Higher Level Review (Along with updates for Doc on the Road)

When your cable went out and you called the customer service and you don't get the right answer from the person you're talking to, what's the first thing you always say? I want to talk to your manager. That’s the same type of situation with the higher level review. You are requesting another review from a senior rater on your denied claim.

HLR is only one option when you get a denied claim. Make sure that you get in touch with your VACI coach to guide you in the process.

And hey, a lot of new things coming up for Doc on the Road, so stay tuned!

*********

Got some questions? I’d love to answer them!

Email me at docontheroad@vaclaimsinsider.com

Are you ready to get the VA rating you deserve? Work with my team at docontheroad.com and start your path to winning your VA disability claim.

VA Claims Insider
Veterans helping veterans get the VA Disability Rating They DESERVE.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Transcript

[00:00:00] VACI: If you are a veteran and have filed a VA disability claim, have been denied, have received a low rating, or you're unsure of how to get started, reach out to us. Go to docontheroad.com linked in our show notes and take advantage of a free VA claims discovery call. Learn what you've been missing so you can finally get the disability rating and compensation you deserve.

[00:00:31] Dr. John: Hello my brothers and sisters in the uniform. Yes, it's time for Doc on the Road. Now this is actually gonna be interesting today because I've got a couple things that I'm announcing and a couple different things that we may see some changes with Doc on the road. We started conversations where we're gonna have apparel, we're gonna have t-shirts, we're gonna have hats, we're gonna have all kinds of stuff.

So all you guys that have hit the Hundo Club, and for you that don't know what the Hundo Club is, the Hundo Club is [00:01:00] if you've hit a hundred percent. And We're wanting to bring that back along with we're gonna be tied into all that stuff with VA Claims Insider, and they're gonna have a Hundo Club t-shirt, so everybody get ready.

That stuff's in the works. And we're about to finish up the deals on all that. And we also started talking about Doc on the Road, because Doc on the Road is literally gonna be on the road here in the next couple of weeks. We've got a couple trips planned. I'll probably be stopping at different RV spots, stuff like that.

Different points of interest that I think is gonna be important. But then we're gonna start on a really big trip. And go to a lot of different places. So hopefully we're gonna be able to hook up with a couple of veterans that we're gonna be able to really talk and sell the message for that.

I just think that's really important at this time because we've really grown this community. Now it's time to go ahead and [00:02:00] really put in the effort to help the community get bigger. Now, of course, I'll be doing my normal, regular situations. I'll just be on the road. With special, satellite special RV type of internet situations.

Just hoping that I've got all the bases covered on that, but I'm pretty sure I do. And then we also talked about where Doc on the Road might become also a situation to where you're gonna be able to see visually doc on the road. I think that's really important and we're gonna be really working hard to get that done so that way we can really show how we're meeting with veterans , but show different areas of interest hopefully to spur inside you.

That the need to go see America. You served all this time and you were, warriors of America and it would be at nice when you get up to a certain age or even all ages to go see some of the [00:03:00] highlights of America. Go see some of the really cool stuff that you were protecting.

I think that's pretty cool. I remember when we were in the Grand Canyon, me and VCM Caleb were standing and looking at the way the mountain ranges were, but also looking at the canyons and stuff like that and seeing that one that they call the Eagle. And I know it touched us and we got a little I guess you could say Misty.

As we were looking at it and talking about how great this was, 'cause it wasn't just us standing there and talking about it, it was people from all over the world that came to see this. And the reason they could come there and see that is because of the service of the US veteran. And it just made us really proud that not only that we got to see this.

But really proud that we were part of the service to protect America. So that's with Doc on the road. We're gonna be doing a ton of new stuff and you'll be seeing [00:04:00] that as it trickles out and stuff like that. It's gonna be really interesting how this plays out. Also I wanted to talk about a little bit because I know a lot of veterans have shared that their thoughts, feelings about higher level review claims.

Now this is where it gets really interesting, and this is the way I look at it. Sometimes when you do a claim, it goes to somebody that might not be all that experienced to rate it. They make a mistake or something like that and say, Nope, we're gonna decline it. That puts you in the spot to actually go after a higher level review.

Now, higher level review is really interesting in a couple of parts of it. More experienced rater will actually take a look at this. A more experienced rater will actually be able to put the blocks together in a much better way if the blocks are there. So the way I look at it, I always got excited about higher level reviews because especially here at VA [00:05:00] Claims Insider, we have our percentage win off of a higher level review is way up there.

Now, of course, I can't give you an exact percentage at this time, but it is way up there. But the cool part is yes, you have , a more experienced person looking at that and a more experienced person being able to read between the lines and all that kind of stuff. 

Now also during a higher level review, they can actually see mistakes that were made. And sometimes you'll get this message or letter saying, we found a mistake and we have a duty to assist. And so they're gonna help out with either analyzing the documentation they got or something that didn't happen.

Say maybe you didn't get a C&P says almost anything. And I think that's pretty cool that they take the time to do that. Now, when you do a high level review, you get the choice if you want a phone call or you don't want a phone call. You just want the paperwork and evidence and the proof to[00:06:00] speak for itself.

So you get that now there's pluses and minuses both ways. So if you just go with the paperwork, you don't really get to have that feeling of telling somebody how you're truly affected, how you're hitting those main areas and hitting those main points. Letting that rater know, yes, I'm affected and I'm affected on a daily basis and this is how.

You don't really get that choice if you say no to that. But the cool part is they look at it and go, okay, we're looking at the paperwork, we're gonna figure this out. We're gonna see if we can find all the nooks and crannies to actually put this together. Now if you decide to have that phone call like I just said, you get the opportunity to actually verbally tell that rater how you are affected on a daily basis.

And I think that could be important to certain type of situations. That's why it's best to make sure that you're working with a coach and you're working through [00:07:00] this with a coach, because sometimes either one plays out really well. Sometimes it's good to not get the phone call.

Sometimes it's good to get the phone call, especially if you can really express to the rater how you are truly feeling and how you truly are affected by this. Now there's another thing too. This phone call could happen at any time. You could be out doing the groceries, out, changing your oil, anything. And you have to take it.

Cause if you don't take it and you said that you wanna take it, that's not exactly the right mindset you want that rater in. You want that rater to be able to hear you. And match it to the evidence. So that makes it a little bit different. I know I've heard of a number of veterans saying, yeah, I got my phone call.

I was in the middle of Lowe's, or I got my phone call and I was in the middle of grocery shopping. That could happen. So you're gonna have to be on your toes and make sure that you're ready to talk at any time [00:08:00] how you're truly affected by that. But I like how higher level reviews actually do have a situation to where you can actually keep explaining how you feel, how you're affected, and how there should be service connected, whatever the condition is.

Also that a more experienced person is looking at it. I always like that idea. Now for you guys that call somebody, 'cause you're mad 'cause your cable went out. And you don't get the right answer from the person you're talking to. What's the first thing you always say? I want to talk to your manager.

That's this type of situation. You're gonna be talking to somebody that's a lot more experienced and a lot more into seeing the nooks and crannies, and seeing how this could be service connected. So it's always a good thing. Now a lot of people get upset when they say, oh, I got denied and now I have to do a higher level review.

This has taken longer than I thought. Sometimes it does that, sometimes it has to happen like that. But the key point is that you get it service [00:09:00] connected because then you can move on to the next one or you can actually make the decision. This is where, this is all I can get, this is where I need to stop.

And that is where you wanna be. And no matter what, you deserve this either way. So make sure that you're actually working with your coach, getting in tune with your particular situation, because sometimes that puzzle has to be put together just a little bit different. Sometimes that puzzle needs a little bit extra effort to go ahead and get where you need to be.

There's also a number of questions that I got about once. I'm a hundred percent P&T. I wanna go for this, I wanna go for that. This is my thought pattern on that. Once you're at a hundred percent P&T, you do not want to poke the bear. Now, for me example I have a number of different claims that I could actually make because I have all the medical evidence and all that kind of stuff.

But I'm a hundred percent permanent total. It's not like you can go [00:10:00] to 150% or 200%, you can't. It stays at a hundred percent. So the way I looked at this, and when I talk to experts on this particular subject, I always get the answer of don't poke the bear unless this is a condition that can actually be the cause of death.

That's where that might change just a little bit. If it's that kind of condition, make sure you're getting all the particular advice that you need to get, even if you have to come back and say, coach, tell me how this might play out. Now, of course, a lot of people are gonna say I could die from a number of things.

Yes, you could. But big things like cancer and stuff like that. That might be able to be service connected because of something else that you have service connected. You might want to think about that a little bit. But I still stick with the idea of you don't wanna poke the bear.

The reason you don't wanna poke [00:11:00] the bear is because that will open up a number of different evaluations and could decrease you. So the best thing to do in my case, I looked at it and said, none of this stuff is actually something that could actually kill me. All of this is stuff that would just add on and I really don't need to do that.

Now of course one of the things for me is a TBI. So if I did that and then did a couple other things that I've got, My compensation would go way up because I'd have a couple of really big, high ones, but again I'm not doing it simply because it's not worth poking the bear and it's not worth ruining all the work that you did to get to the a hundred percent.

There we go. You guys actually got two subjects and got to learn more about Doc on the Road. I really am excited about Doc on the Road. I spent all weekend getting my RV ready getting it filled with whatever it needs. Brand new [00:12:00] tool sets, all that kind of stuff. And the cool part about doing that, I actually taught myself in to get one of those Black Stone barbecues or grills that I can use with the gas that I have on board. And I actually thought that was funny because I've been wanting to get one, but I've been talking myself out of it. But because of this situation, I thought it would be the perfect time to buy one, get it and just know that I can actually set it up at my campsite and do all that kind of stuff.

 Now going back to Doc on the road, when I do that kind of stuff, I'm not sure what form I'm gonna be able to put on the videos. We're still looking into that. I know Youtube has a number of things that I can actually do, a YouTube channel that's tied to it. I can do all kinds of different things.

That way, but I wanna make sure I get it all covered and do it the right way. And I also got a brand new GoPro so I can actually do that and then download 'em and edit and all that kind of stuff, which will be fun to actually do, but it'll be fun. So you [00:13:00] guys can actually see what it's like to be out there, what it's like to actually enjoy what America is and not caught up in, Staying at home, watching the news, getting all caught up in whatever's going on because we already know something's gonna be going on.

But you could be out there enjoying Mount Rushmore. You can be out there enjoying the Grand Canyon. You can be out there enjoying a number of different places that will actually probably be on your bucket list. Like I just did the pro Football Hall of Fame that was on my bucket list.

I also did the Veteran Museum in Columbus, Ohio, that was on my bucket list because of the personal connection to the gentleman that runs it, that I know. But the cool part is I'm gonna make a lot of different situations and be in a lot of different places, and I hope that this actually helps others to actually see, yes, I need to get out, I need to go.

I might have these aches and pains, I might have a couple of conditions that are causing me different things, [00:14:00] but as long as I'm getting the treatment and I can actually. Hop into an RV or hop into my car or my truck or whatever it is, and go to these places, take a vacation, take some time to go visit these wonderful places that America has to offer.

I think that'd be really cool. And probably build up that warrior inside you. So as you go along with doing your claims, as you go along with finishing your claims or whatever. You can build up that heart and go ahead and start seeing some of the stuff that we as Warriors of America protected. 

Love you guys. I will talk to you soon and hopefully the next one will be me somewhere else, and I think that'll be great because I've got just about everything I need for this thing. Like I said, I've been working on it all weekend and I've got all kinds of stuff in there. It is just cool. I have to admit this is getting exciting.

And the situations [00:15:00] that I have set up with this. Seemed something I've been wanting to do for a long time. But thanks to VA Claims Insider, it gives me the opportunity to do that as well as keep sending you guys messages and keep the discussion alive so we can continue building this community.

All right. Love you guys. We'll talk to you next time. This is doc out.

[00:15:22] VACI: The VA claims process is a pain. Many veterans struggle for years trying to increase their ratings or even getting rated at all. Most are not getting the compensation they deserve. Here at VA Claims Insider, we've supported and educated more than 25,000 veterans to win their claims and increase their rating.

Now it's your turn. Schedule your free VA claim discovery call today by going to docontheroad.com linked in our show notes. You'll learn what gaps you need to fill and how to increase your rating.