Category Archives: Leadership
My thoughts on it
The Missing Millions: Why So Many Veterans Still Lack Disability Ratings
In the United States today, a significant portion of the veteran population remains without a service-connected disability rating—even though many receive ongoing care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This gap affects millions and stems from long-standing structural issues and common misunderstandings.
How Many Veterans Are Unrated?
Recent federal data shows:
17.8 million veterans currently live in the U.S.
Only 5.2 million (about 30%) have a service-connected disability rating.
That leaves roughly 12.5 million veterans without a rating, including an estimated 6 million who separated before disability assessments became part of the mandatory out-processing process.
Before the mid-1990s and early 2000s reforms, the DoD did not require a disability evaluation as part of separation or retirement. Millions of veterans left service with no assessment and never filed later simply because the process was unclear or unknown.
Two VA Systems — and They Don’t Communicate
A critical fact many veterans do not know:
VA Healthcare and VA Disability Compensation are completely separate systems.
Receiving VA medical care does not create or update a disability rating.
Diagnoses, imaging, or treatment inside VA healthcare records are not reviewed for disability compensation unless a veteran files a claim.
No condition—primary or secondary—moves into the disability system automatically.
Many veterans assume that being treated for chronic pain, orthopedic injuries, sleep issues, or mental health conditions means their disability file is being updated. It isn’t. Only a formal claim triggers review.
The Impact on Veterans
Millions of veterans who never filed a claim at all.
Veterans with worsening conditions who never requested rating increases.
VA healthcare patients with serious diagnoses that were never evaluated for service-connection.
Missed compensation, lost benefits, and reduced access to programs tied to rating thresholds.
A single misconception—“VA healthcare updates my disability rating”—can cost a veteran years of deserved benefits.
What Every Veteran Should Do Now
To ensure disability benefits reflect current health conditions, veterans should:
1. Review their conditions regularly
Check for new diagnoses, worsening symptoms, or secondary conditions.
2. File new or supplemental claims
Use VA.gov, mail, or accredited submission channels to request evaluation.
3. Understand the system
VA healthcare records do not update disability ratings. A claim must be submitted.
4. Track secondary conditions
Issues like sleep apnea, depression, migraines, radiculopathy, GERD, or joint degeneration often stem from service-connected primaries.
Veterans who separated before mandatory disability evaluations around 2010 are especially vulnerable because many were never informed of the modern process.
Closing the Gap
With only ~30% of veterans holding a disability rating—and millions eligible but unrated—awareness is essential. Understanding that VA healthcare and VA disability compensation operate independently is the first step toward ensuring every veteran receives the benefits they earned through service.
Need Help Understanding Your Claim Path?
If you or a veteran you know is unsure about eligibility, secondary conditions, or how to properly file, guidance is available. Filing a claim is not automatic—but it can be straightforward when you understand the rules and requirements.
A Journey to Acceptance: My Eye-Opening Experience with Medical Marijuana
I was born and raised in Miami, Florida — in the middle of chaos and change. The city I grew up in during the 70s and 80s was a powder keg of race riots, refugees, and drugs. Miami was overrun — and that’s putting it kindly. Cocaine, marijuana, and the war on drugs were everywhere.
I never touched any of it. Not once.
It was a badge of honor, a personal vow. My father was a judge, and I took pride in the discipline that kept me away from substances that, to me, represented weakness and failure. I saw alcohol as adult, social, and controlled. Marijuana? That was for the lost.
For most of my life, I never questioned that belief.
But life has a way of testing the walls we build around our certainty.
When my wife’s illness began to take over our nights, sleep became hard. She was in constant pain, and nothing — not the pills, not the prescriptions, not the endless “next options” — brought her relief without a cost. Then one night, she tried a simple gummy. She slept through the night.
That experience made me aware — painfully so — of my own hypocrisy. While she found healing through a plant I had long dismissed, I was numbing myself each night with alcohol — not to enjoy, but to stop feeling, to force sleep. I told myself it was normal, acceptable, even earned. But it wasn’t helping.
It wasn’t until I was helping a client — a veteran — through her VA disability claim that the truth caught up with me. She confided in me about her fear of admitting she used marijuana to manage anxiety and sleep. I told her what I believed: that she shouldn’t be ashamed, that seeking help isn’t weakness, and that medical care, when legal and responsible, is private and protected.
Then it hit me like a mirror.
How could I coach her toward honesty and healing while denying myself the same?
That same day, I called my wife’s physician, scheduled an appointment, and applied for my medical marijuana card. Since then, I take a gummy every night. I sleep. I think more clearly. I drink less. I feel present.
My view has changed completely — not because of politics or persuasion, but because of experience. What I once called weakness, I now see as wisdom. The real weakness was refusing to see past my own judgment.
In Florida, medical marijuana has been lawful since 2016. But for me, it only became personal when life humbled me enough to listen.
The more I experience life, the more I understand that nothing truly changes until we become aware. Awareness brings empathy, and empathy brings wisdom. And wisdom — I’ve learned — is not the privilege of youth, but the product of life lived honestly.
How to Add Evidence to Your VA Disability Claim
I have been getting the title of the this alot.
Yes, you can add evidence to a VA disability claim after it has been submitted, as long as the claim is still open (not yet decided). Great example, is you decide to have a provider complete the VAs DBQ as your medical evidence is limited and it was after you already pressed submit. Some claims take several months so you shouldn’t worry about not submitting it.
Here are your options depending on the stage of your claim:
✅ If the claim is still in progress (Pending / Under Review):
You can submit additional evidence directly via:
- VA.gov (log in → go to your claim → “Upload documents”) Only method I recommend
- Mail to: Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
(Use a VA Form 21-4138 or 20-10210 to explain what you’re submitting) - Fax: 844-531-7818 (for domestic) or 248-524-4260 (international)
- Mail to: Department of Veterans Affairs
Be sure to include:
- Your VA file number or SSN
- The specific claim it relates to
- A clear description of what the evidence is and why it’s relevant
If a decision has already been made: (you got your claim letter back from the VA)
You cannot just “add” evidence—you’ll need to take one of these steps:
| Scenario | Action | Form |
|---|---|---|
| You’re still within the 1-year appeal window | File a Supplemental Claim | VA Form 20-0995. do it online and your lay letters don’t have to be on the official form |
| You think a clear error was made | File a Higher-Level Review | VA Form 20-0996 do it online and your lay letters don’t have to be on the official form |
| You want a hearing with a judge (last last resort) | File a Board Appeal (18 months!) | VA Form 10182 do it online and your lay letters don’t have to be on the official form |
In all three cases, you can submit new evidence (except during Higher-Level Review, where no new evidence is allowed).
Hope this helps folks out there!
Compassionate Leadership in Consulting
Stability & Trust: Reflecting reliability and strength (rooted in veteran service).
Warmth & Compassion: Illuminating your human-centered, service-first orientation.
Professionalism & Clarity: Emphasizing structured, results-driven consulting.
Personal Touch: Highlighting individualized support and leadership.
VA Disability Claims: Clear and Simple Support
Filing for disability compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can be a complex and frustrating process. I provide a straightforward service designed to make it easier for veterans to receive the benefits they have earned.
Here is how I work:
- Payment only if benefits are awarded. My fee is twenty percent of the initial back payment from the VA. If an appeal is needed, the same structure applies. After that, the veteran owes nothing further.
- Based on federal standards. Because the VA does not set rates for consulting, I align with the Social Security Administration’s guideline of twenty-five percent and reduce it by five percent. This keeps my fee at twenty percent, below a recognized federal benchmark.
- No long-term obligations. Veterans can stop working with me at any time after providing notice. There are no hidden commitments or recurring fees.
- Everything in writing. I use a simple written contract that explains all terms clearly, in plain language. Veterans know exactly what to expect before we begin.
- Who I work with. Most of the veterans I serve are those who have had bad experiences with Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) or firms, those who have grown frustrated with the VA, and those who may not believe they deserve this benefit from a grateful nation.
My goal is to provide a fair, transparent, and effective path through the VA process, with clear terms and no surprises.
If you are a veteran who would like help filing for VA disability benefits, contact me at lou@loujswz.com
or 706-332-6005.
Why Nonprofits Should Register on SAM.gov: Key Advantages
Registering your nonprofit corporation in SAM.gov (System for Award Management) opens doors to
federal opportunities, funding, and resources while enhancing visibility and compliance.
- Eligibility for Federal Grants & Cooperative Agreements: SAM.gov registration is required to
apply for federal grants and assistance programs, ensuring your nonprofit is eligible for direct
funding opportunities. - Ability to Receive Federal Contracts: Nonprofits can compete for government contracts if their
services align with federal needs, such as training, research, logistics, or social programs. - Access to Federal Surplus Property: Through the General Services Administration (GSA),
registered nonprofits may qualify for federal surplus property programs, providing equipment and
resources at little or no cost. - Visibility in the Federal Marketplace: SAM.gov assigns your nonprofit a Unique Entity ID (UEI)
and CAGE Code, making it discoverable to federal buyers, prime contractors, and potential
partners. - Streamlined Compliance & Payment Processing: Federal agencies require SAM.gov
registration to set up EFT payments and verify compliance, ensuring your nonprofit receives funds
without delay. - Support for SBA & VA Certifications: SAM.gov registration is essential for maintaining
certifications like SDVOSB, HUBZone, and other socioeconomic designations, increasing
contracting opportunities.
Bottom Line: SAM.gov registration is a strategic step for nonprofits to access federal resources,
increase visibility, and strengthen credibility with government agencies and partners.
Hope we can help your organization too!
The Front Lines of Cancer
Yesterday, we reached acceptance. Not surrender — not quitting — but an understanding: this cancer is incurable. It continues to spread slowly, like a snake coiling itself around its prey.
And yet, in the middle of it all, there is beauty.
Our youngest is in high school now. She wakes up on her own, gets ready, eats breakfast. She is excited about life. She’s playing lacrosse, wants to go to practice, wants to do well in school. It’s such a good time.
The other night, my wife told her that she wanted her to have her wedding ring. Tears came, but then laughter too, as our daughter said it was too small for her finger. Somehow, the moment turned to a joke about making it into a “grill” for our dog with the terrible underbite. This is life and love — sorrow and laughter tangled together.
This weekend, our oldest came home. She’s about to start graduate school after years of working. She asked her mother, “Are you going to die?” My wife, steady as ever, said: “I will — but I don’t intend to do it soon. You need to go to graduate school and live your life. This is your dream. Keep going.” Then she gave her the diamond pendant we had made from her mother’s stone. They cried for hours.
One of our sons is getting married in October and then heading into the military. We already have our plane tickets and hotel. No setbacks. We will be there. We’ve become experts in travel planning and stress mitigation, as Sherri can only manage about two hours of chair time a day. No setbacks — we so want to be there.
And then there’s our granddaughter. Just 18 months old, already going down slides. We watched the video of her laughing all the way, and it filled us with joy.
It is a wonderful time.
That might sound strange to say, but it’s true. In these trying days, every moment of laughter, every milestone, every piece of ordinary life feels even more precious. The weight of suffering sharpens the beauty of joy. And when you know that time is short, you hold tighter to the moments that matter most.
VA Claims Processing: Success or Hidden Challenges?
In the July 2025 newsletter, the Department of Veterans Affairs proudly announced that it had “processed” over 2 million disability claims—faster than ever before. At first glance, this milestone sounds like a tremendous success. But for veterans who have lived at the intersection of military service and medical hardship, there’s a deeper story behind the headlines.
As a veteran and someone who assists others in navigating the VA claims process, I’ve learned to read between the lines. The newsletter fails to disclose how many of those 2 million claims were denied—a critical omission that affects real lives. A high throughput of claim processing does not necessarily equate to high-quality or just outcomes for veterans.
At the same time, the VA linked to its public repository of Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) available here. These are detailed, medically technical forms that the VA encourages veterans to bring to their private providers to “expedite” claims—allegedly reducing costs and time associated with VA-conducted exams.
On the surface, this sounds like a win-win. But if you’ve filled out one of these forms or asked a doctor to complete one, you know that each DBQ is 12 to 16 pages long, highly technical, and time-consuming. It could take an experienced clinician over an hour—per form—with no reimbursement provided by the VA.
Let’s pause there: the government is asking veterans to pay out of pocket or call in favors from already overburdened civilian providers, many of whom are unfamiliar with VA language, legal thresholds, or the 38 CFR standards. These forms may reduce government costs, but they shift that burden onto the backs of those who served.
And what’s more concerning is this: Is this an unspoken gatekeeping tactic? Is the sheer complexity of DBQs and the absence of compensation for providers quietly slowing down or stalling new claims from older-era veterans—those who served between 1965 and 2015—who didn’t benefit from the digital medical records era?
As someone working daily with veterans—at the proverbial GEMBA or “point of the spear”—I’ve witnessed firsthand how the standard of approval appears to have shifted. In the first few months of this administration, P&E exams were paused for over three months. Now, adjudications seem stricter than ever. Subjective? Perhaps. But for many veterans, this feels like a regression, not progress.
Questions We Should Be Asking the VA:
- What percentage of the 2 million “processed” claims were denied, granted, or partially awarded?
- Why are providers not compensated for the time it takes to complete detailed DBQs?
- Has the standard of adjudication shifted from the traditional “at least as likely as not” (51%) burden of proof?
- Why are we not leveraging modern AI and automation tools to reduce claim burden for the veteran?
- How does the VA plan to assist older veterans—whose medical records are often incomplete or paper-based—in navigating these requirements?
AI Can’t Care – Why Human Trust Still Wins in a Tech-Driven World
In a world that feels increasingly automated, one thing is becoming clearer every day: people still crave connection. Especially when they’re hurting. Especially when they’re trying to navigate something as emotional and complex as the VA disability claims process.
At LOUJSWZ INC, we embrace technology. We use AI to make our work more efficient, more accurate. But AI is not our product. Our product is trust. And there isn’t a line of code out there that can replicate that.
I recently sat down with a fellow veteran who shared how rushed his transition was and how unsure he felt even after submitting his claim. He used the free services available to him—VFW, county VSO, mobile VA outreach—and still felt like something might have been missed. And you know what? He’s not alone. That “what did I forget?” feeling is far too common.
There are tools now that can read disability guides and recommend conditions. They’re fast. They’re free. But they don’t know how to look you in the eye and ask, “What really hurts?” They don’t hear the pause in your voice or notice the symptoms you forgot to say out loud. They don’t walk your journey. I do. I have lived it.
Porter’s Five Forces tells us that AI is shaking every industry—lowering barriers, increasing buyer power, and making substitutes more accessible. But it also tells us something else: the key to success in a competitive landscape is differentiation.
LOUJSWZ isn’t just another support service. We’re your battle buddy through bureaucracy. We know the system, yes—but more importantly, we know you. And we’re here to make sure you get what you’ve earned. No shortcuts. No automated empathy. Just people helping people, with the support of the best tools available—not the replacement of them.
Because at the end of the day, AI may shape strategy, but it’s still heart that shapes trust.
Understanding LinkedIn Connections: A Reflection on Bias
As a lifelong learner and someone who prides himself on asking tough questions—of others and especially of myself—I recently posed one I hadn’t considered before: What do my LinkedIn connections say about me?
At first glance, the question might seem simple—just a casual curiosity. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it held a mirror to my worldview, my network, and even my decision-making process. After all, our professional circles say something about how we seek advice, what we value, and—whether we admit it or not—how we perceive credibility and leadership.
So, I did what I’ve done my whole life investigated.
What I Found: A Familiar Reflection
The results were humbling, if not entirely surprising. My network largely looks like me: white, male, and with a military or law enforcement background. Not wrong, not intentional—but also not reflective of the broader society I serve or want to understand better.
This is the core of unconscious bias—it isn’t malicious or even deliberate, but it quietly shapes how we see the world and, in turn, how we act in it.
What I’m Doing About It: Intentional Inclusion
I believe in action, not just awareness. That’s why I’ve made a change to my daily habits. Every day, until I hit LinkedIn’s weekly connection limit, I intentionally send connection requests only to women—diverse in background, career, and experience.
I don’t overthink it. I see the picture and I click “Connect.”
No agenda beyond expanding my view of the world. My hope is that by increasing the diversity of my network, I’ll increase the diversity of thought I’m exposed to—and in doing so, improve the quality of the decisions I make, the advice I take, and the work I do.
Why It Matters
LOUJSWZ INC is committed to helping people grow—businesses, veterans, individuals—through integrity, process improvement, and purpose-driven consulting. But growth has to start with self-awareness.
This isn’t a story about checking a box. It’s about building a network that challenges me, reflects the real world, and ultimately makes me better at what I do—because I see more of the people I serve.
I still have a long way to go. But that’s the point of growth—it’s never over.
#UnconsciousBias #InclusiveLeadership #GrowthMindset #LOUJSWZ #VeteranOwned #LeadershipEvolution
