and I highly recommend checking this box if it applies to you.
Don’t assume that standard assessments like the Toxic Exposure Risk Assessment (TERA) will cover everything. Always specify all exposures you encountered in your claim form.

Final Thoughts

I hope this information helps you kickstart your new year smoothly. After a short break, it has been invigorating to dive back into this work. I thoroughly enjoy addressing your questions and assisting veterans with the knowledge I've gained. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out in the comments section.


00:00 Introduction and Video Overview
00:27 Adding Dependents: What You Need to Know
04:21 Navigating National Archives Passwords
06:48 Filing Claims for Toxic Exposures
07:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

National Archive records request:

   • National Archive Records Request  

TERA updates:

https://www.youtube.com/live/-pHI3kl3...

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April Ebeling is a proud Navy veteran and a Certified Claims Agent who advocates for veterans through the VA claims process. Apply to work with her at thevocalveteran.com
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