Customer Reviews

The Veteran's Survival Guide: How to File and Collect on VA Claims

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When I got my hands on "The Veteran's Survival Guide - How to File and Collect on VA Claims" I realized at once, that this was "the gold standard" of this genre. This is truly the best and most helpful book on the subject that I have come across in my 3 decades of helping veterans. There are none better! Author John D. Roche has taken all his personal experience of having worked for the VA and for veterans in Florida and put it into readable simple and easy to follow language.

Not only does he tell you what to do, but he also gives you insights on how the VA operates and makes decisions on claims. If you have a claim to file or have one being processed right now - then you should run down and buy this book. I sincerely mean that. You cannot afford not to have a copy of this book that you can reference back to for information.

I most highly recommend this book for every veteran. Sometime in your life you or your family may need this information. The MWSA awards this book FIVE STARS - the highest rating we can give.
This book gets the MWSA President's Personal Endorsement.

MWSA's 2006 Distinguished Medal Award

I came across it at Amazon, bought it, received it Saturday 10/22/05 & I have to say it is the best investment I ever made.

John D. Roche is a retired USAF Major who served in the AF
"as a bomber pilot, had combat duty in the Korean & Vietnam wars, and held a variety of administrative assignments. Subsequently, he worked for three years as a claims adjudication specialist for the Veteran's Administration and as a veteran's service officer for Pinellas County, Florida, where he was a tireless advocate for veteran's and their families. Roche enjoyed one of the highest rates of winson appeals in the state."
Quoted from Page 271 About the Author

I'm telling ALL of you, THIS IS A MUST-READ book. Roche tells you what you need to do, what evidence you need to have, how to avoid the RUNAROUND!! He also gives a background on changes in the VA in the past 20 ys, tells you how to SUBSTANTIATE a claim, where to get ANY RECORDS the VA or National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has, how to get your OUTPATIENT (active duty) records

----INTERESTING TIDBIT: any active duty outpatient records you may have had are WITH YOUR MILITARY PERSONAL FILE but ANY ACTIVE DUTY INPATIENT RECORDS ARE STORED SEPARATELY UNDER THE HOSPITAL'S NAME WHERE YOU WERE TREATED AS AN INPATIENT!!!----

He tells about the daily MORNING REPORT that EVERY UNIT had to complete & submit (thru 1974) detailing where every active duty person was for that particularday...these are stored by the NPRC. Roche tells readers the FORM number needed to request these records!!! (SF-180)

Roche also says that "Buddy reports" which are what he calls eyewitness testimony of people you served with can be just as important as medical records & THAT THE LAW SAYS THAT THE VA MUST PRESUME THESE AS TRUTH, as well as any affidavit from your wife,husband, family, etc as long as they are not stating a "medical opinion" but rather how your injury/disability has affected you...AND Roche states THE LAW SAYS THAT THE VA MUST PRESUME THESE AS TRUTH & cannot ignore them.

I'm telling you all, this book (AND I have NO FINANCIAL INTEREST in it & do not know John Roche) is well worth the $11.53 + S&H that I paid for it. It is written in plain language, large type, about 271 pages including a glossary, index, & a directory of everything needed for a valid claim...Roche even provides an appendix with pertinent Case Law & internet info on relevant websites & how to track down those people you served with so you can get those "Buddy reports."

Finally a book on how to really deal with the VA! For 30 years my husband fought with the VA to get his disability. With the help of author John Roach and this "survival guide", his disability was finally granted this year. This book has an easy to understand approach with the information you can't get from the VA or anyplace else. No one should attempt the VA claims process without this book. A "must have" for every veteran.

After reading this book, I discovered just how naive I was about the Veterans Administration and compensation claims. In fact, I use it on a daily basis for my job as director of a homeless veterans program. The author was an adjudication specialist for the VA and knows exactly what one needs to document in order to file a successful claim. Do not be like I was in the beginning and think that your VA claim is a sure-shot for approval because that scenario is almost never the case.

Filing a well-grounded claim is a must, and John D. Roche knows this business inside and out. The VA is tough to deal with, but your chances of getting the benefits you deserve are bolstered exponentially if Roche's advice is followed.

In my opinion, this is clearly the best book out there on the subject. Get it now----right now!


J.B. White
Director, Hope for New Veterans
Common Ground Community
New York, NY

I was injured in Viet Nam, and have been looking for these records for 20 years, and now thanks to Mr Roche and his book, I have now found these records. This was after the VA had told me that they would find the records for me, which they did not. This is a must read for all veteran that deal with the VA. Thank you Mr Roche!!

My husband's VA claim was recently approved after almost 4 years. I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that I could of never gotten the information or guidance along the way of fighting the VA system had I of not had John Roche's book. It is by far the most well informed book any veteran could ever get and I only wish I could of had it sooner. Any veteran getting ready to file a claim with the VA buy this book first. You will find out the VA don't volunteer alot of information to you and this book will help guide you through your claims process.

I have served in two previous wars, Vietnam and Desert Storm and also on several other long tours of peace time duty. When I was recalled from retirement to go to Iraq I was already a 10% disabled veteran. I thought I knew, or at least thought I had a better then average laymans knowledge of the VA Compensation and Pension system. Little did I know, until I read Mr. Roche's book how little I really knew and what misconceptions I had. This book is a must for every armed forces veteran who has served in war or peace and has ever been injured or treated for an illness while on active duty. Mr. Roche writes in a clear and concise style and he presents the facts without being dry and technical. This book is a must purchase.

This book is a nuts and bolts no nonsense hands on Bible for veterans claims. I used it to increase my disability from 40% to 60%. It exposed the mystery of how the VA handles claims and explains how to prove a claim to the VA. I would like to see the author write another book focused on appeals.

For those veterans attempting to negotiate through the maze of the Department of Veteran Affairs, and for those representing our Veterans in support of thier claims, this book is an indispensable source. It is concise and complete with clear explanations on the process with statutory authorities, CFR citations, and case law back up. It is an excellent ignition that cannot be ignored. Highly recommended for anyone involved in this arena.

Excellent book, that covers all aspects of filing for benefits from the Veterans Administration. John Roche also provides email assistance for specific questions. I would think that this should be required reading for all Service officers and their veterans. TOP NOTCH A+++