Category Archives: Aid and Attendance

ANOTHER PENINSULA VALLEY SUNDAY- (FIRES BURNING EVERYWHERE)

Posted on August 9, 2026 by asknod

We live in interesting times. While the Pacific Northwest goes up in flames, we’re in a secluded niche where the prevailing winds blow all the objectionable smoke over the border to the North (Canada). VA SMC wins have been spotty … Continue reading →

Posted in Aid and Attendance, Barry Bumps in SMC, CUE, VA Agents, VA Medical Mysteries Explained | Tagged askNOD.com, asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with SMC Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to win SMC T, Service Connection, SMC, SMC Barry Bumps, SMC for aid and attendance, VA claims, VA SMC Back Pay, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 1 Comment

ARTIFICIAL IGNORANCE–BOLDLY GOING NOWHERE INSTANTLY

Posted on July 26, 2026 by asknod

First off this glorious Sunday, (68° and light breeze), I thank the Weather gods we’re not melting. Living here in the Pacific Northwest is, for the most part, a respite from all the global heat waves across our fruited plains. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aid and Attendance, Artificial Intelligence in claims, Barry Bumps in SMC, BvA Decisions, DRO and BVA Hearings, Duty to Assist, Special Monthly Compensation, VA Agents, VA Motions for Reconsideration, VA special monthly compensation, Veterans Law | Tagged asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Gulf War Vets Help, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, Service Connection, SMC Barry Bumps, SMC for aid and attendance, VA claims, VA Independent Living Program, VA SMC Claims, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 2 Comments

CAVC–BUILDING THE PERFECT PUNJI PIT

Posted on July 19, 2026 by asknod

I’m probably going to upset some cadre of Veterans over at VBN who are still life members of the SMC Flat Earth Society. By that I mean those who cling to the Combat Craig mentality of “Don’t poke the SMC … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, Aid and Attendance, CAVC ruling, CAVC/COVA Decision, CUE, SMC, Special Monthly Compensation, Tips and Tricks, VA Agents, VA special monthly compensation, Veterans Law | Tagged asknod.org, CAvC/COvA Decisions, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get SMC Loss of Use, How to get VA SMC, Service Connection, SMC, SMC Barry Bumps, VA claims, VA SMC Claims, VA SMC Parkinsons, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 1 Comment

AOJ LA- FIELD OF DREAMS

Posted on May 31, 2026 by asknod

We live in interesting times. As most know, I’ve been making life miserable for countless VA Secretaries over the last several decades. I’ve come to expect a certain amount of pushback and recalcitrance to grant my clients’ rightfully earned benefits. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aid and Attendance, Barry Bumps in SMC, BvA Decisions, CUE, How to Qualify for VA SMC, Special Monthly Compensation, VA Agents, Veterans Law | Tagged asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with SMC Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, How to win SMC T, Service Connection, VA claims, VA SMC Back Pay, VA SMC Claims, VA SMC Mr. Potatohead, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 4 Comments

5/07/75–51 YEARS LATER

Posted on May 10, 2026 by asknod

An interesting phenomenon occurs about this time every year. May 7, 1975 was the last day America’s military recognized its ever-diminishing number of Viet Nam or Viet Nam-era Veterans. Or was diminishing until the passage of the PACT Act reinfused … Continue reading →

Posted in Aid and Attendance, Barry Bumps in SMC, BvA Decisions, How to Qualify for VA SMC, SMC, VA Agents, VA special monthly compensation, Vietnam War history | Tagged askNOD.com, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Gulf War Claims Help, Help with SMC Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, Service Connection, SMC, SMC Barry Bumps, VA claims, VA HCV Claims Help, VA SMC Claims, VA SMC R1, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 7 Comments

VA’S NEW AI–§3.102(a) YOU NOW GET THE DOUBT OF THE BENEFIT

Posted on April 23, 2026 by asknod

No, you’re not reading a new regulation. You’re reading about VA’s new way of interpreting the old one. Pop a cold one and requisition a bowel of some Dot’s™ pretzels. This isn’t going to take a sixpak to explain. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 100% ratings, Agent Orange, Aid and Attendance, Blue Water Navy, BvA Decisions, C&P exams, How to Qualify for VA SMC, Reductions in rating, SMC, Special Monthly Compensation, Tips and Tricks, VA Agents, VA Attorneys, VA Conspiracies, vA news, VA special monthly compensation, VA statistics, Veterans Law, Vietnam Disease Issues | Tagged Agent Orange, asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Gulf War Claims Help, Gulf War Vets Help, Help with SMC Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, How to win SMC T, Korean War Vets Help, Service Connection, SMC Barry Bumps, VA claims, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 3 Comments

REDUCING THE VA BACKLOG ONE MISTAKE AT A TIME

Posted on March 1, 2026 by asknod

Several days ago, I read that VA has miraculously managed to shrink the backlog to less than 100,000 claims for the first time since 2013. At first glance, most of you would think “Holy shit, Batman. That means my claims … Continue reading →

Posted in Aid and Attendance, Barry Bumps in SMC, SMC, Special Monthly Compensation, VA Agents, VA special monthly compensation, Veterans Law | Tagged asknod.org, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with SMC Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, Service Connection, SMC Barry Bumps, VA claims, VA SMC Back Pay, VA SMC Ratings, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 2 Comments

BVA– AND I’M FEELIN’. . GLAD ALL OVER

Posted on January 19, 2026 by asknod

In the news, we’re constantly bombarded by articles about the passing of the last Pearl Harbor Survivor, the last guy who came ashore at Omaha, the last Navajo Code Talker and more. Don’t get me wrong. I revere every one … Continue reading →

Posted in Agent Orange, Aid and Attendance, BvA Decisions, BVA Purplebook, Pickles, R1/R2, Special Monthly Compensation, Tips and Tricks, VA Agents, Veterans Law | Tagged ASKNOD BOOK, askNOD.com, asknod.org, asknod@wordpress.com, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Help with SMC Claims, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, How to get VA SMC, Inspirational Veterans, Service Connection, SMC for aid and attendance, VA claims, VA SMC, VA SMC Claims, VA SMC Ratings, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 1 Comment

BVA–YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT TIMES 2

Posted on January 12, 2026 by asknod

Always remember the second half of the bridge- “But if you try sometime, you’ll find…you get what you need.” It’s the theme song of my VA litigation journey at VA. This is a great win for a poor, horribly disabled … Continue reading →

Posted in Aid and Attendance, BvA Decisions, R1/R2, Special Monthly Compensation, Veterans Law | Tagged askNOD.com, Disabled Veteran, DIY vA Claims, Gulf War Claims Help, Gulf War Vets Help, Help with vA Claims, Helping Veterans, Service Connection, VA claims, Veterans Benefits, Veterans claims help, Veterans Humor, Vietnam Veterans Claims Help. | 3 Comments

YOU DON’T TUG ON SUPERMAN’S CAPE

Posted on January 3, 2026 by asknod

I guess I don’t need to tell anyone we woke up to an interesting development in the Caribbean this morning. Seems the U.S. elected to repossess Chevron’s stolen oil infrastructure from Venezuela. With the exception of two minor U.S. military … Continue reading →