Blog Archives
Don’t Leave a Service Member Behind: Empowering Veterans to Navigate VA Disability Benefits
Most of my veteran clients come to me the old-fashioned way: through referrals and word of mouth.
I am not currently accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs, although I began that process nearly three years ago. About a year ago, the VA contacted me to ask if I was still interested. I told them absolutely. Since then, I have been waiting to hear back.
In the meantime, veterans continue to need help.
Recently, a veteran over the age of 50 was referred to me. He was rated at 60% disability but was afraid to file any additional claims because he had heard a common myth: “If I ask for more, the VA will take away what I already have.”
After reviewing his file, we discovered that a bilateral condition had never been properly claimed. The issue wasn’t that he was asking for something new—the original rating simply wasn’t correct.
Within two weeks, his rating increased from 60% to 80%.
We then identified several secondary conditions that were directly related to his service-connected disabilities. Within two months, his rating increased again to 90%.
But the most important part of this story is not the rating increase.
Throughout the process, I taught him how the VA disability system works. I explained evidence requirements, secondary conditions, effective dates, and how to build a strong claim.
Armed with that knowledge, he continued the process himself.
Today, he has achieved the correct rating of 100%.
That is success.
Not because I helped him. Because he learned how to help himself.
The Numbers Tell the Story
There are approximately 6 million veterans who have never been evaluated for VA disability compensation. Many left military service before programs such as the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) process became common.
At the same time, there are only about 2,000 accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) across the country.
Let’s do the math.
Assume:
- A compensation claim review takes an average of 135 days (midpoint between 120 and 150 days).
- A VSO works 40 hours per week.
- A VSO works 50 weeks per year.
Even if every VSO could somehow manage one complete compensation review every 135 days, the system could only process about 5,400 veterans per year nationwide.
At that rate, it would take more than 1,100 years to review 6 million veterans.
Even if we assume far greater efficiency, the reality remains the same:
There are far more veterans needing assistance than there are professionals available to help them.
The Solution: Veteran Helping Veteran
We cannot solve this challenge by relying solely on VSOs, attorneys, claims agents, or consultants.
We must empower veterans.
Every veteran who learns how the system works should help another veteran.
Every veteran who successfully navigates the process should teach someone else.
Every veteran who receives benefits they earned should encourage a fellow service member to get evaluated.
The goal is not dependence.
The goal is education.
The goal is confidence.
The goal is ensuring that every veteran understands the benefits they earned through their service.
The veteran in this story did exactly that. He overcame fear, learned the process, achieved the correct rating, and is now in a position to help others.
That is how we create a force multiplier.
One veteran helping another.
Then another.
Then another.
Because at the end of the day, we all swore an oath to leave no one behind.
That principle should not end when military service does.
Don’t leave a service member behind. Help them get the benefits they earned. Teach them how the process works. Empower them to help the next veteran.
Danny’s Success Strategies Achieves Veteran-Owned Certification
LOUJSWZ INC proudly congratulates DANNY’S SUCCESS STRATEGIES LLC on officially attaining both Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certification through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the General Services Administration (GSA).
This achievement represents far more than a designation. It validates the company’s ownership, governance, operational integrity, and eligibility to participate in federal programs specifically designed to increase opportunities for veteran entrepreneurs who have served and sacrificed for our nation.
Across the United States, there are millions of veteran-owned businesses, yet only a relatively small percentage complete and maintain the formal federal verification and certification process required for official SDVOSB recognition. Because of this, attaining certification is a meaningful accomplishment that demonstrates professionalism, accountability, and readiness to support government and commercial customers alike.
For DANNY’S SUCCESS STRATEGIES LLC, this certification creates significant opportunities, including:
- Eligibility to compete for federal SDVOSB set-aside contracts
- Increased visibility within federal procurement systems
- Enhanced credibility with prime contractors and teaming partners
- Greater access to supplier diversity programs
- Recognition as a verified veteran-led organization committed to service and excellence
The benefits also extend directly to customers and partners. Organizations that work with certified SDVOSBs gain access to highly motivated, mission-focused businesses that often bring leadership, discipline, adaptability, and operational resilience developed through military service. Federal agencies and large corporations additionally benefit by meeting important small business and supplier diversity objectives while supporting the veteran community.
At a broader level, every successful SDVOSB certification strengthens America’s commitment to those who served. Veteran-owned businesses continue to play a vital role in the U.S. economy by creating jobs, supporting local communities, and bringing values-based leadership into both the public and private sectors.
LOUJSWZ INC is honored to have assisted in supporting this effort and remains committed to helping other veteran entrepreneurs navigate the often complex SBA and GSA certification processes. From organizational documentation reviews and eligibility guidance to SAM.gov alignment and strategic positioning, LOUJSWZ INC helps businesses better understand the importance of official federal certifications and how to leverage them for long-term growth and opportunity.
We congratulate DANNY’S SUCCESS STRATEGIES LLC on this important milestone and look forward to their continued success serving customers with the professionalism, integrity, and leadership that define the veteran business community.
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.
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!
Profits Over Patients: Why the Insurance System is Failing Families
The health insurance industry has mastered one thing above all else: delay. What should be a simple claim submission turns into months of bureaucratic limbo, hidden behind jargon like “not yet built” or “waiting for processing.” These phrases disguise the truth—that while families wait for critical financial support, corporations sit comfortably on record-breaking profits.
We are told to expect 15 business days just for a claim to be reviewed, then another 30 to 60 days for processing. In the meantime, representatives admit that claims often sit in inboxes, unseen, until patients themselves call to shake the system awake. And yet these same companies proudly announce hundreds of millions in net income, raising their performance outlooks. The disconnect could not be starker: efficiency for shareholders, inefficiency for patients.
This is not a matter of capability. If profits can soar, systems can be fixed. More staff can be hired. Processes can be modernized. But the lack of urgency shows where priorities lie. Patients and families are left to wait, wonder, and absorb the financial strain—all while the corporations built to serve them choose margin over mission.
And this isn’t an abstract critique. This is personal. The claim in question was for my wife’s electric wheelchair—a necessity, not a luxury—purchased on June 9th. It cost more than $2,000. I wrote about it on June 23rd in my blog post “In the Blink of an Eye: Grace in the Midst of the Unthinkable”, where I shared how something as simple as mobility could restore dignity in the midst of suffering. Months later, the claim has still not been processed. Letters arrive contradicting what agents say, and the only reason any progress happens is because I chase it down.
For families like mine, these delays aren’t just numbers on a balance sheet. They are nights spent worrying, bills that pile up, and faith that slowly erodes. Representatives on the front line may show compassion, but they are trapped in a system designed to stall. Until the industry prioritizes people over profit, these “micro” frustrations will continue to echo the much larger, systemic failure of our healthcare system.
You can read the June 23rd post here: In the Blink of an Eye: Grace in the Midst of the Unthinkable
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?
Navigating the Turbulent U.S. Federal Contracting Landscape
Introduction
Over the past several months, the U.S. federal contracting landscape has experienced significant turbulence. The implementation of hiring freezes, early retirements, and spending cuts has led to a slowdown in federal spending, leaving many agencies and contractors in a state of uncertainty. Drawing from firsthand insights from leaders within the IRS, USDA, DoD, VA, and other agencies, this post aims to shed light on the current challenges and potential future of federal contracting.
The Immediate Impact: A Contracting Slowdown
The extension of the federal hiring freeze through July 15, 2025, has had a profound effect on agency operations. Agencies are prohibited from filling vacant positions or creating new ones, with limited exceptions for roles related to national security and public safety . This has resulted in delayed contract awards, project cancellations, and a general hesitancy to initiate new solicitations.
For instance, the Department of Veterans Affairs is reviewing nearly $2 billion in contracts, with some terminations already announced . Similarly, the USDA has frozen funding for numerous grant programs, affecting projects that support farmers, small businesses, and food initiatives .
The Domino Effect on Contractors
The ripple effects of these federal actions are being felt across the contracting community. Many professional services contracts are being terminated, and the average sales cycle for federal contracts—often spanning three years—is being disrupted. Companies that have invested significant resources into shaping and pursuing these contracts now face the risk of sunk costs without the prospect of recouping their investments.
Moreover, the uncertainty surrounding the resumption of normal contracting activities has made strategic planning challenging. With leadership across various agencies unaware of when and how spending will restart, contractors are left in a precarious position, balancing the need to maintain readiness with the financial strain of prolonged inactivity.
A Glimmer of Hope: Long-Term Prospects
Despite the current challenges, there are reasons for cautious optimism. Historically, federal contracting has demonstrated resilience, rebounding after periods of austerity. The U.S. government remains the largest customer in the world, and its need for goods and services is enduring. Once the current constraints are lifted, there is potential for a surge in contracting activity to address backlogs and new priorities.
Note: For the most current information on federal contract opportunities and awards, visit SAM.gov.
