Veterans Disability Benefits Social Platform

[henry-bouchot]

Help create a social platform connecting disabled vets and veterans disability experts and which gives vets access to access tools that help demystify the veterans disability benefits application process.

[JeffL-T]

This is an interesting idea. Some benefits are reasonably straightforward while others can be quite complex - such as disability compensation with its varying ratings for a condition depending on severity - and require expert help; thus the need for demystification. An initial application can be made in eBenefits or VonApp (unless unavailable due to outage). Creating a social platform connecting veterans to experts though seems unique.

[henry-bouchot]

Hackathon Presentation.pptx

[henry-bouchot]

Thanks Jeff, check out the presentation. There is such a huge need for this: the VA processess about 100,000 applications a month. And based on the amount of cases the Board of Veterans Appeals remands, the VA messses up half of them! Much of the work surrounding this issue has focused on reforming the appeals process, but I believe we should focus on addressing the problem at an earlier stage, before irreperable harm is done to the veteran. Hence the need to better educate and inform veterans!

[APMontano]

Henry, I'd like to help out. Will checkout your ppt presentation.

[APMontano]

Henry, I'm an attorney here in Houston. Just reviewed your ppt. I have not been focused on veterans benefits previously, but I have done work in employment law issues. If there is a way I can help with your project, I would be happy to try. Maybe I can assist with developing subject matter content, etc?

[JeffL-T]

Henry, I've been looking at the ppt since you posted it earlier. It is very feature-rich with many great ways to help empower veterans! Just accessing medical records can be an enormous challenge, although the My HealtheVet VA Blue Button has made that much easier, allowing access to most of what is in the Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA).

[JeffL-T]

Here is an article on 5 ways to establish service-connection, one of the 3 elements required in establishing a disability claim.

[ohiovetsadvocate]

I work with VA and SS benefits so this can be useful. I will check out your PP as well. One of the issues low-income veterans have is simply understanding the process of filing and the importance of making sure the application is complete. Many low income and homeless veterans don't complete the process because they become frustrated.

[JeffL-T]

http://freebeacon.com/issues/navy-veteran-takes-own-life-after-va-denied-full-disability-benefits/

[Ryan-Koch]

Do you folks need development help on this? If so, can I join in? Oh and is there a group channel on slack for it?

[henry-bouchot]

Ohiovetsadvocate, perhaps we could create a tool that takes one's reported symptoms and completes a VA Form 21-526EZ for the veteran?

[ohiovetsadvocate]

Problem is that the 21-526 EZ I believe wants diagnoses vs symptoms. It seem that the tool would have to take symptoms and plug them into a diagnosis which could or could not be correct. But if you design a tool which could take symptoms and put them into most common diagnoses for service connected disability, that could work. But also remember that even if a veteran doesn't qualify for service connection that they could qualify for non-service connected pension (especially older low income and homeless veterans) so, we may need to look at an alternative tool to fit those circumstances as well.

On Sat, Mar 11, 2017 at 9:31 PM henry-bouchot ***@***.***> wrote: Ohiovetsadvocate, perhaps we could create a tool that takes one's reported symptoms and completes a VA Form 21-526EZ for the veteran? — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#34 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AZIQDQs8BBu73aEJJUvh_RyAxeUHLKEMks5rk1kbgaJpZM4ML3t6> .

-- *Kimberly M. Adams, J.D.* *Law Graduate/Veterans Legal Advocate* *Community Legal Aid Veterans Legal Team* *United States Air Force Veteran* *Email: KAdams@communitylegalaid.org <KAdams@communitylegalaid.org>* *Phone: 330-983-2646* *Fax: 330-525-0728* *The Community Legal Aid Services Veterans Legal Team-Assist, Advocate, and Empower Veterans and their Families to Build and Maintain Stable and Successful Lives.* *Follow on Twitter at @BootsProject13 and @CLASVetsLegal and Facebook at **https://www.facebook.com/clasveteranslegalteam?ref_type=bookmark <https://www.facebook.com/clasveteranslegalteam?ref_type=bookmark>* *“To honor our national promise to our veterans, we must continue to improve services for our men and women in uniform today and provide long overdue benefits for the veterans and military retirees who have already served.” ~Solomon Ortiz*

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[christyleos]

Project description, website, and github can be found here.

[APMontano]

Thanks, Christy! Best regards, Anton

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Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 3, 2017, at 2:19 PM, Christy Leos ***@***.***> wrote: Project description, website, and github can be found here. — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or mute the thread.